10 Must-Have Features for Your Custom Home in Columbia, MO

Include These Unique Custom Home Features in Your Mid-Missouri Build From Rave Homes

When building a custom home, not every family wants the same cookie-cutter layout with a couple of bathrooms and a standard kitchen. Homeowners deserve to live in a house specifically made for their needs, and with a qualified Columbia, MO contractor, you have control over the features you want to add. Some families require a home that is well-suited for raising children for the first time, while others may wish to incorporate accessibility features to support family members who are aging in place. Need ideas for your new home in Columbia, MO? Explore our list of custom home features and start planning with Rave Homes!

#1: Customize your kitchen & bathroom cabinets in Columbia, MO

From the pots and pans in your kitchen to the cleaning products under your bathroom sink, you can never be too careful when picking out cabinets for your mid-Missouri home. Gorgeous custom cabinets improve the functionality and storage abilities of your most important spaces, and an elegant finish can completely transform their aesthetics. If you want to shake things up with your bathroom and kitchen storage, try opting for drawers that are easy to pull and push. 

#2: Consider a kitchen island expansion in your Columbia, MO home

Does your countertop feel overcrowded every time you prep for dinner? Custom kitchens are getting bigger and better in Columbia, MO, and an incredible way to achieve this is by choosing a double kitchen island with Rave Homes! You can separate the two islands across an open kitchen or have them placed side by side – the choice is yours. With new countertop space, your family can get creative in designating the spaces for different purposes. For example, one kitchen island can be used for cooking preparation, and the other can be used for seating or entertaining guests. 

#3: Optimize access to your pantry with new custom house features

Let’s admit it. We all get annoyed taking the groceries inside and putting them away, especially if your custom kitchen is an inconvenient walk from the car. Why not connect the two spaces into one for easy transfer? As you design a Columbia, MO custom home, ask your builder about installing a door that leads from your pantry directly to the garage. It will make unloading easier, plus you can incorporate security features like fireproofing and digital locks.

#4: Adding a food-prep area to your custom kitchen in Columbia, MO

If you bake regularly, meal prep with vegetables, or practice any other hobby in the kitchen, you need a prep area in addition to the traditional space. These mid-MO prep kitchens have a more convenient layout, making it simple to wash dishes and take care of “messy” tasks while preserving the rest of the kitchen. Consider adding a coffee station, miscellaneous appliances, spice organizers, and more to your custom home’s kitchen in Columbia, MO.

#5: Build a mudroom with a wash station in your central Missouri home

Do you have any dogs or small children? You know they can track dirt after just a few minutes outside, so it’s best to have a mudroom in your custom home design plan! Mudrooms typically lead out to the backyard or garage and have features for keeping clean, such as laundry machines, pet supplies, towel racks, and a small shower area for rinsing things off. If you own a cat, this is also a great location for the litter box! Homeowners can wash up and prevent messes from spreading through their custom home in mid-Missouri.

#6: Custom cubbies & closets near your laundry room in mid-MO

When building a home, it’s also essential to have plenty of room for the family’s clothes and equipment. Think about the activities your children are involved in: will your custom cubbies fit their baseball gloves, outdoor toys, or other gear? The last thing you want is an overstuffed closet. In your first consultation with Rave Homes, make sure to discuss the details of a custom walk-in closet for your new build home in Columbia, MO. 

#7: Design a custom home in Columbia, MO with accessibility in mind 

In 2025, more homeowners are focusing on the accessibility features within their custom home. You never know if people’s mobility needs will change in the family, and it’s always important to create an accommodating area for visitors as well. There are endless ways to improve a home in Columbia, MO for people with disabilities. The first and most significant change is by implementing a universal bathroom design, complete with handrails, comfort-height toilets, accessible shower entrances, and more. Other tips include widening the hallways, using fewer stairs in your design, and keeping the floors level. 

#8: Install a smart HVAC system for easy heating & cooling at the touch of a button

Your ventilation can completely make or break a custom home’s quality in Columbia, MO. The point of being a homeowner is having the ability to monitor and control the environment’s indoor air quality. A must-have custom home feature for people who value their heating and cooling is a smart thermostat. These easy devices let you adjust the temperature from any location on your phone, so you never have to wait for air circulation in discomfort. 

#9: Be clever when placing outlets throughout your custom home in Columbia, MO

Electrical outlets, when installed correctly, can bring a whole new level of convenience to your everyday life in Columbia MO. Many families develop entertainment areas on their patio, which requires outlets for plugging in lights, music speakers, and more. As you build a custom home, consider not just the outdoor space, but the indoor spaces as well. Your kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms may all benefit from having subtle, hidden outlets for charging and using appliances!

#10: Make trash removal easy & install a chute with your mid-Missouri home builder

The only thing more tedious than carrying groceries is taking the trash out after it fills up. If you want to save time on removing trash and recycling goods, you need to put a trash chute in your Columbia, MO custom home! These chutes or tunnels will lead straight to your dumpster, removing the extra step of walking outside with a heavy bag.

Reach Out to Rave Homes & Give Yourself the Columbia, MO Custom Home You’ve Always Wanted! 

Every home designed and built by Rave Homes has its own list of unforgettable custom features. Since day one, we have been expanding our capabilities with modern construction, giving families a paradise they’ll treasure forever. Call the mid-Missouri custom home contractors at Rave Homes now!