Prefabricated housing have been around for years. These factory-manufactured homes are a product of the industrial revolution. Initially, they were viewed as temporary modular units that were not comfortable and durable. However, this perception has changed now. Prefabricated houses today come with all the desired features, such as electric supply, proper plumbing, and well-insulated and painted walls, creating a liveable dream home with modular home interior. Let’s learn about the 15 best prefabricated interior design styles. Also, we will explain prefab homes, their benefits and drawbacks, and how to customize them. So, let’s get to each one of them one by one.
What are Prefabricated Housing?
A prefab or prefabricated home is a structure whose components are made in a factory and assembled on-site. Factory-made doesn’t imply that they’re similar-looking standard homes with subdued architectural quality. Instead, they are highly customizable and can possess similar architectural qualities as a traditional home.
Prefabricated housing come in three major formats: modular homes, manufactured homes, and kit homes.
01. Modular Homes
These are highly customizable prefab homes, where the pieces are manufactured in a factory and assembled on-site. They are advanced types of homes that have fixed foundations.
02. Manufactured Homes
The sections are manufactured in a factory, transported to the final site, and then assembled with the use of heavy machinery.
03. Kit Homes
These are simple, easy-to-assemble prefab homes that come with pre-cut sections and can be assembled without any professional assistance.
Benefits of Prefabricated Housing
01. Affordable
Prefab homes do not require a lot of materials and save labour costs as they require little to no labour thus making them highly affordable.
02. Sustainable
They have a smaller carbon footprint, leading to energy efficiency.
03. Faster Construction
The sections are factory-made and are only assembled on-site. This significantly reduces the time required for construction.
04. Durability
Since most pieces are factory-made, they’re often unaffected by nasty site conditions like rain, water damage, etc, and hence prefab homes are more durable.
05. Efficiency on-Site
As only the assembly of members happens on-site, there are fewer things that can go wrong. It allows the making of efficient modular homes with utmost efficiency.
Drawbacks of Prefabricated Housing
01. Land Costs
Although you may save your hard-earned money by adopting prefab homes instead of building a house, you still need to spend a fortune in order to cover the land costs. You need to either own the land where you’re going to place the home or purchase it.
02. Rules and Regulations
Building a prefab house does not spare you from the municipal building rules and regulations. The location and size of the house, as well as many other approvals and permits are required before construction.
03. Utilities
Prefab homes need to be connected with municipal services like water supply, drainage, and electricity.
04. Reduced Resell Value
Prefabricated housing are often stigmatized as being of inferior quality. They are also considered outdated when they’re old. This leads to lower resell values for prefab homes.
05. Difficult to Finance
For traditional houses, people generally opt for mortgage plans that allow them to pay in instalments. In the case of prefab homes, most banks will not allow that. Hence, upfront payments need to be made to purchase these homes, making them difficult to finance.
Whether because of sustainability or affordability, prefabricated housing are becoming increasingly popular. Owing to this rising interest, companies are now offering homes with not only customizable plans but also several choices at every stage of the design.
How to Customize a Prefabricated Home?
Listed below are the various ways in which you can customize your prefabricated house. Let’s learn each one of them in detail:
01. Custom Floor Plan
The plan of the prefabricated house can be customised to suit your needs. The size of the room, the number of rooms, and the flow of spaces should be given careful consideration while developing the house plan. You can go for open plans, split floor plans, or add levels as per your requirements.
02. Custom Design
You can choose from a variety of different styles of prefabricated housing, from ranch-style homes and country-style homes to contemporary structures. You can also mix styles to make a custom prefabricated home.
03. Additional Amenities
Prefabricated housing can be customized to add a few amenities. A fireplace, a washer and dryer combo, a custom kitchen, an additional bathroom etc are just a few examples of the kinds of customizations most people opt for when designing a modular home.
04. Customized Additions
The most common customization for a prefab home is to add to the existing structure. It means your home will now have two levels of modular home instead of one level. The second level would be added on top of your existing structure. Another famous customization is adding a garage at the back of your house. It is then accessed through a door that leads out from the kitchen area.
05. Prefab Deck Addition
One of the most famous customizations is adding a prefab deck to your home. Decks are really becoming more popular these days. Adding a deck can increase the value of your property by giving it a new look and making it more appealing.
06. Exterior Design
You can choose from a variety of different siding options and exterior finishes for your prefabricated home.
07. Interior Design
The interior design of any home is a statement of personal style and hence must be customized as per the tastes of the user. There are several interior design styles that you can adopt.
Top 15 Prefabricated Interior Design Styles for Your Homes
Here we share the 15 best prefabricated interior design styles for your prefab homes that suit your space:
01. Minimalist Prefab Homes
Minimalism is defined by a simple, sleek aesthetic that places functionality first. This style is extremely pertinent for prefabricated house interiors. The style is characterized by simple, clean lines. This style focuses on functionality and rejects ornamentation. It is purely based on the ‘less is more’ philosophy.
The colour palette is muted. Generally, minimalist spaces are all-white with a neutral accent colour. Textures are important for spaces to bring a sense of character.
De-cluttered, brightly lit spaces are the result of a minimalist approach. Multi-functional spaces and furniture are commonly seen in minimal homes.
The decor is also kept to a bare minimum, with one artwork on each wall instead of a gallery wall. These spaces function really well in prefabricated housing, as they are generally small. The minimalist interior design style is calming as there aren’t too many elements in the space, which helps to unwind and relax.
02. Modern Prefabricated Housing
Modern interior style is characterized by sleek lines and the true expression of materials. It is similar to minimalism, the only difference is that it does not stick to a muted palette. Most of the time, it features a splash of colour in the furniture. Modern styles are rich with layered textures and complemented by ample light flooding the interiors. Prefabricated housing with modern-style interiors have simple and elegant aesthetics. Modern style interiors are one of the subtle prefabricated interior design styles.
03. Industrial Prefabricated House Interiors
The industrial style of interior design showcases exposed materials and utilitarian objects like ducts, pipes, etc, and has a very raw, unfinished look. Exposed brick walls, concrete slabs, metal furniture, and light fixtures are primarily seen in industrial interiors. A prefabricated industrial home may also feature industrial metal accessories that are used against all-white interiors to create striking contrast within the space.
04. Sustainable Prefabricated House Interiors
If you’re choosing to go for a prefabricated home because it is sustainable and has a smaller carbon footprint, you may want the interiors to reflect the same values. Sustainable interior design style can be derived from a combination of different styles, like minimalism and rustic styles, making it eclectic.
It uses elements made of recycled materials, like reclaimed wooden flooring, or refurbished furniture. It may even use eco-friendly, low-impact materials like cork or bamboo as flooring materials. A prefab home in sustainable interior style typically features bright daylight in combination with warm tones of natural materials and indoor plants. If you are an eco-friendly freak, then you must consider choosing this prefabricated interior design style.
05. Farmhouse Chic Prefabricated Housing
The farmhouse chic style of interior design is a modern take on rustic cabin interiors. It retains the distressed furniture of the traditional farmhouse style and replaces the surrounding space with modest white walls. This creates an interesting contrast in the space, where the white palette makes the space welcoming and comforting, whereas the warm tones of the furniture make it cozy.
A prefab home in farmhouse chic style has a delightful charm where small elements like a shiplap barn door bring all the character within the space.
06. Rustic Prefab Homes
Rustic cabin-style interiors use natural materials in their most austere form. The warm tones of the materials make the space feel cozy and comfortable. Many times, rustic cabins have a fireplace as a focal element of their design. Large window glazing against the warm interiors make the interior space edgy by connecting the interior and exteriors. The rustic prefab home looks like an extension of the surrounding environment.
07. Scandinavian Prefab Home
The Scandinavian interior style is subtle yet has a cozy feel. Simple, sleek lines, light-fed spaces with muted whites, and ashy tones are defining characteristics of this style. It is derived from the concept of hygge and uses layered textures. A Scandinavian prefab home exhibits white walls, light beige flooring, layered with a textured rug, and streamlined furniture completed with minimal light fixtures.
To know in detail about Scandinavian interiors and its home decor tips and tricks, we have put down a detailed blog describing the same:
08. Asian Zen Interiors for Prefab Homes
Asian zen stands for a balanced, harmonious, and tranquil space. It brings about these qualities within the space through the use of natural materials in muted tones. The colour palette consists of whites, light tones of beige, and grey with a contrasting accent colours like green, blue or black. Additionally, plants are also a significant part of this style. It uses softer forms and curves more frequently and also features minimal sculptural elements. A prefabricated home with Asian zen interiors can act as a personal spiritual haven.
09. Prefabricated Home with Coastal Interiors
Coastal style is identified by distinct features like a combination of navy blue with white, shiplap cladding, and objects inspired by the seascape. A prefabricated home with coastal interiors feels relaxing and may evoke a sense of nostalgia for an adventurous endeavour. The style incorporates natural materials like stone, and wood and features small windows, similar to portholes. Patterned rugs, wallpapers, and anchor-shaped wall decor elements can be part of the design.
10. Transitional Interior Style for Prefab Homes
If the traditional style is too much and the modern style is too little, you should go for the transitional interior style. It is an amalgamation of both, balancing the classics with the modern. Following a neutral palette with a contrast of browns, textured lines are also a staple of this style. The furniture is a combination of sleek lines and round edges. Soft furnishings are extensively used in this style, adding all the character the space needs.
11. Prefabricated Home with Eclectic Style
The eclectic style is a custom-curated style that compiles different elements belonging to varied styles into a composed space. The style is all about visual balance and layering. Antique furniture can be paired with modern artwork or textured furnishings, giving a sense of timelessness and making the space eclectic. Stick to neutral tones, add a splash of colour with furnishings, and go a little ornamental with the accessories to make eclectic interior spaces.
12. Bohemian-Style for Prefab Homes
With a rich mix of culture and artistic aesthetic, the bohemian style of interior design is something that you can adopt in the interiors of your prefabricated home. White interiors with earthy furniture and accents are typical features of a bohemian space. The style is about layering contrasting elements, for instance, burlap with silks or chenille.
It is also rich in patterns; geometric floor tiles and tribal rugs are generally used in bohemian interiors. Plants are also incorporated into the design. Crochet, macramé, and fringe are commonly used to make highly textured furnishings that bring a cozy vibe to the space.
13. Shabby Chic Prefab Home Interior
Vintage furniture is at the heart of this age-old style. It has a timeless charm and is a graceful yet subtle ornamental design style. Distressed furniture against all-white interiors featuring textured linens is what defines the style. Much like the French country style, it has a soft and feminine appeal. Use this style in your prefabricated home for an exquisitely luxurious experience of the space.
14. Mid-century Modern Style for Prefab Home
The mid-century modern style of interior design continues to remain relevant, irrespective of the evolution in the design industry. The mid-century style uses clean lines, is highly functional, and has minimal ornamentation. It has a vibrant colour palette and uses rich oak wood, especially for making statement furniture pieces.
The fusion of interior and exterior is also an important characteristic of this style; thus, large windows and indoor plants are commonly seen in mid-century homes. Use this interior design style for its timeless charm and oneness with nature.
15. Mediterranean Style Prefabricated Housing
Mediterranean style of interior is culturally rich and focuses on indoor-outdoor living. It typically has a warm colour palette and features exposed materials like wooden beams and stone walls. Arches are an important design element. Modern Mediterranean interiors use a muted palette with earthy tones of terracotta. A Mediterranean-themed prefabricated interior home embraces light and exposed materials and feels cozy.
You can transform a prefabricated home by adopting an interior design style that is true to your personal taste. By customizing the interiors of prefabricated spaces, you can create unique modular spaces. This gives you the advantage of the affordability of a prefabricated structure, and the right interior design curates a comforting, homely experience of the space.
FAQs
01. How to Design the Interiors of a Prefabricated Home?
To design the interiors of a prefabricated home, start by choosing an interior design style. Incorporate these additional decor tips to uplift the aesthetics.
- Keep the space decluttered and minimal.
- Use space wisely-build a cozy loft or carve a nook wherever possible.
- Add storage in unexpected places, like shelves at the level of a loft.
- Use multi-purpose furniture-a table that doubles as storage.
- Incorporate minimal decor elements and house plants.
02. How to Customize Prefabricated Housing?
You can customize a prefabricated home in several different ways:
- Use customised plans to suit your requirements.
- You can incorporate custom additions into your prefabricated home, like adding a deck or an additional bathroom.
- You can choose from different house styles and exterior claddings. You can also customize the interiors to your taste.
03. Which Interior Style is most Suitable for Prefabricated Housing?
There is no one particular interior style that is suitable for prefabricated housing. You can go for any interior style you like. Modern and contemporary styles are examples of popular interior design styles, among several others.
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.
