Top tips for your Mini Home Build entry

With the deadline for our Mini Home Builder Challenge just around the corner (23 December 2016), we’ve asked our judges for their top tips to help you with your entry. Here are their five top tips:

1. Originality is key
Think differently and let your imagination run wild. Whether it’s the building’s interior or exterior that make it stand out from the crowd, we’re looking for the unique and unusual in this competition.

2. Materials make it
What will your self-build be created with? There are so many materials at our fingertips nowadays, both natural and man-made. Consider how you will use them and what effect they will have on your dream home. Will they affect how your dream home blends into its environment, for example?

3. Look at the layout
The layout of a home plays a crucial role in how it feels. Picture yourself walking through your creation, what rooms flow together well? Where will your bedrooms be? Will it have a garden and if so, which rooms will have the best view? Think carefully about how your dream home comes together.

4. Fantastic features
From waterfalls to glitterballs, roof gardens and more, an interesting and quirky feature can transform an ordinary home into something outstanding. Perhaps your feature will have a function, too? Don’t be afraid to create something that’s never been done before! The more unique, the better!

5. Inspire us
Finally, give us something to get excited about. We’re looking for inspiring young minds that bring big ideas to the table. Who knows? You could be the next Kevin McCloud or George Clarke!

The Mini Self Builder Challenge is an opportunity for children to build or design their dream home.

Entrants may use building or art and craft materials to demonstrate how easy and fun designing your dream home can be. The competition is open until Friday 23 December 2016.