My home lab starts out virtual in GNS3 so I can destroy it with impunity
This powerful software package lets me plan out my home lab before it's built.
One of the issues with any home lab situation is that you often run out of funds before you run out of ideas, and that's a problem. Maybe you want to put in some extra managed switches to test out routing between VLANs, or play with a router you know will be one you run into at work. Whatever your reasoning, the want doesn't always mesh with the means, but that's okay.