If your brand new house is feeling just a bit too shiny and new for your liking then worry not – there are lots of quick, simple and inexpensive ways of adding character and getting your neighbours to do a double-take when they come for coffee. Here’s some of our favorite ideas right here:
Get new knobs and handles
Just as you’d maybe change the knobs of a dresser to add a bit of quirkiness, you could also do the same with your doors. Some brass or gold-painted vintage hardware would certainly add the sophisticated, period touch most of us admire so much. Find it in hardware stores or antique shops:
Create a ceiling focal point
Ceiling medallions were all the rage during Victorian and Edwardian times – only then they were made from heavy plaster. Today it’s easy to buy one of light moulded plastic which still looks terrific when installed in the center of the ceiling of your new build (as the following image beautifully demonstrates). Some glue, a ladder and you’re all set… if you’re a bit nervous about removing the light fixture just make sure you get an electrician to check things over afterwards. Add a statement chandelier to really finish off your unique look:
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Get a fancier fireplace
A fireplace can be a great focal point in a room – especially when it has plenty of class and character like this pretend version (ie it doesn’t light) pictured below which was salvaged from an antique restoration yard. It certainly looks the part and, being painted black gives the fire a dramatic contrast to the white wooden fire surround:
Get creative with your tiling
There’s no hard and fast rule that says tiling in your bathroom has to be done in a straight line – so why not exploit that concept and create something a bit more unique, such as this ‘tile star’ pictured below? It’s certainly different and, in fact, lots of fancy fun. You could even create your own focal piece using vintage tiles bought from the likes of ebay:
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‘Wow’ with a bit of wainscoting
Nothing gives a new build home more period appeal in our eyes than a nice bit of chunky wainscoting. The ‘before’ and ‘after’ image below shows exactly what we mean. Not only does it add character but it also takes away the ‘bareness’ of the walls, becoming a decorative feature in its own right:
Introduce some antiques
Spend a few hours in an antique store or junk yard and see what you can find yourself to add character to a room. Mixing old furniture or accessories with newer versions is fine, provided you don’t overdo it. One tip is to really make a vintage piece stand out buy it in a bright colour, like the sofa below. The really nice part about this ploy is that it instantly introduces some history into your new build:
The above are only a sample of hundreds of ways to add character to your home, such as an Anywl Homes new build. Maybe you have some better ones? If so, we’d love to hear them…
