How To Add Character to a New House

Moving into a brand-new house is always exciting – you get to craft the space entirely as you wish, without constraints from someone else’s design choices or furnishings. However, new construction often lacks the charm and personality of older homes that have developed character over decades of living. Fortunately, there are many ways to infuse your new house with character from the beginning. Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

• Use Reclaimed Materials

One of the easiest and most impactful ways to add instant character is by incorporating reclaimed or vintage materials. Look for things like old wood beams, brick, and stone to use as accents. You can find these items cheaply at salvage yards, reuse stores, or online marketplaces. Wood beams are a great feature for above cabinets or as trim work. Loose bricks add texture and make unique bookends or corner accents in a room. Reclaimed wood planks make unique wall panels or shelf backing. Let the history and imperfections of the materials shine through for an aged feel.

• Choose Familiar Finishes

While newer homes often come with neutral modern finishes, they lean into warm, classic tones that feel familiar and lived in. Choose traditional wood flooring instead of sleek tile or laminate. Paint walls in soft, neutral colours rather than stark whites. Upholster furniture in soft textured fabrics rather than sleek leather or modern microfiber. Substitute brass or bronze for chrome hardware. These comforting finishes lend themselves to developing that imperfect patina over the years.

• Embrace Imperfection

Resist the urge for everything to look perfectly styled. Leave some shelves only half full to look comfortably lived in. Prop books and magazines casually between furniture instead of everything being lined up exactly. Display small collections grouped together with spaces in between instead of everything edge to edge. Allow furniture, walls, and surfaces to evolve organically with scuffs, stains, and marks that reflect real life instead of Pinterest perfection. Authenticity trumps flawlessness when it comes to developing charm.

• Incorporate Heirlooms

If you’ve inherited furniture, artwork, or other items from family or have cherished possessions from your own life journey, display them proudly in your new home. Seeing glimpses of stories from previous generations connects the past to the present and gives a tangible sense of history. Reupholster heirloom chairs, update side tables or repaint inherited storage cabinets to mesh with your style today while retaining their meaning. Passing down family possessions keeps memories alive and infuses places with sentimentality that money can’t buy.

• Embrace your Home’s Story

View your new home as a structure and vessel for all the wonderful stories it will hold. Fill it with meaningful artifacts, memories, love and joy through gatherings with friends and family. Over the years, lives will intersect and unfold within its walls. Its personality will emerge through everyday living – the marks left from moving furniture, paintings hung to commemorate occasions, initials etched in windowsills during visits – all blending together to give it a soul. Embrace the journey of turning your new house into a beloved home by making space for all of life’s messy beauty therein.

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Need help with interior design? Alpha Omega Design & Build can help you achieve your desired results. We specialize in space planning, furnishings and décor. Contact us today to learn more about our services!

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