9 Ways to Add Character to a New Build

The crisp white walls and new everything that comes with a newly built home can be oh-so- desirable because of its maintenance free living, but it can often lack the charm and character that comes with older homes. However, it IS possible to have the best of both worlds in a new build! By incorporating the following elements, you can add a sense of soul and personality to your new build.

Something Old

The biggest mistake to make when moving into a new house is to think that everything in it has to be brand spanking new. An interesting and lived in home needs a sense of history, whether you fill it with a few pieces of furniture from your past, family heirlooms, art or antiques. Sprinkling in old items with the newly purchased items can be enough to give you the character and personality that will make you feel at home (and not living in a furniture showroom). For example, using a sideboard from the 1920’s with a modern dining set can look ultra chic and bring soul to your dining room.

Design by @hiltoncarter

Contrast

First, take your time planning and thinking about the color pallet you want to bring into your home. Then create some contrast by incorporating light and dark paint colors, mixing old items with new items, soft elements with bold features, masculine with feminine, natural textiles with manmade materials… you get the idea!).

Design by @eileenandco

Lighting

Never settle with the builder boob lights that came with your new home!! Lighting is the lowest hanging fruit for making a big impact in adding character to a home, especially in a new build. Make statements with your lighting- the bigger the better! Add pendant lights, but don’t stop there. Make it interesting with different types of lighting at different levels in a room, including sconces, table and floor lamps, and chandeliers. The key is to make sure the lighting works with the style of your home and within the scale of the space.

Design by @housesevendesign

Texture

Think herringbone wood floors, wallpaper, shiplap or moulding. Don’t go overboard with these, but the more three dimensional objects in the space, the more you can feel some soul and character. Choose wisely where you utilize textures. Pick one wall to add shiplap or wallpaper, but exercise some restraint by keeping the other walls blank. The contrast of the two elements is where the magic happens.

Design by @Stephanie.Jane.Cameron

Rugs

Remember the words of the Dude, ‘a rug can really pull the room together’. Rugs add softness, color, drama and character to a new home. If you don’t have wood floors throughout, don’t be afraid to layer a rug on top of carpet. Rugs can also help to delineate a space, especially in an open concept house that is most likely part of a new build.

Design by @KC Design Co.

Art

The nature of art is that it’s unique and expressive. By adding art to your walls, you’re one step closer to a unique and soul filled home. Take time to think about the type of artwork that you like to look at. Is it random photograph galleries, oversized statement art, or symmetrical grids, etc. If you’re going to make a gallery wall, pick something that the different pieces of art have in common, such as the frames, colors, white elements, or subject matter. Incorporating family photographs can really make your home look like yours.

Design by @136home

Plants

Greenery can literally make a room come alive and can have an immediate impact on a room. Plants also happen to be very on trend right now, and yet timeless at the same time. Plants are a great bang for your decor buck too, since they can take up space for not a lot of money. According to feng shui principles, plants bring the vital energy of growth and action into your space, while inspiring compassion, kindness, and flexibility. But don’t add faux plants because they don’t count in feng shui world. The synthetic materials that they’re made of can actually subtract from good feng shui.

Design by @Hiltoncarter

Builtins

Older homes with builtins are the cream in my coffee in terms of character, so put them in a new build to add that personality! Places to put builtins include the living room, kitchen, den, bedroom or office. Builtins also don’t have to break the bank if you have a little handiness and elbow grease. Check out these Ikea hacks where they used Ikea furniture and built around them. Genius!

Design by @Katepearcevintage

Hardware

Once again, pair old with new by adding vintage or rustic hardware to new cabinets, or switching out new hardware to a vintage piece of furniture. Interesting and unique hardware is a subtle way to give a home an older look.

Design by @sbkpro

There are so many ways to give your new build personality and character, but take your time adding these elements that will make your house become your home. Think about what style, mood and function you want in your spaces ahead of time. You want your home to feel curated and personal, rather than hodge-podged and mismatched. Let your home tell the story of who you are. And finally, only bring pieces of furniture and decor into your home that you really love. Don’t settle. Life is too short to not love the space you’re in!