5 Ways to Add Instant Charm and Character to Your Abode

You’ve just moved into the house of your dreams. It is pristine, perfect, and completely unspoiled. You are the only souls to have lived and breathed within its walls. Yet, there’s something missing. It feels cold somehow, a little too clean and spotless. This is an issue that is common with newly built homes, because while they may be beautiful, they often lack a sense of charm and character that can only be earned through experience.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do it yourself, so to speak, and inject the healthy dose of personality that all new builds need. You can find it in creative touches and flourishes; in the bright colours of carefully picked upholstery material or the bold tones of a freshly painted skirting board. It is the little details that count and you can make them stand out by picking high quality accessories, premium products, and great designs.

This guide to some of the best ways to add charm to a new build will help you decide on the best place to start.

1. Liven Up Old Furniture

If you have any tired looking armchairs, footstools, or other pieces of small furniture lying around, you can always add some updated fabric and give them a new lease on life. It is much easier than you might think to reupholster a chair, for example, so splash out on some fancy new material and get to work.

2. Build Yourself a Bookcase

There is nothing that oozes charm and wisdom quite as much as a bookcase, even if it is a rickety one. You don’t have to build a shelf from scratch, if you’re not fond of DIY projects. You can pick up one (or even several) tall bookcases and use them to create a wall of curios and trinkets. If you don’t have enough books to fill them, add other things like ornaments, fresh flowers, and jewelry stands.

3. Get Personal on the Walls

One of the biggest misconceptions about wall art is that it has to be straight and even. This is not true, because framed prints, photos, and paintings add charm no matter how they are placed. In fact, creating an asymmetrical higgledy piggledy shape with your frames can end up making the space look even more quirky and stylish.

4. Use a Signature Colour

A lot of people shy away from bright colours, because they are afraid that they’ll overpower the room. However, you don’t have to paint your walls bright orange to enjoy bold tones. Simply adding a splash of colour is often enough to really liven up the space. For instance, instead of painting the walls canary yellow, pick out a few yellow scatter cushions.

5. Add a Beautiful Lamp     

Just one really exquisite lamp can transform a room and give it that rustic, lived in appeal. You’ll need a combination of mood and task lighting in most rooms, so opt for a mixture of flush mount and table or standing lamps. For contemporary cool, stick with clean lines and minimal details. For something a little more classic, try a lamp with a colourful glass shade.

Why Good Design is Important for New Builds

There are lots of benefits to living in newly built homes. Yet, they can feel curiously sterile, at least at first. This is why most homeowners immediately get to work with redesigning and injecting their own personalities in the space. With great design, it is possible to add years of charm and character to a building that is completely and entirely new.