How To Add Character To A New Build Home
Ahh new builds... no undoing of any decorating disasters from previous owners and wondering what’s behind the wall. Gone are the days of having to live with flowery carpets and OTT wallpaper while you save the pennies to replace them with a more neutral and on trend décor. Here are our top tips on how to give your new build home that extra splash of character and charisma that you’ve always wanted.
Panelling
The latest craze and one of the easier DIY projects that was kickstarted during lockdown is panelling. Panelling can be an easy and effective way to instantly add texture and a touch of luxury to your walls without having to splash the cash! What's the best bit we hear you ask; you can literally panel any wall and room you like! Bathroom, living room, kitchen, hallway... you name it. You can do it yourself too with a little help from shops such as B&Q and Wickes for your materials. Why not head over to
Ideal Home to find the latest panelling ideas and designs to suit every style and room within your home.
Let there be light
Whether you’re looking at pendant lights, floor lights, table lamps, wall lamps or even downlights, it’s important in any home to get the lighting just right, as it has the ability to change the mood of a room as quickly as you can turn off the light switch…
get it? Lighting in the home can create depth and height, it can make cosy corners even cosier and help draw attention to the most impressive areas, so getting it right is a pretty big deal.
Why not get smart about your lighting and look into smart bulbs? Gone are the days of getting up and turning the lights on manually. Did we just hear you say,
‘Hey Google?’
Well placed mirrors
Positioned correctly, a mirror can create light, texture, space and character to an otherwise plain room. Not only are they useful for checking your hair is how it should be, but they are also great for capturing light and projecting them into the darker corners. In smaller rooms, we recommend placing mirrors opposite a window to help bring in the natural light and greenery from outside.
If you want to keep your walls a plain solid colour, we recommend thinking about getting a textured mirror which can help add a three-dimensional level to the wall, as well as acting as a statement piece in any room. Think about positioning the mirror so it reflects any textured objects already in the room too – a wooden coffee table, a funky vase or even the faux fur throw gently laid over the edge of the sofa.
Get the artwork up
One of the most commonly forgotten rooms in the house to hang artwork and photos is the kitchen, even though the kitchen is described as the ‘heart of the home’ and in most cases, it is one of the most, if not the most used rooms in the home. We tend to lean towards smaller pieces that compliment rather than overwhelm the space. We also prefer more fun and social prints that make us smile and make the mornings a little easier!
The home office is where we tend to be spending a lot more time these days, so adding artwork is a great way to keep you inspired during those long gruelling days. One of our favourite ways of doing this is to add a floating shelf over your workspace or somewhere you can easily see it. Here comes the fun part, creating the image. Think of the shelf as a mood board and choose inspiring quotes and images that will really help keep the motivation high. We personally like to incorporate different sizes and frames to add more character.
Paint
Painting the walls is one of the easiest ways to change the mood of a room, and the beauty of it is, if you’re not feeling it anymore, simply get the brush and roller back out and away you go! Have you ever thought about painting a ceiling? Think of the ceiling as a fifth wall that doesn’t have to stay white – it could be a great addition to any bedroom, especially when lying on your bed looking up. We also love a feature wall to really help make a statement in any room, particularly the living room or office.
Milky and almond tones over cooler greys are on trend at the moment as 2021 has been the year of creating cosy spaces. These warm neutral colours are perfect for creating restful living spaces that bring comfort to any home.
Love our ideas on adding character and charisma to your new build home but just need the home to do it? Why not head over to our
new developments and book a viewing, or call our friendly sales team to see what we can do for you.