Creative Elements for a Characterful Home
Saturday, October 01, 2016
When you look at interior blogs and magazines, there's so much character in every photo. None of the rooms have plain magnolia walls, with nothing more than a couple of photo frames on the walls. And yet, when you look at many people's homes, not nearly as much effort has gone into decorating them. If you take a look around your own home, you might feel dissatisfied with its design. Compared to the beautiful interior design photos you see, it could look dull. Perhaps it's well-decorated, but it just doesn't really seem like you. Maybe you feel like your home could belong to anyone and you can't see any of your own character in it. If you want to add more character to your home, there are so many things you can do.
Start By Picking Characterful Colors or Themes
If you want your home to shine with uniqueness, you should start with foundational elements. You don't have to have whacky themes or bright colors if you want your home to have character. However, you can consider coming up a color scheme and theme before you start. It's always a good idea to have a plan in place so that you can create a cohesive look. You might not have a theme to follow throughout the house. You can choose colors and themes for each room so that they are all distinct. Don't be afraid to experiment by combining unusual colors or choosing a quirky theme. You could look for inspiration on your favorite blogs or in magazines. Create mood boards before you get started to help guide you.
Ways to Add Character to Walls
When you look at your walls, do they look empty and boring? You don't have to paint them bright colors to make them more interesting. Although colorful paint and wallpaper allow you one option, there's plenty more you can do. If you do want to repaint or add wallpaper, you could add more character by doing it selectively. Rather than painting or papering an entire room, you can pick one wall or even part of a wall. There's such a huge range of paint colors and wallpaper patterns that you should easily find something you love. Try looking for designer wallpaper designs for something unique.
If you want to avoid major changes, you don't have to paint or paper the walls. You can have plain white walls and still add plenty of character to the walls. Most people have photos or some favorite art on their walls. But you can elevate yours by choosing the right frames and placing them in the right position. There are so many things you can do to create an impact. You could set up a gallery or collage by arranging lots of frames together on one wall. Or you could carefully select only a couple of things to frame, so all the attention goes to them.
Play with Rugs and Floor Effects
Turn your attention to your floors to continue adding character to your home. Do you think that there's nothing you can do to them unless you change them completely? There's actually plenty you can do, depending on what sort of flooring you have. For example, if you have wooden floors, you could add a new stain to them or polish them. However, the easiest way to add character to any floor is to use rugs. No matter what type of flooring you have, rugs can work to make your home have more pop. Even if you have carpets, you can use rugs on top of them. They come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and textures. You can choose to put them in a variety of positions too. Place them under furniture, such as coffee tables, or strategically around it, like at the end of a bed. Try sites like www.momtastic.com for some great DIY ideas to create your own rug.
Go Beyond Boring Lighting
Many homes have simple pendant light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. You might dress them up with an interesting shade or fixture. However, if you want to add character to your home, you might prefer to go further than that. There are huge amounts of ways to use lighting around your home. You can use small and large lights, white or colorful bulbs, and eye-catching designs. Don't just consider the one main light that illuminates the room. Lighting can serve many purposes, either practical or more atmospheric. Go beyond thinking about the ceiling too. You can put lights on the walls, as well as having lamps at various levels. You can also put lights into furniture and fixtures. For example, LED spotlights work well in kitchens underneath cabinets.
Pick Striking Feature Pieces
In glossy magazine photos, every piece of furniture seems unique and eye-catching. However, for your home, you might feel like that's a bit too much. You want your home to feel homely and not look like a boutique hotel. If you want to tone things done slightly, try choosing some feature pieces to stand out instead. You can find unique furniture and accessories on sites like www.PlumGoose.com. Choose one or two main items that will serve as the focus of the room. You can theme everything else around them, but not everything has to be bold and impactful. For example, you might choose a bright, multicolored sofa and add chairs in dark colors.
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Pay Attention to Windows
The windows in your home take up a lot of space on the walls. It's important not to neglect them if you want to add character to your home. They're essential for letting light in, but they should look great all day. Your first choice is whether to use curtains or blinds. You might even choose both, or perhaps have two layers of curtains. Net curtains can give your home more privacy and can still look modern if you choose the right ones. Instead of curtains in solid colors, consider adding character to a room with a fun pattern.
Create Unique Spaces
Sometimes a room can look like the space isn't being used to its full potential. There might be awkward and empty spaces that don't really serve a purpose. But if you consider each room's space carefully, you can plan to use it all in the best way possible. Think about creating interesting spaces that add something to a room. For example, if you have a bay window, you could create a nook for reading or eating breakfast. You could have a space that you can transform from one purpose to another. For example, a space in your dining room could transform from a desk to a home bar.
Turn Storage into Decoration
Every home needs storage, but it doesn't have to be boring. You can come up with fun ways to store your things that will add character to your home. You might already have plenty of closet space to use. However, you might need extra storage. In fact, it's a great idea to display some of your storage and individual items purposefully. Start by thinking about what sort of storage you need and want. If you need to store clothes, you'll need a way to hang them or store them folded. You could choose a unique wardrobe, but it's not the only way to go. For example, you could hang your clothes on a rail, like you might see in a store. You can turn your clothes into decoration. Try doing this with other things too. Put your possessions on display, but keep them neat and organized at the same time. Another thing you can do is choose storage that serves another purpose. It could also be a coffee table, bed, or even sofa.
By Mazzali |
Make DIY Features
If you want something unique for your home, making accessories will give you something no one else has. You can find DIY projects on websites such as www.popsugar.com. Even if you follow a tutorial from someone, what you make will still have its own quirks. There are so many things you can make, especially using items you have to recycle. Using things like jars and bottles has been popular over the last few years. However, you don't have to do the same old things with the same objects. You could turn some glass bottles into a lighting feature. Or you could make some seating from wooden pallets.
Add Character in Small Ways
You don't have to make huge moves to give your home more character. It could be only small details that make your home more unique. It's the little things that you can use to put some of your own personality in your home. For example, something as small as the door handles on your doors or cabinets can make a difference to the room. Add a small potted plant to a side table or create a little collection of vases and decorative bowls. Set out a drinks tray with bottles and glasses that's decorative and functional.
You can choose to add character to your home in a huge range of ways. Use your imagination to play with styles and colors and get creative.
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