If you have experienced house envy after scrolling through Pinterest or Instagram, you are not alone. Beautiful homes with immaculate interiors crowd our feeds and can leave us feeling a little down in the dumps about our own dwelling. Interior decorating and remodeling can get expensive, but there are a few ways you can add style and character to your home without breaking the bank.
Timeless, cost-effective changes will bring you the most long-term enjoyment. It can be tempting to hop on board with every home decor trend, but you should ultimately choose styles that make you feel happy in your home. These seven inexpensive interior design ideas will add beauty to your home that will withstand the test of time.
Here are 7 Ways to Add Character and Style to Your Home:
1. Make a Grand Entrance:
The feeling you create when designing the entryway of your home will carry through the rest of the house. For homes with a garden in their front yard, water features for your garden will definitely create the mood for a grand entrance. If you want a functional and cozy vibe, dress up your entrance with a storage bench and a mirror. Adding a chandelier overhead will create an air of elegance and luxury. This will be a spot in your home that you see every day, so decorate it in a way that welcomes you home each time you walk through the door. You can even replace your coatrack with a vintage armoire to conceal the clutter and add character to your entryway.
2. Accent You Home with Reclaimed Wood:
Not into the farmhouse look? Reclaimed wood can still take your space to the next level without making it look country. This eco-friendly trend is popping up in homes everywhere as shelving, furniture, and accent panels. Reclaimed wood adds color and eye-catching detail to your living spaces. Shiplap is trendy right now and staying consistent with the type of wood you incorporate into your space will help you avoid the country look. Kitchens with white tile walls can benefit from dark wood shelving, as it contrasts wonderfully with bright colors. Reclaimed wood is a current trend in interior design, but the beauty it adds to the home is undeniable when done in moderation.
3. Do a Hardware Update:
If you are looking for a simple and affordable way to add character to your home, start by replacing door knobs and cabinet handles with unique and interesting hardware. If you are doing urban kitchen renovations, you can include this idea because it is simple to do in a small space. Swap boring brass doorknobs with any hardware that catches your eye and matches with the vibe you want to create. You can often find great pieces of hardware floating around in salvage shops at affordable prices. It’s a little thing that changes your space in a big way. Unique pieces can add character and style to your home without stealing the spotlight.
4. Cut a Rug:
Rugs are very diverse in style and price. They can cover up unsightly stains on your carpet, tie a room together, or add a pop of color. Rugs in neutral colors can serve as the base for the rest of your decor. Timeless Persian and oriental rugs never cease to be conversation pieces. Most rugs are durable and will bring you enjoyment for many years. They can easily be rolled up and stored away if you want to swap them out throughout the year. A rug instantly adds a little spice to your home and warms up the room.
5. Add Molding:
There’s nothing like DIY molding to add flair to any room of your house. Beadboard and crown molding can add interest and detail to flat walls, creating a sophisticated look. White accents can brighten up a room and contrast beautifully with dark walls. You can add beadboard to the bottom half of your walls or panel out an entire wall to make your bedroom feel luxurious. The molding looks great in any room of the house. You can even accent your cabinets with it, use it to decorate the side of a staircase, or trim your windows. It inherently has a fancy look that can take any space from okay to amazing in a cost-effective way.
6. Try Out Wallpaper:
Wallpaper has come a long way in the past few years. Styles and patterns have evolved to be classy, elegant, and bright. There are countless styles available to match any motif that isn’t reminiscent of Grandma’s house. Textured or patterned wallpaper works wonders to create works of art out of ordinary walls. Add oriental wallpaper to the DIY molding panels to create a unique wall that speaks to rest and relaxation. Interesting florals look great in the bathroom while tonal solids lend to peace and calm in the bedroom. Metallic and marble wallpapers can be a pleasant surprise to guests entering your dining room!
7. Add Character with Antiques:
Target and Home Goods may be able to furnish your home with the trendiest ceramic pineapples and widely reproduced paintings, but there’s something about one of a kind antiques that is timeless. Of course, there isn’t anything wrong with buying trendy knick-knacks or the like, but the vintage pieces from antique shops and thrift stores will add much more interest to your home and make it feel more unique. This doesn’t mean that your home has to look “old” in order to be stylish. Like a museum, pieces are carefully curated and displayed to tell a story. The pieces flow together and speak to one another. You can even mix curated antiques with on-trend finds to create an original look that’s all you.
Whether you want to liven up your home with unique wallpaper or simply change out a few knobs on your kitchen cabinet, adding character and style to your home doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. Small changes can go a long way, and over time you will create the home that you have always dreamed of. Simply work with the charm and character that your home already possesses and take it to the next level with these design tips!
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