5 Ways to Make Your New Build Feel Custom (That Won't Break the Bank)
You just moved into your new build--congratulations! What an exciting time. You've likely been through many design choices as you worked to pick from a range of options available to you. Maybe you picked some upgrades; maybe your whole house was custom. Or maybe you bought a spec home where all the choices were made for you and it was ready to move in.
No matter how you got to this point, its exciting to finally be in your new home. Once the boxes are cleared and you know where your vegetable peeler is (it's always the little things you can't find when you need them most, right?), you may start noticing that your new home still feels a little impersonal. It's a blank slate after all. So now you can start thinking about how you're going to make your new build feel custom to bring the warmth and meaning that only YOU can bring.
Start thinking about putting your personal touch on your home to bring the warmth and meaning that only YOU can bring.
So let's talk about bringing in some personality through design choices in five different areas: color, pattern and texture, furniture, lighting, and wallpaper.
But first, let's talk about budgets
I know, I know. If you've just built or moved, you probably don't feel like you have a big budget for anything else. Building is expensive. Moving is expensive. Life is expensive. I get it. Luckily adding your personality doesn't have to be expensive. In fact, you may already have many of the things you need.
However, I want to emphasize that knowing what you DO have to spend will help you use it wisely. Throughout this article I'll offer suggestions for where to put the bulk of your budget and where you can get big personality on small dollar amounts so we can make your new build feel custom without breaking the bank. Sound good?
5 Ways To make your new build feel custom
Play with Color Choices
Color may be the easiest and least expensive way to bring personality into your space. Color is so important because it sets the stage for the whole tone of the house. Warm or cool, inviting or stern, peaceful or vibrant, color is the backbone of the story and finding the right colors is super important.
You can bring color into your new home through any combination of the following:
Home decor
Soft goods such as linens, bedding, curtains, etc.
Paint
Artwork
Rugs
Dishes or kitchenwares
You probably already have a good start on this one as most of the time we naturally gravitate towards a color or group of colors that is meaningful to us. For me, that color is aqua blue--a light, calming shade that brings peace and tranquility into my home. For you, it could be any color that helps you feel most connected.
You probably already have a good start on color as most of the time we naturally gravitate towards a color or group of colors that is meaningful to us.
If you want the biggest impact, painting walls will be the least expensive way to change the whole feel of your home. Many times, new builds are painted a neutral tone or white, and if that's what you love, then perfect. But if you need more color, paint is inexpensive and effective at bringing in the right tones.
If you love your paint color, then bringing in personality through color can be achieved through the other items I listed above in any combination. The amount of color you introduce will depend on what you like.
Get Creative with Pattern and Texture
Pattern and texture are where things get really fun. Through throw pillows, rugs, and decor you'll make a lot of decisions that bring texture and pattern into your space. They are also the perfect places to infuse your personality into your space.
Mix and match is the game here. But learning to do it well is so important. I have written some tips for mixing and matching patterns in your space here, so take a look if you're wanting to put together a cohesive range that still makes an impact.
You could also consider incorporating personal interests and hobbies into the design through pattern and texture choices. Love the mountains? Bring some of that rustic openness and freedom through the patterns and textures you find in the mountains. Love art history? Look to the masters to find textures and patterns that elevate your space. No matter what you're into, you can find inspiration in your passion.
You could also consider incorporating personal interests and hobbies into the design through pattern and texture choices.
Choose Furniture with Character
Furniture is an element that will drastically change the character of your space but first and foremost it has to be functional. It may take time to find pieces you really love and connect with, but it will be so worth it.
Many years ago, we found a dining table and chairs from the 1920s that was listed for free. The chairs needed to be fixed, and the whole thing got a makeover, but the style of the chairs won me over immediately with their unique details and classic design. This set is around 100 years old now, but it's something that will always hold a classic look and has more character than anything else I could have found at the time. It's a piece I'll never get rid of.
Furniture like sofas and chairs may be where you want to allocate a good part of your budget because it's got to be both comfortable and functional. A sofa that doesn't fit your family size or lifestyle just isn't going to be a good decision even if it's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen (besides your children, of course). But you also have to balance that super comfy sofa with how it's going to look in the space.
It may take time to find pieces you really love and connect with, but it will be so worth it.
Mix old and new pieces for a unique and personal touch. If you are tempted to buy a matching set, skip it. Instead choose 1 or 2 pieces of the set that you love the most and find other pieces elsewhere that go well with that piece. It will give you a high-end curated look that will really stand out in your new build.
Set the Mood with Lighting
Lighting is the accessories of the room. How you light a room is the difference between throwing on clothes and styling an outfit. Your new home will likely come with standard light fixtures that are dime-a-dozen and they're a dead giveaway that it's a new build. Choosing lighting is key in upgrading your home to feel custom and personal.
Play with lighting in different layers for a cozy look. You'll have your overhead lighting, but also consider lamps, under cabinet lighting, art lights, and more to give your home a custom look.
Don't want to turn on lamps and adjust the lighting every evening? Put them on timers and your home will have a perfect glow without the added hassle each night.
Utilize the Power of Wallpaper
The fastest way to change a room and give it character is wallpaper. In a couple of hours the whole feel and look of a space is completely different. Whether you go for a bold pattern with vibrant color or stick to small geometric patterns or textures that have a more understated effect, wallpaper is amazing for taking that new-build vibe out of a space.
The fastest way to change a room and give it character is wallpaper.
I've got you covered there! You can head over to the shop when you're done here and see what wallpaper options I've got available. I can also create custom designs so you're sure to have one-of-a-kind wall coverings that are affordable but look high-end. If you're interested in that option, fill out the Contact Me form, and we'll get started.
Principles in Action
To show you how this all works together, let's look at my current living room. While it isn't a new build, it illustrates the point.
I painted some insets around the fireplace aqua blue because it was overwhelmingly white to me with all white walls and a white fireplace. Just adding color to those two insets set the tone for the room, and make me feel more connected to my surroundings. It also draws my eye to them, so it creates a focal point that wasn't there before.
To bring more color into our new living room, I brought in a rug with watercolor-like swirls in blues ranging from aqua to navy. This rug does several things: it brings a range and depth of color so it's not flat, it brings in movement and texture since it has a watercolor feel, and it continues the calming, peaceful feeling that I started with my paint color.
My sofa is both eye catching and comfortable. It's also a hide-a-way bed that we've needed to use many times so it's the best of all the worlds. I also found these green chairs that make a statement in the room and round out the color palette.
Putting it All Together: Making your new build feel custom
Using these five elements together is going to make a difference in making your new build feel custom and that exudes your personality and charm. By using your budget wisely, you can incorporate color, pattern and texture, furniture, lighting, and wallpaper to completely elevate your space into something special.
Your new build is the perfect blank canvas to turn into a work of art that captures who you really are as a person and as a family.
It's not just about how your home looks--it's about how you feel in it and how others feel when they come in. Your new build is the perfect blank canvas to turn into a work of art that captures who you really are as a person and as a family.
Have you moved into a new build recently? What would you add to this list?
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