If you’re like me, you want a your builder grade home to be filled with beautiful character, but you don’t have a ton of money or have much experience with power tools.
So tearing out walls or adding built in bookshelves is out of the question.
The house we currently live in is a cookie-cutter, builder grade home. It’s a split foyer home that was built in the mid 90’s.
The walls were beige. The carpet was beige. All the wood trim and cupboards are golden honey oak.
It was definitely not my style.
However over the last 6 years that we’ve lived in our basic, boring split foyer home, I’ve worked on giving it character without using a bunch of pwer tools or tearing down walls.
Today, I’m sharing 10 ways I’ve changed to look of our home to better reflect my style and ultimately adding character.
1. Change bathroom mirror.
Our bathroom mirror was a basic flat mirror. I loved the size, but it was lack luster.
One day while we were in an antique store, I noticed this pretty mirror with a beautiful frame.
We decided to buy it, and it made all the difference in our bathroom. Plus it was less expensive than purchasing a mirror brand new.
You can fins all kinds of unique mirrors at second hand antique stores if you’re willing to look.
2. Add cabinet hardware.
Our kitchen needed some character, so I added black cabinet pulls and knobs. There are so many different styles and colors available.
Adding hardware doesn’t require a lot of skill. You’ll need to drill holes and I highly recommend using a cabinet drill guide.
3. Hang unique curtains.
My living room doesn’t have a lot of personality. I hung dark, dramatic curtains that catch your attention and make a bold statement.
4. Paint a bold color.
Some of our favorite rooms have the boldest colors on the walls. Our bathroom and our basement both have dark blue paint.
I love walking in our bathroom and seeing the beautiful color.
We also painted our kids’ bedrooms in bold colors. My son picked a bright, royal blue and my daughter picked a pretty pink. I love that their rooms are painted in colors they chose.
5. Add shelving.
I have two sets of shelves that make a big impact in our living room and our kitchen. I chose the style of shelves that reflect my vintage, cottage style.
The shelves add character, but I also get to decorate with fun things that add character and reflect my style too.
6. Change the faucets.
If changing your faucets seems intimidating, please let me reassure you that it’s not as hard as it may seem.
After watching a few Youtube videos, I was able to change both our kitchen and bathroom faucets.
And if you don’t want to change them yourself, hiring a plumber to change your faucets isn’t super costly.
7. Don’t shop retail.
Hobby Lobby and Kirklands have some really pretty home decor. I love looking at those stores around the holidays especially.
However, I do a lot of shopping at other places where I can score unique finds.
Some of my favorite place to find furniture and home decor are thrift and antique stores, garage sales, and even Facebook marketplace.
My dining room hutch was a $35 deal from Facebook Marketplace.
I also accept hand me downs. So much of my home is filled with things that came from my parents’ and grandparents’ homes.
The small wooden mirror above the TV in my living room came from my parents’ basement.
8. Add wallpaper.
Okay, I have to admit, I’ve only added wallpaper to one room. My daughter’s room has a feature wall with a giant rainbow that is wallpaper. I shared a tutorial in this post.
It makes a huge impact, and our guests always love it!
Maybe a giant rainbow isn’t your style. There are so many beautiful wallpaper prints available.
9. Hang more than framed art.
Another way to add character to your home is by hanging more than pictures on your walls.
I talked about adding shelves, but you can also hang mirrors, chalkboards, baskets, metal and wooden pieces.
I love looking for these items at architectural salvage stores.
I even hang a 48 star American flag from my wall every summer.
10. Use natural elements.
Basic, boring homes are missing natural elements that add a cozy factor. That’s why I love using lots of wood from tables, trunks, mirrors, and frames.
Woven baskets also add a natural element and texture.
I also love plants. My home doesn’t have a lot of windows, so I have to limit the plants in my home.
However, I do have some easy to grow plants in my living room and kitchen. If you have a black thumb, find some realistic looking faux plants!
Another way to bring nature indoors is to simply cut off branches from bushes and trees and put them in a pitcher on your shelf or counter top.
