If you’re lucky enough to live in a home with beautiful bones, you might not realize how much heavy lifting this does for the design of your space.
On the flip side, if you live in a condo/apartment building, or any style of dwelling that is lacking charm or visual interest, you might be wondering why your decor feels flat and – what you can do about it.
Whether you’re downsizing into a condo or rental property, moving into a new build, or just feeling like your home lacks character – we’ve compiled a list of our favourite ways to make your home feel charming when working with basic bones.
Architectural Details
An element that people tend to miss when moving into a condo or apartment building is the lack of little architectural details that are usually found in a detached home – crown mouldings, baseboards, panelled walls, door frames, etc.. This lack of dimension and visual interest can make even a well decorated space feel a bit flat.
If you own your unit and have the opportunity and desire to add any of these features, that can be a relatively easy way to introduce more character into your home, but you can achieve a similar overall effect with furniture and decor. At a greater cost, but with big impact is the addition of custom built-ins to both add function and loads of visual interest to your home.
When shopping for wood furniture pieces, look for interesting textural details such as panelling, fluting, moulding, etc. On upholstered furniture, think about adding tufting or channelling to even just one piece.
Choose storage pieces with a crown detail or panelled doors, like we did with our Sanctuary in the Sky project. This custom linen cupboard acts as extra pantry storage while also incorporating architectural details into this rental space. Pieces like this are also a great alternative to adding built-ins for a fraction of the cost. Changing hardware on cabinetry from basic to something more elevated is another easy way to elevate a plain door front.
Simple swaps like choosing framed artwork instead of wrapped canvas prints is another great way to add visual interest and dimension to a space.
Define The Space
A design feature that is often missed when living in a single level and/or open concept home is the lack of definition between living zones. In a traditional layout home, these spaces are often predetermined by the architecture of the house – entryway, living room, kitchen, office, etc.
Defining these zones with furniture and decor can not only help to break up the space, they make areas of your home feel deliberate. This structure creates an important mindset shift (think about how productive you feel sitting on your sofa vs. at an organized desk) when going about your daily routines or entertaining.
Starting with the entryway aka the first impression of your home – a rug, some artwork, a small chest to store keys, hats and gloves defines the space as you walk in. Love to savour your morning cup of coffee with a good book? Think about where you can create a purposeful space for this activity with a comfortable chair and small drinks table near a window with morning light (or a reading lamp if this isn’t possible.)
A dining table and chairs alone does not a dining room make. Hanging a statement light fixture over the table, adding a storage piece like a hutch or sideboard on an adjacent wall, and hanging artwork can all help to create a proper dining area that can make even casual meals feel special.
In the living area, using a rug (you can read our blog on how to choose the right one here) to define the space is going to be essential. If possible, floating a sofa or pair of chairs works wonders to separate this area from the rest of the room and create a sense of place.
Creating zones is not only practical, it actually helps your space feel more like a home by making simple daily routines feel intentional and personal.
Don’t Skip Drapery
Even if you have blinds, drapery is non-negotiable in our opinion. It adds an element of softness and drama to the space, as well as helps to cover up acres of glass and metal, which can make your room literally and figuratively feel cold.
You’d be amazed at how transformative even a simple set of side panels is to any space. Roman shades are also a charming alternative to roller blinds in kitchens, bathrooms, or windows that don’t have enough clearance on either side to accommodate panels.
Incorporating fun details such as trims and tapes can amp up a plain fabric and add extra character to your window treatments.
Swap Out Light Fixtures
There’s nothing that screams rental or builder basic more than an LED hardware store flushmount. Generic lighting will bring down the aesthetic of your space faster than you can say “lights out”. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to blow your budget on light fixtures, but it’s definitely not an area you want to skimp on.
Overhead lighting should always be on a dimmer and when possible, use the warmest bulb type that is still functional for your needs in that space.
Your beautiful furniture and decor pieces deserve to be paired with ceiling fixtures of equal measure!
While we’re discussing lighting, be sure to layer a variety of lighting sources for maximum versatility and ambience (think a mixture of overhead fixtures, table lamps, floor lamps, and wall sconces.) We love including mini lamps on unexpected surfaces for a touch of whimsy and soft ambient glow.
Collected Beats Curated
Regardless of what type of home you live in, the most important thing you can do to make your home feel personal and charming is to incorporate meaningful pieces from your life into the decor as opposed to buying everything new.
Whether it’s that piece of art you picked up in a vintage market on holiday, a vase passed down from your mother, or a favourite accent chair you can’t part with – these little mementos are what gives your home character because they make the space feel personal.
