35 Ways to Add Character to a Basic Builder Grade Home

Inside: Ideas to add character, charm, and historic interest to your builder grade home that work whether you have a cookie cutter new house, or an older one that needs a dose of personality!

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When we first toured our Southern traditional home, I was immediately smitten with the loads of historical features that had been incorporated into the 1990’s build. Despite its state of disrepair, this charmer had me at brick floors and bedroom fireplaces.

Even though it was the same recent age as its neighbors, it exuded the charms of an old Southern estate, and I knew it was the home for me. Because this diamond in the rough wasn’t like every other house on the block. It had personality.

This nineties home with the vintage style has taught me that any cookie-cutter, builder-basic, newer home can instantly be made more interesting with a few additions that take cues from classicly beautiful older homes.

So, how can you give a new home the warmth and character of an old historical home? Here are 35 ideas you can add to a bland and basic build that will have it bursting with visual interest and the inviting charm of those long-established timeless beauties!

Upgrades That Add Character to a Boring Basic Builder Grade Home.

1. Millwork

If you invest in only one upgrade for your builder grade home, make it millwork. Wood molding is one of the key features that separates high end homes from the less expensive ones.

In this house, I was blessed with lots of crown molding, wood arches, columns, and panel molding throughout.

All of these features fit in with the style of this particular home. But there are tons of other options for upgrading the millwork in your home:

• Picture frame molding
• Wainscoting
• Board and batten
• Crown molding
• Casing for windows
• Increasing the height of baseboards
• Increasing the trim size around doors and windows

Board and batten has been hugely popular in the last few years because of its clean look and because it’s a project that many can DIY. This board and batten accent wall in my friend Suzy’s guest room at Worthing Court adds just the right amount of interest to the bed wall.

2. Brick

I have a soft spot for the casual rustic look of brick in a home. Our house had unique brick floor inlays in the kitchen and family room areas, which I matched on the backsplash during our kitchen remodel.

It also came with even more brick on the floors in the laundry room:

3. Accent Windows

Transom windows above doors are not only a classic detail, but they let even more light into a room. In our last home we added a bit of interest above the study doors with a piece of thrifted stained glass in the transom that we trimmed with molding to make it fit.

If you’re planning features for a new construction home, think outside the rectangular window and consider adding a round window like this one in my daughter’s bathroom:

4. Fireplaces

Every room is more interesting with a fireplace as a focal point. Another feature I’m spoiled by in this home are the seven fireplaces, including one in almost every bedroom.

All of ours have gas log sets but let’s be honest, here in the South we rarely turn them on. The fireplace mantel is more of a decorative feature than a way to stay warm.

In my daughter’s bedroom, this gorgeous vintage iron surround was in place when we bought the house. This find was a keeper so we had the mantel rebuilt to fit it. It brings charm to the whole room!

A faux fireplace can be added to any room as seen in Janet’s lovely living room at Shabbyfufu. Her elegant mantel stands all on its own as the focal point and brings together the entire space. But if you prefer to fill the inside of a freestanding mantel, try: 1) tiling the back wall, 2) filling it with candles or a large fern, or 3) adding an electric fireplace insert.

5. German Schmear

German schmear is a technique I would love to try sometime. This mortar wash brings in all the aged charm of a European villa. Laura at Decor to Adore used it to make over her dated orange brick cooktop surround into this showstopping kitchen feature:

6. Wine Bar Cabinet

Wine rack cabinetry is always a timeless, interesting addition to a dining room. This wine bar cabinet was the perfect way to close up a door in our dining room during the remodel of this area, and it ended up being a feature that looks like it was planned all along!

7. Built-In Benches, Banquettes, and Window Seats

Turn an awkward niche into a charming spot to relax with a built-in bench or window seat.

We built this window seat with storage in our daughter’s bedroom in one of our previous homes:

For more ideas of what to put in an awkward niche, see the post “25 Creative and Useful Ways to Decorate a Wall Niche“.

Or a pool bath is a perfect place for a slim bench like this one in my friend’s home:

And a kitchen nook is so much more charming with banquette seating around the table like in Karen’s kitchen at Sanctuary Home Decor:

8. Cabinet Feet

Give plain cabinets an upgrade with the addition of furniture feet:

9. Console Bathroom Sink Vanity with Metal Legs

I have always wanted one of these console sinks with vintage style brass legs in a half bath or powder room, even at the loss of a bit of storage (pretty isn’t always practical).

10. Architectural Salvage

Incorporate history literally into your home with an architectural detail from old houses. Look for pieces filled with time worn character like old corbels. Or a vintage newel post like this one with the gorgeous patinaed stained finish at Bungalow 47:

11. Natural Materials

When choosing countertops and flooring for your home, natural materials like marble and wood add much more richness and character over faux or manmade materials.

While granite is also a natural material, it can look timeless or dated, depending on the pattern. This Titanium granite passes the timeless test with its marble-like pattern.

12. Hidden Space Behind a Bookcase

An unforgettable feature you don’t see in every other house gives your home unique personality. Make it something unexpected, memorable, whimsical, and even a little quirky.

Every house has a kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. But how about a hidden room? Adults and kids alike find this space in our home fascinating. Behind this hallway bookcase is a spiral staircase that leads to a third floor attic bonus room! You might have to be building a new house to plan for this, but you could also add one of these bookcase doors to an existing closet or other small area.

13. Ceiling Beams

Rustic wood beams add warmth and character to the kitchen, family room, or living room and make these hearts of the home more welcoming.

14. Ceiling Medallions

Another adornment to the ceiling that’s an easy way to add character is a medallion highlighting a light fixture.

I’m thankful this ceiling medallion was already in place in our foyer because I probably wouldn’t have picked it, but I love it with the house.

15. Ceiling Millwork

Many molding treatments that are used on the walls like paneling and crown molding, can also be used to add architectural interest to the ceiling. We added stained wood beadboard to our back patio ceiling to bring interest and to bridge the gap between the interior and outdoors:

My favorite way to use molding on the “fifth wall” has to be a coffered ceiling. So I was over the moon when the study in our home was outfitted with one:

16. Built-In Bookcases

Not only are built-ins practical, this extra woodwork detail adds character and a place to decorate!

For the latest craze for decorating bookshelves, see the post “What Is the Bookshelf Wealth Decor Trend and How to Get the Look“.

17. Aged Wood Accents

Aged wood details really make a space more inviting. In addition to ceiling beams, stained wood looks lovely on a range hood, kitchen island, or interior doors. How much more interesting is this rustic wood pantry barn door than the standard white door?

18. Wood Molding on the Tub Surround

Instead of the expected tile or sheetrock bathtub surround, I went with woodwork molding that matched the fireplace in the master bath like you would see in historic homes:

19. Vintage Doors

Replacing an interior door with a vintage door instantly adds historical charm, like Sophia’s laundry room door at Delightfully Noted:

20. Vintage Style Tile

Choose a timeless vintage-style tile for a backsplash or floor. We added a small mosaic insert to this bathroom floor rather than tiling the whole thing to be friendlier on the budget:

And this mirror tile with the aged patina that we chose for our game room bar reminds me of a sultry turn of the century speakeasy:

21. Wood Flooring Instead of Carpet

Wherever you can afford to, replacing wall-to-wall carpet with wood makes a huge difference in adding warmth and richness to a room. I’d never had wood flooring in my bedrooms before living here and I wasn’t sure how I felt about not having the softness of carpet underfoot getting out of bed. Now I never want to go back! Imagine my master bedroom with carpet—don’t you feel like it would be less interesting?

22. Patterned Carpet

Where you do have carpet, a patterned style can add character (usually best in a contained smaller room). Our media room remodel was the perfect place to go bold with carpet. And I even pulled the deep brick red out of the carpet’s color palette and put it on the ceiling to cozy up the room and add more drama. (I had to laugh when I saw this same carpet in the casino on “Ozark“.😂)

Decorating Ideas That Add Historic Charm to a Newer House.

23. Lighting

Replacing light fixtures is one of the best ways to add interest and style to any room. Add sconces to flank a mirror or picture. Use lamps for additional lighting and dimmers on overhead fixtures to add charming ambiance to a room.

I added personality with lighting with my parent’s heirloom crystal chandelier, which fit seamlessly into the style of this house:

And when I replaced the pendants in the kitchen, I went big with statement lighting over the kitchen island:

24. Doorknobs

Replace doorknobs in some rooms to add personality. All of the doorknobs in a house do not have to match!

25. Wallpaper

Wallpaper has made a major comeback. It’s a beautiful option for adding pizzazz to a smaller room like a half bath. And now with peel-and-stick versions, it’s a great way to add a little character without the commitment.

How stunning is this wall in Rhoda’s guest room at Southern Hospitality?

26. Cabinet Hardware

Builder grade standard brush nickel cabinet pulls may be a safe choice, but they lack much personality. Putting new hardware on kitchen cabinets adds instant character.

In my master bath, I chose these crystal pulls to dress up the cabinets:

27. Light Switch Covers

Upgrade light switch plates to something a little more interesting. These brass light switches from Wandsworth Electrical are pricey, but definitely unique:

28. Bathroom Mirrors

Large expanses of unframed bathroom wall mirrors are rarely seen in new homes these days. Because using a decorative mirror adds so much style to the bathroom:

29. Furniture in Place of Cabinets

Reimagine some of your standard cabinetry with vintage pieces of furniture. The two most common places are the kitchen island and the bathroom vanity. Or try using an armoire for dishes in the kitchen or for storage in the bathroom. Flea markets and Facebook Marketplace are full of antique furniture perfect for repurposing.

This beautiful reimagined antique console table in Courtney’s master bath at French Country Cottage is beyond charming.😍

30. Contrasting Trim and Door Paint

The most affordable and easiest way to add quick character to your home is with paint. Try a darker color on interior doors and window casings. Look at the difference in Martina’s hallway at the Lived in Look after painting the doors a soft classic black that adds sophisticated contrast to the white walls:

31. A Moody or Historical Paint Color

Again, because paint is an easy addition, try painting cabinets or a room in a moody or historical shade. The deep green lower cabinets in Lauren’s kitchen at Blesser House make the kitchen so much more inviting and interesting!

32. Brass Railing

Add some bistro shelves with brass fittings to the kitchen for a touch of European bistro charm.

Or add a brass rail to home office shelves like ours:

33. Display Collections

Infuse the room with things you love to add your unique personality. Display your special collections or make a gallery wall out of beloved photos or artwork.

34. Mix Decorating Styles

Mixing decorating styles keeps a room from looking one note and flat and makes it so much more interesting! See more details in the post “Seven Easy Tips for Mixing Decorating Styles in a Room“.

35. Play Off of the Style of Your Home

Any of these ideas will be more successful if you keep in mind the style of your home. Anything too drastically different could make your home be a character, instead of adding much character.

When it was time to remodel our kitchen, instead of going with the all-white and modern style that was trendy ten years ago, I chose materials that would allow the kitchen to flow with the rest of the house. This kitchen island and all the surrounding cabinets? All brand new, but they blend seamlessly.

If you’re bored with your builder-grade house, I hope you’ve found some inspiration in these ideas to inject a little character and interest into your home to make it yours. Even though I inherited a lot of these features, this house has taught me many ways to jazz up a newer home that I’ll be able to take with me when I move on from here.

I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you try any of these ideas, or what you’ve done to give your newer home personality!

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