My dad used to build houses for a living. When I was younger, our family would spend time on the weekends getting those homes ready for realtors and renters and new homeowners to come in and take the metaphorical baton in the form of house keys. At the time, to my young mind, it seemed as if all of the houses were carbon copies of each other. It was almost as if each weekend, we visited the same home in a different location. I can remember asking my dad why all of the homes looked the same. His response was that these homes were intended to appeal to the masses and that it would be up to the homeowners to make it their own.
Note: This is a guest post by Caitlin Childs of Childs at Heart. View her bio below.
Today, I want to walk you through how to do just that by giving you a few easy ways to add some personality to your builder-grade home. I hope that these ideas give you the confidence to make your cookie-cutter home into a custom oasis that only your family could inhabit.
Paint
Paint may be one of the easiest ways to make your house feel like home. Rather than keeping the plain colors that builders choose, you can use this as an opportunity to showcase colors that reflect your personal sense of style. You could even add a touch of boldness by incorporating an accent wall or darker color.
Furniture
Furniture is intended to be functional, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be stylish! In fact, incorporating furniture in your favorite design style can easily set the tone for the rest of your home. If you want people to get a sense of your personality the second they walk through the door of your home, stylish furniture is the best way to do that.
Change Out Non-Essential Pieces
By swapping out all of the things that aren’t nailed down with simple upgrades, you can instantly add personality to your home without a lot of labor, and without spending a fortune. Here are some examples of a few non-essentials that could be upgraded in just one afternoon.
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Hardware
Switching out cabinet hardware is a simple way to add your own taste to your kitchen or bathroom. You could even give an outdated piece of furniture new life just by swapping the hardware.
Caitlin Childs – Cabinet Hardware
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Light Fixtures
Most of the time, very few people are actually in love with the builder-grade light fixtures that come with their home. They may be good enough, but in order to really maximize the amount of personality in your home, switch out those boring light fixtures for ones that you actually love seeing every time you walk through the door.
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Window Treatments
Whether you add flowy curtains, bamboo shades, or even interior shutters, adding a fun touch to your windows can be an easy way to provide the perfect backdrop for the rest of the room.
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Mirrors
Like light fixtures, mirrors are often one of those things that are the same across all builder-grade homes. You would be surprised what a difference it can make if you simply trade that large rectangular bathroom mirror for smaller, custom mirrors that communicate your personal taste.
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Faucets
Bathroom and kitchen faucets are often similar styles and colors throughout any newly built home. If you want to make your home feel trendier, swap those silver fixtures for something bold like brass, black, or even copper. This simple step will make your home look like it was custom made for you.
Caitlin Childs – Showerhead
DIY
Upgrading your home doesn’t mean you have to spend tons of money. Tackling a few simple projects yourself will allow you to maximize your home’s potential while saving money in the process. Even something as simple as putting a fun contact paper on the inside of your cabinets or adding open shelving will wow your guests.
One of my favorite ways to make my home feel custom is by adding different textures throughout. We recently added board and batten to our dining room, beadboard to our kitchen backsplash, and wood ceilings. All of these things have made our home feel custom and cozy, which was something that was missing before.
Accessorize
Perhaps the easiest way to add personality to your home is to simply decorate it how you like it. Collect items that you love or that carry a special meaning for you and display them proudly throughout your home. Even the most basic of builder-grade homes can be transformed with a little styling.
Caitlin Childs – Accessorize
If you’re interested in more tips on how to style your home, or if you’re looking for ideas of home improvement projects that you could attempt yourself, you can find me at Childs at Heart or on Instagram (@childs.at.heart). Let me show you how to transform your home one DIY project at a time.
About Caitlin Childs
Caitlin Childs is a wife and mother that is passionate about creativity and the belief that any home can be your dream home. When she’s not playing with her dogs or traveling with her family, she enjoys renovating her current home that used to belong to her husband’s grandmother. Through DIY and determination, she is demonstrating how to truly make your home your own.
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