Ready to hit refresh on your home? The summer is the perfect time to kick start renovation projects and finally start those home improvements you’ve been planning. If your goal is to bring character into your space, we have some timely advice for you.
Character is a difficult element to pin down. It might be better understood in terms of personality or individuality in terms of the items in the home, or it could refer to the unique craftsmanship related to the construction of the building.
Worried that your home doesn’t display enough character? This is a common complaint, and one that can be quickly overcome. Character in period properties can be difficult to achieve and define, particularly if you find yourself confined to a restricted set of design principles.
In this case, it might be time to break free from the decorating “rules” and embrace the concept of dopamine decorating – which is the idea of decorating your spaces in a way that brings you joy.
Here are our favourite tips for adding character to your home during a summer refresh.
A period property renovation calls for big picture planning. You commonly zoom out to look at it as a whole, seeing how the rooms flow into one another and provide balance and harmony with the space available.
A great way to bring more character into your space is to zoom in and look at the smaller details in your home. Things that might be overlooked can deliver a huge impact by catching the eye as you move through the space.
Introduce little details that are one-of-a-kind finds that you sourced on holiday or uncovered in a salvage yard. Details like ornate vintage cupboard knobs are a great example of a smaller detail that can bring an abundance of character.
Original features in a period property can be a blessing and a curse. They’re a blessing when you uncover them and discover that those layers of cheap carpet and backing are concealing original parquet flooring. But they quickly become a curse when you discover the work required to bring them back to their former glory.
Not all original features will cause you this much stress, so try to focus on the original details in your home that make it unique. And if they’re damaged beyond repair, consider replacing them rather than stressing about faithfully restoring them. Pick your battles when it comes to original features.
Heritage paint colours are more personality-driven than you might imagine. Forget about pale magnolias and soft greys, heritage paint includes bold shades of forest green, rich red, navy blue and buttery yellow.
If you’ve opted for an all-white blank canvas to bring your period property back to basics, summer is the perfect time to inject some colour and personality into your space. You could also explore vintage wallpaper and embrace the use of patterns in your home.
For style inspiration, look no further than the Man With A Hammer story. We spoke to Greg last year about his style evolution and how he learned to embrace bold colour and pattern in his property renovation.
Period properties wear layered textures very well. Think heavy linen, aged wood, brass fixtures, antique rugs and rustic stone. Antique and vintage pieces help to tell a story, but it’s best when this story is personal to you.
Decorating with confidence and personality allows you to display items that document your history and your interests. This isn’t about achieving perfection, but about bringing items into your home that say something about the space and its inhabitants.
Many UK households will decorate their home for Christmas, but what about the rest of the year? Decorating for each season can help you to avoid getting bored with your decor by keeping things fresh.
You might introduce fresh or dried flowers, switch out your soft furnishings, add a seasonal wreath or decorative item to your front door or move plants around in your home to showcase seasonal greenery.
Want to see your home showcased on the Vintage Door Knob Centre blog? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch over on Instagram to share your story and inspire other customers with your home renovation – you’ll get a voucher to use on the VDK website to say thank you.
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