With magnolia walls and beige carpets, new builds leave a lot to be desired in the way of interior inspiration. The blank canvas however, can provide a perfect starting point to bring your own personality to your new home. Interiors specialists, Terrys Fabrics give their top tips for introducing personal touches to a new build.
Plan your colour scheme
Creating a cohesive and harmonious living space requires careful consideration and planning. Before diving into the decorating process, it is essential to establish a clear vision for each room. This vision serves as a guiding compass that shapes the overall aesthetic and ambiance you wish to cultivate. A great starting point is to determine a colour scheme that resonates with your personal style and desired atmosphere. The choice of colours can significantly impact the mood and energy of a space, setting the stage for the subsequent accenting touches.
Whether you gravitate towards a serene and soothing neutral palette that promotes relaxation and tranquility or you possess a bold and adventurous personality that yearns for vibrant bursts of colour, the colour scheme you select for your house will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in transforming it into a true home. It becomes a reflection of your unique taste and a canvas on which to express your creativity and individuality.
Just like how your colour choices can reflect your personality, there are various personality tests available that can provide insightful and helpful information about who you are. One widely recognised and highly regarded personality test is disc personality test that can be used to help people understand their own personality traits and how they interact with others. It can also be used to improve communication and teamwork in the workplace.
Start with the walls
When embarking on the exciting journey of decorating your home, it’s essential to start with the walls, as they provide a canvas upon which your vision can come to life. It is often advantageous to undertake these larger decorating changes before introducing furniture, ensuring the safety of your cherished belongings and allowing for greater flexibility in arranging the space. While many homes feature standard block-coloured walls, this presents an opportunity to inject your personal flair and individuality through small yet impactful touches.
Consider the allure of a feature wall, which can serve as a focal point and showcase your unique style. This can take the form of a contrasting colour that adds a vibrant burst of energy or an exquisite patterned wallpaper that exudes elegance and sophistication. For the more adventurous souls seeking to push the boundaries of creativity, masking tape can be a valuable tool for outlining intricate patterns directly onto the walls. However, it is crucial to bear in mind that the chosen scheme is likely to remain in place for years to come, necessitating thoughtful consideration.
Opting for a more minimalistic approach can often prove to be a wiser decision in the long run, ensuring a timeless appeal that can effortlessly adapt to evolving tastes and styles. By taking these careful steps, you lay the foundation for a home that is not only visually captivating but also a true reflection of your unique personality and aesthetic sensibilities.
Flooring
When it comes to flooring options, it’s important to consider both comfort and style as you embark on the journey of transforming your home. Often, the standard carpets that come with new builds lean towards neutral colors, but they may not always offer the luxurious plushness you desire. By opting for a top-quality carpet, carefully selected based on your preferences and needs, you can ensure that it will continue to exude a fresh and inviting feel for years to come. The right carpet not only provides a comfortable surface for your feet but also adds a layer of warmth and coziness to your living space.
On the other hand, wooden flooring presents an excellent opportunity to infuse your home with personality and charm. With a myriad of options available, you can choose from various wood species, finishes, and patterns to create a stunning foundation for your rooms. Patterns such as Herringbone and Parquet can bring a room to life, adding an element of visual interest and sophistication. The intricate arrangement of these patterns showcases a timeless elegance that transcends trends and serves as a captivating focal point in any space.
To enhance the aesthetic appeal and bring an extra touch of comfort, consider complementing your wooden flooring with strategically placed rugs. Rugs not only add a layer of coziness underfoot but also serve as design elements that tie the room together. They can bring additional texture, colour, and pattern to your floors, acting as statement pieces or subtle accents based on your desired style. Whether you choose a plush rug to create a cozy atmosphere or a bold, patterned rug to make a statement, these versatile additions can add the finishing touch to your flooring ensemble. (If you have a dog then perhaps consider something from commercial flooring specialists All The Floors.)
Furniture
The furniture we select for our homes plays a pivotal role in transforming the overall feel and atmosphere of our living spaces. It serves as a reflection of our personal style and taste, allowing us to curate an environment that resonates with our unique preferences. From 1920s-inspired sideboards that exude vintage charm to ultra-chic and modern dining sets that embody sleek sophistication, the choice of furniture can truly redefine the aesthetic and ambiance of a home.
When selecting furniture, it is crucial to prioritize longevity and personal enjoyment. Investing in pieces that will stand the test of time ensures that you will continue to derive pleasure from them for years to come. Each item should be carefully chosen to complement your lifestyle and preferences, ensuring that it not only enhances the functionality of the space but also brings joy and satisfaction on a daily basis.
Moreover, incorporating statement pieces that you genuinely love can serve as a unifying force that brings the entire room together. These standout furniture items act as focal points, capturing attention and adding an element of visual intrigue to the space. Whether it’s a striking accent chair with bold upholstery, a unique and eye-catching coffee table, or a thoughtfully curated display cabinet showcasing cherished collectibles, these statement pieces inject personality and individuality into the room.
Plants
The presence of nature indoors can truly breathe life into any space, imparting a sense of vitality and serenity. Introducing greenery into your home creates a connection to the natural world, providing a nurturing environment that is both visually pleasing and emotionally fulfilling. It’s almost like having a pet, as caring for and tending to living plants is not only beneficial for their growth but also profoundly rewarding for our own well-being.
House plants have experienced a resurgence in popularity and have become more than just a passing trend; they are timeless additions that have an immediate impact on the ambiance and aesthetics of a room. Their lush foliage, vibrant colours, and unique textures infuse a sense of freshness and tranquility into the space. Whether you choose to display a majestic monstera with its large, iconic leaves, a resilient yucca that exudes an air of elegance, or even a low-maintenance cactus that thrives in arid conditions, the inclusion of house plants will undoubtedly enhance your home environment.
Aside from their visual appeal, house plants offer numerous benefits to our overall well-being. They purify the air, removing toxins and pollutants while increasing oxygen levels, thus creating a healthier living environment. Their presence can also contribute to a sense of calm and relaxation, reducing stress and promoting a feeling of tranquility in our daily lives.
Even for those with busy schedules, there are plenty of low-maintenance plant options that require minimal care. These plants can still bring beauty and vitality to your home without demanding excessive attention. With a little research and consideration for your available time and sunlight conditions, you can find the perfect plant companions that suit your lifestyle.
Soft furnishings
This is where you can really start putting an individual stamp onto your new home. Your choice in soft furnishings is perfect for those added personality touches, and they can easily be changed as your style matures. Cushions, rugs and throws are perfect for accenting furniture, whilst curtains or roller blinds from Terrys Fabrics can be ideal for adding colour to a room whilst letting the right amount of light in when you need it.
The beauty of soft furnishings lies in their ability to transform a room with minimal effort. Cushions, with their various shapes, sizes, and textures, can instantly add a pop of colour, pattern, or visual interest to your furniture. They not only enhance the comfort of your seating but also serve as decorative accents that reflect your personal aesthetic. Whether you prefer bold and vibrant designs or prefer more subtle and understated tones, cushions offer a wide range of options to suit your style.
Rugs play a significant role in creating a warm and inviting ambiance within your home. They not only provide a soft and cozy surface underfoot but also define and anchor different areas within a room. With a multitude of patterns, textures, and materials to choose from, rugs can be a focal point or a subtle complement to your existing decor. They can tie together various furniture pieces, add depth and dimension to the space, and even act as a visual separator in open-concept living areas.
Throws, whether draped over a sofa or neatly folded on an armchair, add an extra layer of comfort and style. They provide a sense of coziness and warmth, inviting you to snuggle up on chilly evenings. Throws come in a variety of fabrics and designs, ranging from luxurious knitted blankets to soft faux fur or even lightweight cotton throws for warmer seasons. They not only offer practicality but also offer an opportunity to introduce patterns, textures, and colours that harmonise with your overall aesthetic.
Art
Art is an extraordinary medium that allows us to express our unique personality, emotions, and innermost thoughts. It serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and storytelling, and incorporating art into your home can truly elevate its atmosphere and make a profound statement about who you are. The choices you make in selecting art for your living space are a reflection of your tastes, values, and experiences, and they have the remarkable ability to bring your home to life.
From captivating paintings to thought-provoking sculptures, art possesses the transformative power to imbue a space with meaning, vibrancy, and visual impact. Whether you opt for a statement piece of pop art that exudes energy, bold colours, and popular culture references, a captivating street art print that adds urban flair and social commentary, or a mesmerising fine art photograph that captures fleeting moments of beauty and emotion, the inclusion of art can truly be a game-changer in your home.
Moreover, incorporating personal touches such as family photographs further enhances the sense of belonging and creates an intimate connection with your living space. These cherished snapshots capture precious memories, milestones, and the people who are dear to your heart. By displaying these photographs throughout your new home, you infuse it with a sense of familiarity, love, and warmth that truly makes it feel like yours. Family photographs serve as visual reminders of cherished moments, sparking joy and nostalgia, and creating a personal narrative that is uniquely yours.
There are many different ways you can bring personality to a new build, and often without too much expense. Explore the many different ways you can change your home. But, most importantly, remember that it should represent you. A living space that doesn’t speak of your own personality simply isn’t a home.
