During these long months of being in quarantine, we’ve all been staring at the same walls in our homes, looking around for ways to upgrade a few things here and there (I know I most definitely have). Clients have asked me to help them come up with some ways they can spruce up their house without doing a whole ‘lotta construction. I’ve come up with 5 of my top ways to give your home a little bit of character and I’m so excited to share them with you!

What better way to make your living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, or even your hallway feel and look cozy than by adding ceiling beams. Now I know what you’re thinking. OMG this is going to cost me sooo much money! And that’s where I come in to tell you “nope”. Who says you have to use solid wood beams when you (or your contractor) can create faux beams that are budget-friendly AND they look like the real thing.
PRO TIP: It’s best to add beams if you have high ceilings, light and bright spaces , and if you use a lighter, more natural paint color. If your room is small, doesn’t get a lot of natural light and has dark paint on the wall, I wouldn’t recommend adding beams. It’ll only make your space feel small and enclosed as if the ceiling is coming down on you.
Anyone else immediately think of Joanna Gaines when you hear “shiplap”? Cause me too. Shiplap is just one of those ways where you can really transform a boring wall. It really brings a totally different feel to the space! But for those of you thinking about the show “Fixer Upper”, I’m sure you might be thinking, “well, I don’t want my house to be a farmhouse or too country”. And that’s perfectly fine! Shiplap isn’t just for farmhouse/country style homes. It can bring a modern touch to a room without feeling like Joanna Gaines might pop up from behind you. Keep in mind, the rest of the decor in your space will determine if you’re going more on the modern route or the farmhouse/country route.
Let’s just say you’re not a big fan of shiplap but you still want to do some sort of paneling. Board and batten is another great way to add interest to a plain wall. There are so many possibilities with what pattern you’d like to do and I’ll show you some of my favorites!
There are a couple of fun ways you can give your fireplace a “facelift”. Fireplaces tend to be the focal point in a room, so why not make it look the absolute best?! I’ve seen so many homeowners who upgrade their kitchen, paint, refinish their floors, buy modern furniture, but they fail to bring their fireplace to modern times.
- Here are some of my ideas:
- Paint your red brick either white or black (you can even do German smear if you don’t want a solid paint color)
- Rip out the old outdated marble and upgrade with some fun tile designs
- Add a new mantle like a rustic wood beam (if that’s the style you’re going for). Maybe even match the ceiling beams!
Add a new mantle like a rustic wood beam (if that’s the style you’re going for). Maybe even match the ceiling beams!
When you add new trim to your doors and windows, it gives a room a completely different feel right off the bat! It’s a great way to add character to your home. I’ve seen houses over the years that have casings that have been painted over and over again, leaving such a sloppy look. Lots of times, I’ve also seen architectural profiles that do not match the rest of the house’s style so this is an important element when designing your home. While you’re at it, you might want to consider updating your baseboard trim as well.
One way to really add some architectural interest (and storage) is by adding built ins to your space. This can be done in your living room, dining room, office, or even your bedroom. Let’s say you just updated your fireplace (using my tips and tricks, of course). You have dead space on either side of your fireplace and you really don’t want to keep your hand-me-down bookshelves. Well, why not consider building some built in shelves (or have a woodworker do it if you’re not too handy). It truly makes the space feel cozy and tied together. PLUS you get some added storage. It’s pretty much a win-win situation.
I really hope these ideas have inspired you to look around your home and find ways to love it again (or even love it even MORE)! Sometimes you just have to think outside of the box and get a little creative. If you have any questions, feel free to comment on this post or email me and I’ll be happy to talk with you
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