How to Add Character to a Modern Home

Innovative and modern homes are becoming increasingly popular. Some would argue that the way that modern homes are designed today is without characteristic and traditional charm. If you compared a typical home from the 90’s to one today, things would look entirely different. Contemporary homes tend to be open-plan, coated in glass and finished in muted colours like grey and black.

Without a doubt, modern homes are impressive, and certainly like nothing we’ve ever seen before, but in them, it can be easy to feel lost and out of place - especially when every room looks the same as the next. In this article, we will explore how to add character to a modern home so that you can balance the perfect amount of style with tradition.

Adding Character to Your Home

Lighting

Lighting has a strong influence over the look and feel of a room, without us even noticing it. You can integrate lighting into your property in many different ways that stray from the typical overhead bulb or chandelier. To make any space feel more considered and unique, try to apply lighting at different levels and heights in the room. Floor lamps, although a basic and traditional choice, are great for adding comfort and intimacy to a room, and are often made with warmer bulbs that counteract any harsh, white lighting. If convenience is what you’re looking for, choose lighting solutions that are integrated with modern tech that allows you to control them using voice control or a mobile app. Don’t be afraid to be bold with your lighting fixtures, particularly those with a dramatic anchor feature that you won’t find anywhere else. These elements can be the first thing that you notice when you walk into a room, and allow you to choose one based on your own personal style.

Textures

What many don’t notice is the difference that textures can make to the atmosphere of any space. When we talk about textures, we’re referring to the feel and visual appearance of all the different surfaces in a room. This includes everything from cushion covers to the texture of canvas prints on the walls. To add more character and identity to a room, you should experiment with a variety of different surface textures. Mix a glossy-finish dining table with a matte vase, and you’ll notice the impact they both have on the space.

Exterior

Making your home feel distinctive starts with its exterior - after all, it's the first thing guests see before they start to make an impression. Your garden is the perfect place to add colour and vibrancy to your home. Whether you’re working with a limited area or a significant outdoor space, gardening not only boosts the value of your property but also creates a completely separate but intertwined space for you to utilise - particularly in the warmer months. The easiest way to start with the exterior of your home is to work in sections, from the closest to the property to the furthest away. It's a good idea to prioritise the front region of your garden, or the area that's nearest to the property’s entrance, as this will often be what’s spotted first, and can give passers-by a positive perception of your home without stepping through the door. To make the most out of your gardening space, choose a variety of different plants, of all different sizes and colours. It’s also wise to choose plants from each of the four seasons so that you’ll always have something to grow throughout the year.

Mix Rather Than Match

Often, the easiest way to distinguish between a property with its own identity and one without is the uniformity and consistency in its interior. While it's recommended to consider how well colours and patterns match before decorating a room, it's best to look for items and colours that complement each other, rather than exactly match. The effects of an interior that is too consistent and perfectly matched is a room that feels uninspiring and generic. If you’re unsure of where to start when designing your interior with furniture and appliances, start by picking a theme, for example, items within a certain colour palette. Then, mix both large and smaller pieces together to create a visual balance throughout the space, carefully coordinating their positions so that they’re evenly spread throughout the room.

Fill Every Room With (Some) Colour

It’s perfectly normal and acceptable to enjoy neutral colours and tones over bold and eye-catching colours. When it comes to designing the interior of your property, even if vibrant colours aren’t your first choice, simplistic and natural colours aren’t your only option. Pick any colour, for example, while you can find bright and luminous shades of it, you can also find calmer and subtle tones. Above everything, you should avoid decorating a room entirely with one neutral colour. To start with, choose a gentle colour for the walls, perhaps, and inject natural pops of colour through artwork and furniture.