New build properties are tricky. Yes, they feel fresh and pristine, everything is in fully working order, and there are no worries about rain leaking through the roof. But with such a blank canvas, it’s hard to know where to start when looking to inject your personality into the place. So today I wanted to share 8 ways you can decorate a new build house if you have no clue where to start.
Consider different neutrals
When you’re faced with blank wall after blank wall, it can feel daunting to go in with a paintbrush and start making big changes. But what you might want to consider is starting with a series of varied neutrals through the house. A dove grey, a blush pink, a light duck egg blue, a chalky sage green – all colours that don’t feel completely overwhelming but can make it feel more like home when you add in your current furniture. (Image Credit)
Or create a statement
Perhaps you’re not afraid of creating a statement and would consider dark walls or even feature walls throughout the house. I love the idea of decorating with deep, rich shades such as ink and oxblood, especially in cosier rooms like your bedroom, study and living room. Pick a room with plenty of natural light and test your chosen shade at various times throughout the day to see how it changes. It’s also worth considering creating a feature wall with a mural or complementing wallpaper. I know this image has Pinned so many times on Pinterest, but how beautiful would this be in a hallway or even a bedroom? (Image Credit)
Dress Your Windows
Adding personality to your home can be done in so many ways, but one idea I fell in love with recently is dressing your windows with personalised fabrics – a new concept introduced to me by Apollo Blinds. The “You Choose” service offers bespoke Roman or roller blinds, made-to-measure in any fabric of your choice. It opens up an unlimited choice of how you dress your windows to suit the room, and enables you to add your own stamp to your property. As one of the largest suppliers of made-to-measure bespoke blinds in the UK, the brand has a huge selection of 270 fabrics to choose from, but if you’re looking for something to match your cushions, or you’ve found some amazing material on your travels you’d love to see made into a bespoke blind, you’re able to do so with the “You Choose” service. Just in terms of pricing the Apollo Blinds You Choose service starts from £84 for a roller blind 650mm x 950mm and £104 for a Roman blind 650mm x 950mm, so incredibly well priced for a bespoke piece of interior design.
Change Your Fixtures and Fittings
When you move into a new build you’re more than likely going to have good quality fixtures like door handles, hinges and light fittings. But just by changing these, you can add a whole new feel to a room. I’d automatically swap all chrome fixture to brass because that’s my personal taste, but it’s definitely something to consider if you want to add a touch of your own style to the place. It’s also worth speaking to the selling agents before you buy the house to see if there’s any way of personalising small touches like this. (Image Credit)
Add personal touches
Personal touches around the house make all the difference. Add fresh flowers in a vase to the kitchen window, or style your shelves with decorative bits you’ve picked up along the way. There’s nothing that screams warm, inviting home more than framed pictures of friends and family around the place, and doing something as simple as creating a coffee table vignette can shake off that new build empty feeling. (Image Credit)
Don’t be Afraid of Wall Art
I get it, you’ve just made the biggest purchase of your life and you’re a little wary of hammering into those brand-new walls to hang pictures and mirrors. If you’re willing to spend a little time and you have someone else to help you, creating a gallery wall or even just hanging some beautiful wall art can instantly add personality to a blank space. (Image Credit)
Layer Up
Layering textures gives a room depth and interest. If you’re sticking to light neutrals throughout the house, materials like velvet, faux fur, sheepskin, embellishment and chunky knits add a luxurious finish to the room. So, think deep pile rugs, styling the sofa with complimenting (or even contrasting) cushions and adding a sheepskin throw to the back of your armchair. (Image Credit)
Work on One Room at a Time
I know how overwhelming it is when you’re faced with a whole house to decorate, but if you take a moment and concentrate on one room at a time, you’ll find it much easier. Take your time and really think about what you want to achieve from each room – is it functional, does it need to be relaxing, do you need to reshuffle your furniture to see if it works better once it’s been lived in a couple of weeks? I put together an easy guide to decorating, which covers everything from planning to scale to choosing the right lighting, which might make things a little easier. (Image Credit)
I think the most important point to all this is to just enjoy the process. It doesn’t have to happen overnight and once you’ve lived in your fancy new home for a month or so things will start to become much clearer. I hope you’ve found this post useful and as always let me know below if you’ve got any tips you’d share if you’ve lived in and decorated a new build property.
*Post in partnership with Apollo Blinds, but as always, opinion are honest and my own.
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