Home… ahh. The word should conjure up feelings of coziness, relaxation and peace. Yet, moving into and settling in a new place can feel like the total opposite. Surrounded by blank walls, eating dinner in a folding chair, and facing the daunting task of decorating can be entirely overwhelming.
Your space should reflect your lifestyle and tastes, but it can be hard to know how to customize—especially if you’re starting off in a builder-grade or spec home. Ahead, we’ve put together a few tips for introducing your personal style into a space and making it feel a little more like home.
Add artwork and antiques to the space.
Art is inherently personal, and curating carefully selected pieces can feel like putting a piece of your own personality on the wall. It doesn’t have to be expensive, it just has to be you. This tip isn’t exclusive to beautiful canvas or print, either. Create a tabletop vignette with a souvenir from a favorite trip; use antique furniture or lamps that add an element of contrast to a more modern space; make a fun display out of your vintage stamp collection. The end result should be as unique as you!
Frame boring, builder-grade mirrors.
Plain sheet mirrors are the standard for rentals, apartments, and new construction homes, but this one simple upgrade will make the whole space feel custom. Add A Frame® makes it possible to achieve a personalized mirror frame without starting from scratch. Suited to mirrors of any length or height, Add A Frame® kits adhere directly to the surface of your mirror—and that means it works well even if your mirror is attached to a wall or rests on a backsplash, as many builder-grade homes do.
Best of all, it's shipped right to your door and easy to install for the amateur DIY-er. It's a luxe touch that won't break the bank. Plus, with 80+ styles to choose from, you'll be able to find one that's tailor-made to suit your taste.
Don't be afraid to rethink your layout.
If you’ve done a walk-through of an apartment or home (or spent any amount of time stalking the listing online) before buying it, it can be hard to “unsee” how the previous owners decorated it. Don’t limit yourself to their exact floor plan. Just because they preferred for the bed to face the windows, doesn’t mean you can’t try it a different way! See how you actually live in and use the space, and plan your design and decor accordingly, versus just doing what you “think” would work based on someone else’s lifestyle.
Add in a modern decorative mirror.
One downside of a new home is the sheer amount of empty wall space. A decorative mirror can add a pop of style to a powder room, bounce light around a dark hallway, or add interest to a gallery wall. We carry two different sleek, contemporary mirror shapes in a number of finishes that come ready to hang—find the one that perfectly suits your style.
Feeling inspired? Remember: Despite the constant stream of picture-perfect living spaces you see on social media, know that it is OK to go slow when piecing together your design. There’s no timeline that says it must all be completed at once. Be intentional about decorating your space so that you can enjoy it for years to come!