There are plenty of reasons you might opt for a new home with a production home builder. And, like most owner-builders, you probably had the chance to choose some of your home’s options. Still, from carpet to paint color, cabinet finish, and lighting fixtures, production builders keep costs consistent by offering only a few choices for each detail of your new home. Even if you chose your favorite options, your brand-new home might lack the charm and character of an older or custom home.
The last thing your brand-new home needs is a total renovation. Instead, try a few details and upgrades that let you add your own personality and character to your builder-grade home.
Try a Ceiling Treatment
Source: O’Hara Interiors
Look up! Most builder-grade homes don’t do much with the ceilings. Usually, they’re simply painted white, leaving more budget for other areas and details of the home. But adding character to your ceilings can give your home a more lived-in, custom look. Try installing decking to give your ceiling more texture, or add a ceiling medallion to bring attention to a unique light fixture and suddenly, your ceiling becomes less of an afterthought and more of a charming feature.
Swap Out Your Hardware
Source: Highmark Builders
Builder-grade hardware is pretty generic; it’s meant to appeal to as many homeowners as possible. Luckily, it’s a quick and easy fix and that doesn’t require years of builder expertise. Get personal with your hardware: scour flea markets for interesting knobs and latches, or opt for timeless hardware that is more your style. Just keep in mind that your new hardware should still complement the existing features in your home to create a totally cohesive look.
Trim Out Your Mirrors
Source: Jaffa Group
Builders are notorious for going bare bones in the bathroom, especially when it comes to mirrors. You probably had the option to upgrade fixtures and even lighting, but most builder-grade homes simply have unframed mirrors that lack personality. Taking an afternoon to trim mirrors in stained or painted hardwood gives your bathroom a completely custom look that is anything but generic. Try matching your cabinetry finish or stain for a refined look, or go for a bright color for a fun kid’s bathroom instead. Getting rid of the harsh, plain edges of unframed mirrors adds character and doesn’t require a complete bathroom renovation.
Add Feature Lighting
Source: Eleven Interiors
Builder-grade homes often rely on plain, recessed lighting to get a brighter look in kitchens and living rooms. Sure, they’re effective, but recessed lighting won’t do much for the character of your home. Since you’re more or less “stuck” with the lighting plan (no electrical renovations, please!), you can add floor and table feature lighting to warm up your space and illuminate some of the more charming parts of your home.
A table lamp near a houseplant can help brighten up a dark corner. Or, use an overhanging floor lamp and an overstuffed chair to create a comfy reading nook. You don’t need to change out fixtures and you can still swap out feature lighting whenever you want a change.
Paint Your Molding
Source: Thompson Custom Homes
Plain white molding is to builder-grade homes as tile is to grout: you can’t have one without the other. Some homeowners love the clean, bright look, but white molding can seem sterile. For a completely personalized look, consider painting your molding to add depth to your woodwork. Black molding creates a contrast, while going for a light brown makes for a peaceful room. White might be bright, but bringing color in always adds more character.
Your new builder-grade home probably doesn’t need a full renovation. In fact, the last thing you want after the building process is to add major projects to the list of things to do. But you can try small fixes to make what may seem like a generic home more interesting. After all, it’s your personal touches that turn any house into a home.
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