There’s no doubt that old homes have a charm of their own. However, their time-earned character also comes with visible signs of wear and tear. If your old home is in need of some TLC, here are five amazing ways to spruce it up and breathe new life into it.
Underfoot update
If preserving the original, antique wood flooring is an option, go for it. Just be sure to tackle all the necessary repairs like squeaky or sagging floors and patch the damaged areas beforehand so that the flooring remains functional for years to come.
On the other hand, if the flooring is damaged beyond repair, you might want to consider making a more extensive underfoot update and get new flooring. Fortunately, there are a number of engineered picks that mimic the look and feel of old house flooring so you can retain the same rustic charm. If you’re swapping up the existing flooring entirely, make sure to use the same type of flooring throughout the house. This will create a sense of cohesiveness and make your interiors look polished instead of feeling like mismatched chaos.
Freshen up the walls, ceilings, and trims
As excited as you may be to give your walls a fresh coat of paint, you have to keep in mind the extensive preparations you’ll need to go through before you get to the stage where you select the paint color.
First, you’ll need to inspect the walls for damage and tackle necessary repairs (e.g. water damage, rot, or mildew) as well as remove the old, peeling wallpapers. Secondly, popcorn ceilings ought to be removed while smooth ceilings need to be cleaned so that the new coat of paint adheres properly. Before you paint the walls and ceilings be sure to prime them, and use white for both as it’s your safest bet (i.e. it masks imperfections and walls that are uneven). Finally, worn areas on trims and doors need to be re-painted or re-stained. For that, you can either use the same color you used for your walls and ceilings or go for a contrasting shade (e.g. charcoal gray) to bring out your home’s charming architectural features.
Rely on decor to breathe new life into your old house
When it comes to accessories, you want to start by swapping out the textiles. Nothing ages a home quite like old curtains and worn out carpets. These are the pieces that ‘frame’ or, in other words, define a room, so it’s best to try to color-coordinate them.
Chic wool rugs will bring a sense of warmth and comfort, breathing new life into your living room. As for the curtains, you can stick with the same color palette as your area rugs or coordinate it with the color of the walls. Throw in a couple of pillows in matching color palette to get a cohesive look, and decorate with ‘weathered’ pieces like storage trunks, woven baskets, linen, and wood with patina to enhance the rustic feel of the house.
Something old, something new
When it comes to furniture, you want to introduce contemporary furnishings that reflect the era you’re living in while still retaining the charm of a period home. In other words, you should aim to mix the old with the new without either of the styles giving off the impression of the dominant one.
Modern appliances like TVs and laptops won’t look misplaced when there are simple furnishings that complement the feel of a traditional home. Look for furnishings that are streamlined and minimalistic in design, and go with clean lines and basic, neutral hues to create a backdrop that isn’t distracting. Be sure to retain a couple of antique furnishings and decor pieces such as old chairs, console tables, and artwork to add hints of a vintage feel. That way, instead of the two styles overpowering one another, they’ll be working together.
Let there be light
Any space can benefit from abundance of natural and artificial lighting. However, one problem you may encounter in an old home is the weird, awkward positioning of the windows. Although you could replace them (if the budget allows), another way to go about this is to maximize the use of light with the help of long, light drapery. This will help conceal the quirky windows while also letting the light shine through and brighten up your living space.
You should also consider updating any old lighting fixtures to prevent your home from looking dated. Go for table lamps, sconces, and overhead lights to add several layers of lighting and make sure your home is well-lit. Finally, consider adding mirrors to bounce off the light coming in and couple them with white walls to create an airy feel in your living space.
Bringing life back into an old home is all about keeping its old-world charm while making it look functional and current. With just a couple of touch-ups like the ones mentioned above, you can easily bring out the best features of your home and make it look new again.
Featured image source: Pixabay’s Rectangular Glass-top Center Table With Black Wooden Base