Seven Tips for Sprucing Up an Older Home

You’ve finally done it. You’ve saved up for a long, long time and finally purchased a home that you can truly be proud of. It looks old and stately, a distinguished gentleman in today’s fickle world of cookie-cutter starter homes and generic condominiums. 

Naturally, it is an older property. And as a home from that pedigree, it also has the advantage of character and personality on its exterior. That said, you’ve still gotta spruce up the interiors.

It is a popular misconception that you can make a home look new and modern, and still call it interior designing. Instead, you should consider infusing some charm and character into it, which may not necessarily be current and trendy. 

Use One Color for Accent Work

Some of the first things that you will notice in an older home are the molding, the door frames, and the trim. They are from another time and are immediately captivating; the polish, the craft, all of it; something about it is different. 

While restoring things like this, uniformity is a good idea. Use a single color (white is a great choice) to preserve and draw attention to the finer details. A simple trick is to make one of these a little more glossy than the others.

That way, it catches your eye easily and then you begin to look at the bigger picture. Once a color palette is in place, use a contrasting shade on the doors and such to make them stand out from everything else.

Blinds Might Be a Better Option

Roller shades or blinds are a great, slick alternative to hanging curtains. The latter runs the risk of covering up that exquisite vintage trim of the window. With blinds or roller shades, though, you can clean up pretty well. Plus, they have the welcome bonus of looking slightly more modern than unwieldy curtains. 

Fabric Can Help You Conceal Windows

Older properties often tend to have weird-looking windows in the most unusual of places, which can undoubtedly stick out like a nasty eyesore. Fear not, though! There is a simple way to take care of this pressing issue. 

The solution? Simply cover the offending wall with a large swathe of translucent drapery. This is a clean and easy way to bring the look of the room together without completely shutting out all the natural light the window lets in. 

Use Larger Shelves

Shelving units are a great idea for adding a personal touch to your home with a place to show off the kind of things you like. Large and airy shelves are a nifty way to boost storage space and display your valuables and knick-knacks.

Things like books, memorabilia, curios, or even something which goes in line with the antique property – like antique English sterling silver for the dining room – will look great on your shelves. This can be easily done without disrupting the vision of the original architect. 

Additionally, they have an art gallery-esque vibe that goes in line with the old home aesthetic. So be sure to hit up your local flea markets and garage sales to pick up some things for your new home!

Mix Modern with Vintage

You can consider the inclusion of a few modern pieces that will go well with the period-accurate decor of the home. After all, technology is pretty much equivalent to modern life in 2022. 

The modern and the vintage must live in harmony together. It certainly helps the Xbox hooked up to the smart TV and the modular kitchen feel right at home in your art deco apartment. A balance between the old and the new is the name of the game here.

Use Rustic Decor 

Another tried and tested approach is to use elements and objects that feel like they belong in the rugged world of the great outdoors. Consider things like patina, woven items, fabric like linen and paisley, or even a vintage name-plate at the gate. 

The rustic and villager’s life is usually associated with being laid-back and considered almost romantic, in a way. Additionally, it is associated with being warm and inviting. Plants are also a great idea to freshen things up, as well.

Divide Rooms Into Zones

More often than not, older properties are built on off-kilter layouts of rooms. Large passages between two rooms can be a bother to work with. Break the shape of the layout into its constituent zones and connect them all with rugs and carpeting and some open-ended furniture, like a nice and simple bench.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to come into possession of a vintage house that’s full of little quirks and charm, then you should consider some of these tips to bring out the best that it has to offer. And before you know it, your old house will truly start to feel like home.