There’s a common misconception that buying a new build means that you’re destined to live in a characterless home. However, this is completely untrue, not only can new builds be a wise decision financially, but they’re also easy to completely personalise to your tastes. So, whether you’re currently looking into new homes for sale, or you’ve just received your keys, here are some of the things that you can do to transform your new build home into your dream place to live.

Enquire about personalisation

For many people, the biggest appeal of buying a new build home is the ability to personalise it during the building phase. When you begin looking at new homes and different developers, enquire into whether there’s any scope for you to make interior choices throughout the process of the build. Often, if you reserve a home early enough, developers will allow you to choose options such as your worktops and flooring. This means that from the offset of moving in, the house is to your taste and won’t need to be changed further down the line.

Add in character

It’s often assumed that only old houses can have character, but this isn’t the case at all. Although older homes do benefit from in-built character, there are plenty of ways that this can be injected into new homes to give them a very similar feel. Browse sites like Pinterest to gain inspiration for how you’d like your home to look. It can be useful to create a mood board featuring images of different styles that appeal to you. Once you’ve done this, search for common themes and begin implementing these in your own home. This could be anything from installing coving and picture rails to adding panelling in some rooms. These features are really effective at adding both character and a personal feel to your home.

Don’t be afraid of colour

Most new build homes are painted in very neutral colours and tones to ensure they appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers. Despite this, there’s no need to shy away from colour in your home. Adding in colour is a fantastic way to transform your home and make it truly feel like your own. This doesn’t just apply to the colour of your walls but is also relevant to interior features such as furniture. If you aren’t ready to commit to an orange sofa or a green headboard, try incorporating colour through decorative features such as soft furnishings and other accessories. It’s common interior design practice to use a range of textures to create a homely feel too, use this in your own new build home.

Prioritise lighting

 It’s likely that your new build home will only come with basic overhead lighting in each room. Installing and using alternative lighting can completely transform a home. Consider investing in some table and floor lamps, under-cupboard lighting and LED strips to create more atmosphere and cosiness.

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