How to add character to a home that lacks it
Some houses are born with character think Victorian terraces with ornate cornices or country cottages with creaking floorboards. Others, however, can feel a little too pristine, too polished, as though they’ve only just stepped out of a showroom. The challenge and joy lies in giving these homes a sense of history: layering in details and textures that make them feel as though they’ve always been this way, evolving alongside the families who live in them.
The secret? It’s all in the detail.
CRAFTING A STORY THROUGH DETAIL
Character doesn’t come from one grand gesture, but from a collection of subtle layers. Adding cornice details to a plain room, for example, instantly introduces architectural weight and timelessness. Where once there were bare walls, now there’s a dialogue with history.
Paint can also play a transformative role not just in color, but in treatment. Engaging a specialist artist to gently age woodwork, doors, or panelling gives surfaces that beautiful lived-in patina. It’s the kind of detail that tricks the eye into believing a home has been loved for decades, not months.
SOURCING PIECES WITH A PAST
No home can feel truly timeless without items that carry their own stories. The key is not to buy everything brand new, but to curate. Seek out vintage finds a timeworn armchair, a ceramic lamp with a crackled glaze, or a rustic dining table that proudly wears its scratches.
One of the most powerful ways to introduce history? A vintage door. Whether salvaged from a farmhouse, an old school, or even a church, a reclaimed door instantly brings soul and
authenticity. Its worn handles, softened edges, and layers of paint tell stories of decades gone by, and when placed within a newer home, it immediately blurs the line between past and present.
The most memorable rooms are those that reflect a family’s journey: furniture and architectural details collected over time, each with its own tale to tell.
TAILORED TO THE HOME
Joinery is one of the most effective ways to transform a home from flat to full of character. The key lies in mixing materials and finishes to create depth and individuality. Painted cabinetry can be paired with natural wood to strike a balance between refined and rustic, while inset panels of wallpaper or woven grasscloth add both tactility and surprise. As seen in the joinery examples above, these details prevent cabinetry from feeling uniform or soulless instead, they become architectural features in their own right. Bespoke joinery, when designed with thought and care, tells a story and grounds a space with permanence.
WALLS THAT WHISPER
Few things change the atmosphere of a room as instantly as wallpaper. Whether subtle textured grasscloths or boldheritage prints, wallpaper adds personality and narrative. It gives depth where paint alone might fall flat, helping a room feel less “new” and more “established.”
BATHING IN CHARACTER
Bathrooms are often overlooked as purely functional spaces, but the right details can transform them into rooms with real character. Traditional sanitaryware provides both elegance and longevity, instantly grounding a scheme with timeless appeal. Beautiful ceramic bath and sink taps from Drummonds, for example, bring a sense of heritage craftsmanship, while their refined silhouettes introduce subtle sophistication. Pair these with a bespoke vanity ribbed oak cabinetry, an ogee-edged stone top, and carefully chosen hardware and the result is a bathroom layered with texture, detail, and enduring charm.
A HOME WITH SOUL
Ultimately, adding character isn’t about chasing trends it’s about layering details that bring a sense of history and belonging. From cornices and wallpaper to reclaimed doors, bespoke joinery, and traditional sanitaryware, each element plays its part in creating a narrative that feels rich and enduring. True character doesn’t come all at once, but evolves over time, as carefully chosen pieces and crafted details are added to the fabric of a home.
The most successful interiors are those that balance restraint with personality: a mix of timeless craftsmanship and personal storytelling. When these details come together, a house begins to feel less like a newly finished project and more like a home with roots somewhere that feels established, storied, and deeply lived in. In the end, character is not a finish line but a journey, one that grows with the people who inhabit the space.
