This is a practical guide on how to furnish and decorate a new build home whilst it is still settling. When a new home is built, it’s not possible to paint, wallpaper or hang anything on the walls because the materials are drying out. Drying out is an important process that takes up to 12 months. Builders advise against making changes to the walls in this time, as cracks are likely to appear as part of the drying process.
We understand it’s an exciting time for a new homeowner, but it can be frustrating to live inside a plain, white box for a year. If you visit our beautiful shop, you’ll know how much we adore colours and textiles; they are a huge part of making a house a home.
With this in mind, here are some tips for adding personality into your new build home if you simply can’t wait to get decorating.
Flawless Flooring
You may have had flooring installed by the builders but if not, now is your chance to go wild. Unlike the walls, laying flooring in a new build is perfectly fine and is a brilliant way to immediately introduce character and flair.
Whether you choose carpet, ceramic, wood or luxury vinyl flooring, going for something a bit different to the standard new build style will enhance your home décor.
Choose Interesting Furniture
If you don’t have them already, the next step is purchasing the essential pieces of furniture, such as a sofa, dining table, and bed. These foundational pieces will anchor your space and serve as a starting point for your décor. When the surroundings must be limited in personality or colour, furniture is a great way to inject character into a space.
You can do this by choosing interesting or odd furniture, mixing styles or going for vibrant colours. This includes cupboards, drawers and free-standing shelves or storage units. If contemporary or plain furniture is more your style, choose dressing fabrics with patterns that stand out in the room. Table runners, cushions, bedspreads and blankets can all add the individuality or colour the rooms lack.
Focus On Lighting
Lighting can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your new build home. New builds tend to have mostly downward facing lights so make sure you add a variety of lighting sources. This can include low-level lighting, task lighting, and ambient lighting.
Not all light shades/types need to be matching so combine colours and fabrics here too. Floor standing lamps and lights built into the walls above or inside the skirting boards can be attractive and helpful.
Window Treatments
Although you want to avoid making a lot of holes in your walls, it is possible to still add blinds and curtains, after all, you will want your privacy. This is another brilliant opportunity to add character and personality into a room.
Think about the use of each room and whether you want your window dressings to have special properties such as thermal or black-out lining. Go for bold colours, beautiful intricate patterns or themes to really spice things up.
Add Personal Touches
Incorporate items that have personal meaning to you, such as photos and artwork. These touches will make your home feel more inviting and personalised. You won’t be able to hang any of them up yet, so consider where you can lean them up against instead.
Large mirrors and art look spectacular against a plain wall, especially with a nice vase, books or smaller frames placed next to them.
This solution may not be suitable if you have young children in the home but otherwise, leaning art up against the walls can be very aesthetically pleasing.
Another great idea is to change the handles on your cupboards and doors to something you love. If you have had to choose from a standard range of kitchens and bathrooms this can make a massive difference to the look.
Plants Are Décor
Finally, bringing the outdoors inside with a variety of plants makes a room very attractive. Choose plants that flower at different times of the year and plants you can place on top of high furniture that trail down. No one ever said you can’t have small trees inside your home either.
As long as the plants are suitable for indoor living, they will do wonders to bring your new build to life.
Now you know how to furnish and decorate a new build home without damaging the walls or spending hours painting over cracks that appear as the house dries. Follow us on Instagram for inspiration and pop into our lovely showroom to for more ideas and a chat about your new build décor.