Can you make a new build living room look period?

[Thurlow]

Contemplating making an offer on a relatively new build property, but conscious that it’s very different from everything else we’ve owned or liked. I can manage a very modern looking kitchen diner, and the bedrooms have much more scope for some funky painting or wallpaper to change their feel. However the living room is hugely not our taste - we’ve always had c.1900s houses with fireplaces and alcoves for bookshelves and wooden floors, the sort of thing that lends itself so bold, dark colours.

The rest of the house is perfect, especially the number of bedrooms, but I’m just worried I’d end up hating this living room. Is there anything we could do in this sort of property to make it feel more like “us”? It’s a terrace so no room for adding a fireplace. Any thoughts? Would it be too much for you to get over if you love period too?

My biggest room is L shaped, I also added a wall of MTM bookcases, floor to ceiling at the back of the narrowest part of the L.

You can re-create a lot of what you think is missing quite easily. It will never be an old house, but personally, I am not sure I will go back to one!

Peruse some of the Dutch estate agent sites for quite featureless rooms that are beautifully styled. Clean, scandi/mid century lines.

@Tooembarrassingtomention maybe but plain cornices makes it look very modern. OP can choose something not too big but ornate. They give a different feeling to the room

I think it's a bad idea to try to make a new build look period - the proportions are all wrong for a start.

But that's not to say you can't inject a lot of personality - there's an excellent blog on just that here: https://blog.making-spaces.net/2021/08/31/how-to-add-personality-to-a-new-build/?utmsource=rss&utmmmedium=rss&utmcampaign=how-to-add-personality-to-a-new-build

Or follow something like Funda Makeovers.
www.instagram.com/fundamakeovers/?hl=en

This is one example. Show 'before and after' from very plain to WOW

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPjRsuBlCe5/?utmsource=iggwebcopyylink

Personally I’d go with what the house is rather than try to change it.

Thanks all, loads of good tips and suggestions and you’ve convinced me there will be some way to make that room look a lot less bland and developer-y!

[quote grey12]@Tooembarrassingtomention maybe but plain cornices makes it look very modern. OP can choose something not too big but ornate. They give a different feeling to the room[/quote]
There is already a basic corner which touches the top of the patio doors
The roof height must be very low

I would go 1960s design classics
Wooden floor , simple furniture

I am wondering if you can utilise the recess where the double doors are …. maybe block them up and put fake modern stove / lintel inset into that space with discreet TV over …. another single door into the room from front or back corner (not sure if it’s possible)

Then you can have sofas / chairs arranged focused on it - with maybe a big mirror or art on the wall where the side board is in the photo.

@Sssloou

I am wondering if you can utilise the recess where the double doors are …. maybe block them up and put fake modern stove / lintel inset into that space with discreet TV over …. another single door into the room from front or back corner (not sure if it’s possible)

Then you can have sofas / chairs arranged focused on it - with maybe a big mirror or art on the wall where the side board is in the photo.

Or put the fake stove / fireplace on the side board wall and main sofa in the blocked up door recess.

We’ve had this done in our lounge

Agree adding a fire place and stove will create character. You could also consider putting floor length curtains either side of the patio doors, perhaps add period style wall lights or standard lamps, a few rugs and paint walls in a light heritage colour.

Here’s an example of period lite

www.next.co.uk/laura-ashley/homeware/laura-ashley-sofas

The listing photos for "your" house are purposely bland as it has most probably been depersonalised for sale.
Adding carefully chosen items back in (without making it look cluttered) could make it look more cosy

We moved from period to new build - personally I've avoided trying to add fake period features but I have made it interesting. Our main livingroom is an adult space and we've been pretty bold with colour and pattern (deep teal walls, purple sofas, silk curtains with both colours in them, lots of metallic accessories, good lamps and mirror, huge rug) and it has totally lost the cold blandness that it had when we viewed it. It's a space that now feels cosy and luxurious.

It is possible but you have to see past the often bland choices that the builders put in. Our place was all painted white, greige flooring, beige carpets, white kitchen with mushroom worktops, and all much bigger than our old house so the feel was so different. I think you need to be a bit brave with colour and pattern to make it feel homely.

@RussianSpy101

We’ve had this done in our lounge

That’s fantastic! Something like that would definitely change the room, I love that.

Right, convinced now. Navy or dark teal walls, maybe industrial style lampshades, bit of mid-century dark wood sideboards and tables, a fireplace when we can afford it. There’s enough other spaces in the house to be child friendly so I want a good, rich adult space.

We have a 1950s house and would love a period property but just can't afford it. We've not consciously styled our living room as "period", but people say it has that feel. We went for wooden floors, teal walls, inbuilt bookcases, log burner with oak beam over, an old wooden bureau and chest, and Chesterfield sofas. We also put in a picture rail which we were worried would be a bit odd as ceilings are not high, but actually we think it looks lovely. There's no hiding the fact that it is still a 1950s house, but it now has an old-fashioned atmosphere that we love. Good luck with your purchase - I think you could have a lot of fun with it!