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Adding charm/character to house, with pics

42 replies

Dominey · 21/09/2025 08:39

Can anyone recommendation any instagram accounts of people who have redecorated a boxy dated house to add charm/character? It’s a house built in the 90s that from the front actually looks very cottagey and charming but inside still has the original decor and needs an overhaul. New kitchens and bathrooms will come when we have saved but looking for DIY things I can do now! Attached is a similar living room and bedroom found on Right Move (not my house) so you get the idea! Would love to follow some people who have done it as I lack vision!

Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
OP posts:
Thread gallery
15
friedaddedchilli · 21/09/2025 08:44

Art

MaybeIf · 21/09/2025 08:44

What’s your budget? I’d start with colour. What are your tastes?

Dominey · 21/09/2025 08:57

@MaybeIf My taste is Victorian houses or cottages full of quirks and character, I love colour. My hell is grey everywhere and boxy rooms. *[link to house details removed at OP's request]

@friedaddedchilli We have loads of art but I’m not sure how to make it fit into this house.

Budget will be £1000 or so every month to do something! Savings are going to go towards kitchen and bathroom. Happy to live in it as is for years and just do one room at a time.

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 21/09/2025 09:49

Skim the ceilings to get rid of the swirly plaster then think about lighting. Central ceiling roses with plain shades look very dated. You could go for a modern chandelier or something mid century style or even ultra modern. The think about table lamps and free standing lamps, add pictures and mirrors and plants.
I like colour so I would stick some interesting wallpaper and or paint up too. You should be able to get a room done every couple of months if you do the painting and you have £1000 per month to spend.

Dominey · 21/09/2025 09:52

Thank you @Geneticsbunny this is the kind of straight forward advice I need.

OP posts:
Geneticsbunny · 21/09/2025 09:55

And I didn't even chat gpt an answer! Good luck. It is very satisfying. Mood boards are handy while you are working out what works. Also don't be scared of sticking some. William Morris up in a modern house or using antique furniture. It can look lovely.

EverybodyLTB · 21/09/2025 09:59

A lot of what’s dating the place looks a reasonably easy fix to me, the lighting has to go. The glossy doors and bright handles look very 90s, big radiators and small skirtings. Small curtains are very dated, too. You either go discreet blinds to show off the original windows in an old house, or full proper curtains down to the floor. If you think £1k a month for a year, I’d be looking at replacing the skirting and priming the doors, replacing the rads for column style or covering them, getting wooden flooring, skimming the ceilings and replacing the lighting, including lamps and mood lighting. Any more pics? Soft furnishings and furniture then need to have more texture and interest to create that Victorian cottagey look. Start looking in second hand shops etc for items that have a bit of life and history to them.

Whenindoubthugitout · 21/09/2025 10:01

curtains to the floors even if they cover the radiators, creates a warm cozy feeling. I have curtains and voile roller blinds, so I can mix and match what I want light and warmth wise.

curtains to the window ledge I loath!

BramStoner · 21/09/2025 10:13

Definitely get rid of the ceiling lights and replace with table and standards lamps- these can all be put on a switch if you find it inconvenient to turn them on separately. Replace skirtings with deeper ones. I would consider replacing the rad as well.

For the look you like, I would check out the House & Garden insta and also Rita Konig. You have neutral floors and sofa so you can afford to be bold on the walls, curtains etc. your sofa is quite big and blocky so break it up with throws and cushions- mismatched not coordinated.

Chatgpt can create mock ups if you upload your photos and ideas.

Dominey · 21/09/2025 10:19

This isn’t my furniture by the way! Currently in a Victorian terrace but moving to almost identical house to the one in the pics!
You are all making me feel better that some quick fixes are possible!!

OP posts:
EverybodyLTB · 21/09/2025 10:49

I think you have to approach it in two ways, the big things like flooring and skirting you’d do first. Then start on the details over time. You can definitely add character, skirting and architrave IMO make a huge difference and don’t have to cost the earth. You can buy replica Georgian/Victorian/fancy MDF skirting online with matching architraves and trims. I think chatting to the staff in places like Farrow and Ball are really helpful, too. They know about matching, natural light, complementary colours etc so it can be helpful to have a hand with that when you’ve got a whole house to redo!

BramStoner · 21/09/2025 10:50

Ah, that makes it easier! I was surprised as it didn’t seem to fit with your description of your taste.

LibertyLily · 21/09/2025 16:49

A year ago we purchased a Georgian cottage that was last butchered renovated in the mid 1960s and had been owned by the late vendor since 1970. Sadly, the only hint that it was ever a Georgian property is the facade/front door. Every trace of character internally - including all doors, architraves, skirting - had annoyingly long gone.

Like you @Dominey we love period houses and eclectic, characterful interiors. Our previous houses have all been old, interesting ones, although I admit a lot of the character came from our stuff which is very much maximalist!

We immediately set about injecting the lost character by ripping out the horrid flat doors and replacing with reclaimed versions found on eBay/marketplace. Skirting and architrave will come a bit later. In one room we discovered lovely Georgian floorboards beneath layers of carpet, underlay and hardboard. Unfortunately we also found rotten joists - something you won't have to contend with! More fortunately we don't have ugly plastic windows as we're in a conservation area.

We've removed a hideous fireplace and replaced it with a more appropriate surround and wood burner. Everywhere is getting a spruce with period paint colours in a chalky finish. In the kitchen (relocated to the old living room) we're fitting a mix of original 1960s cabinets and some in-frame ones found on eBay, all painted in characterful Pompadour by Edward Bulmer.

Obviously our eclectic taste in furniture and 'stuff' helps give a period feel, but lighting, curtains/other textiles, lamps and art can definitely make a bland, modern interior feel more cosy and quirky!

I'll add a few before and after pics of our cottage to give a taste of how we're putting the character back.....

Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
LibertyLily · 21/09/2025 16:53

Here's a few more - hopefully they'll inspire you (I hated our place and believed it was a lost cause tbh, but I'm finally starting to love it!)....

Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
LibertyLily · 21/09/2025 16:55

Last couple....

Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Adding charm/character to house, with pics
Dominey · 21/09/2025 17:07

@LibertyLily thank you so much - your pictures are amazing! I love your style. 🩷 My worry is that as it’s not an ‘old’ house it will look odd adding that old character. However, despite being built in the 90s it actually does look really cottagey from the outside - it’s the reason we bought it! I feel excited about the project now!

OP posts:
thebeautifulsky · 21/09/2025 17:21

Upload a photo of your room onto chatgpt, choose your style e.g.traditional, contemporary, minimalist and see what you get.

I did this to help choose cushions to compliment rug, sofa etc and was very pleased with the results.

OldYorkMum · 21/09/2025 20:37

Definitely get the ceilings skimmed (although there will be a lot of painting needed!). Replace or remove the ceiling lights. That alone will make a massive difference.

oneoneone · 22/09/2025 00:40

Dominey · 21/09/2025 08:57

@MaybeIf My taste is Victorian houses or cottages full of quirks and character, I love colour. My hell is grey everywhere and boxy rooms. *[link to house details removed at OP's request]

@friedaddedchilli We have loads of art but I’m not sure how to make it fit into this house.

Budget will be £1000 or so every month to do something! Savings are going to go towards kitchen and bathroom. Happy to live in it as is for years and just do one room at a time.

Your link shows your name and photo, it's pretty late tonight, so knowing you might not see this right away, I'm going to flag it to MNHQ and ask them to take it down. Apologies if you'd rather I hadn't, but I think better safe than sorry when it comes to your personal info x

Dominey · 22/09/2025 06:17

Thanks @oneoneone - I’m surprised as I only posted the url of the account I was sharing. I appreciate your concern though.

OP posts:
oneoneone · 22/09/2025 09:30

Dominey · 22/09/2025 06:17

Thanks @oneoneone - I’m surprised as I only posted the url of the account I was sharing. I appreciate your concern though.

It came up with something like 'xxx xxx shared this link with you' under a photo of a woman and a dog, so I assumed it was you.

oneoneone · 22/09/2025 09:35

Friends of ours just did something similar and one thing they did that made a huge difference was to put rechargeable wall sconces in some rooms for nice, cosy light and visual interest. They didn't want to faff with re-wiring as they were being very budget conscious and the house didn't need it overall. They look amazing - I'll text and ask her where they got them

Dominey · 22/09/2025 11:44

@oneoneone sorry if my thanks sounded sarcastic, it wasn’t and I definitely don’t want to share my name for a few reasons! Thanks again x

OP posts:
honkytonky · 22/09/2025 14:08

LibertyLily · 21/09/2025 16:55

Last couple....

Your rooms look great! Can I ask what colour green this is. I'm looking for a green for a bedroom and I really like this colour.

TheBirdintheCave · 22/09/2025 14:40

LibertyLily · 21/09/2025 16:49

A year ago we purchased a Georgian cottage that was last butchered renovated in the mid 1960s and had been owned by the late vendor since 1970. Sadly, the only hint that it was ever a Georgian property is the facade/front door. Every trace of character internally - including all doors, architraves, skirting - had annoyingly long gone.

Like you @Dominey we love period houses and eclectic, characterful interiors. Our previous houses have all been old, interesting ones, although I admit a lot of the character came from our stuff which is very much maximalist!

We immediately set about injecting the lost character by ripping out the horrid flat doors and replacing with reclaimed versions found on eBay/marketplace. Skirting and architrave will come a bit later. In one room we discovered lovely Georgian floorboards beneath layers of carpet, underlay and hardboard. Unfortunately we also found rotten joists - something you won't have to contend with! More fortunately we don't have ugly plastic windows as we're in a conservation area.

We've removed a hideous fireplace and replaced it with a more appropriate surround and wood burner. Everywhere is getting a spruce with period paint colours in a chalky finish. In the kitchen (relocated to the old living room) we're fitting a mix of original 1960s cabinets and some in-frame ones found on eBay, all painted in characterful Pompadour by Edward Bulmer.

Obviously our eclectic taste in furniture and 'stuff' helps give a period feel, but lighting, curtains/other textiles, lamps and art can definitely make a bland, modern interior feel more cosy and quirky!

I'll add a few before and after pics of our cottage to give a taste of how we're putting the character back.....

Oh wow that looks amazing 😍