How To Add Character To A House: An Architect's Design Tips
Use climbing foliage to add character to a house exterior.
Drawing upon the insights gained from years of architectural and design experience, including home extension and self-build projects with a wide range of clients, these points are my reflection on what it takes to create a house with character – a place that has a soul of its own. If you are a designer or a self-builder, or just someone who wants to make their house a home, applying this guide will help you achieve the right design for your special place.
Invest Yourself to Add Character to a New Home
The most important soul your house can have is yours. Whether that’s yours as an individual, a couple, or a family, for your home to have a personality you need to get involved and put your energy and your heart into it.
When you really engage with the process of designing and building your new house, you will always bring your own unique personality and vision to the project. This will add character to your living space and a home with a soul will be the inevitable result.
Share the Vision: Harmonious Collaboration is a Focal Point
Having design team members – especially your architect and builder, with whom you are on the same page, is essential. Collaborate with professionals who share your sense of inspiration and vision for the overall project design and who can help you add character to the property in a way that suits your individual personality and needs.
This is central to the creation process. In order to realise your vision, you’ll need to be able to communicate well with them – not just in terms of practical information, but to ‘get’ each other and have common values.
A wood burning stove and floor-to-ceiling windows add character to this eco house project.
Want Your New Build Home to Resonate? Keep Talking…
Conversation helps flesh out your vision into specifics, so take every opportunity to talk to your partner, architect, interior designer, and others in order that you’ll understand your new house in detail from different angles and viewpoints.
More Inspiration: Identify What’s Important to You
What Motivates Your Build? This may be the atmosphere or ‘feel’ that you want the house to have, or the values of ethics or environment with which it is built, or it may be some design details or features. Ask the question ‘Why are you building your own home?’ Your answer to that question will show you where your priorities lie in terms of creating your ideal space and adding character to your new build home or extension.
Elegant wood doors add character to this kitchen extension in Glasgow.
Have a Fractal Understanding of Your New Build
Take time to design your house and know it deeply, in three dimensions and in four seasons as it responds to light and weather; but most importantly know it in detail: the word fractal means ‘on multiple scales’. It means to know it in fine detail as well as the big picture version, the door handles as well as the street-scene.
The deeper and more multi-faceted your understanding of the house is, the more of you will be put into the house, and the more it will match up to what you want to achieve.
Add Texture with Materials and Architectural Details
Don’t overlook the feel of materials – inside and out. It can be easy to pick finishes from catalogues that only give you a photographic representation of what your flooring or cladding will be like. Nothing beats getting a real sample of the wood or brick that you’ll use: touch it, look closely at it in different lights. Intentionally and strategically adding texture to your new home can be transformative - adding character and elevating your property’s aesthetic.
A Juliette balcony brings a contemporary and characterful feel to this home exterior.
Plan Your Decisions to Add Character You’ll Love
When your house is on site and the build process gets busy, decisions need to be made - your builder will come to you and ask you to choose anything from bricks to bathroom suites. Try to avoid making quick decisions on things just to get them out of the way. Plan ahead so that you can take time over your choices of finish or design. Know yourself and how you work best: if you’re the kind of person who likes to ‘sleep on it’ or compare lots of options when making a decision then plan in time so that you can do that. Avoid being forced to rush things with last-minute decisions that may compromise your vision for the house and the ways you add character to the property.
This is especially important when it comes to incorporating architectural features and individual design elements that reflect your unique personality, such as the incorporation of wood flooring, the restoration of period features, or the inclusion of feature walls. When you renovate or build property to create your own home, give yourself time to put your own stamp on things and add character in a way that enriches the space.
Enjoy Yourself as You Create Your Own Home
Self-building can be a very fulfilling experience and enjoying it should be a focal point. Make the most of all it can bring and enjoy your new home – in the making of it, and as you focus on adding character, as much as once it’s complete.
Learn more about working with a Vellow Wood self build architect. We renovate and build properties that embrace your lifestyle and elevate your living experience.