New England is home to over two centuries worth of beautiful homes. Although our older homes come with their own history and charm, there comes a time when you may want to step into the current era without moving out. Fortunately, there are ways to make your old home feel new.
Deep Clean
Sometimes it isn’t an intensive remodeling that people need, but an intensive cleaning. If you’ve lived in an old home, you know they seem to acquire dust quicker than anything. And with carpets, walls, and hardware that have been touched by countless hands, it’s no wonder. Hiring a professional to deep clean your rugs or polish up the brass and woodwork will make your old house feel like a new home.
Address the Paint
There can potentially be a rustic, bohemian charm to cracked paint. Still, there is no denying that it makes a home look significantly older. Worse, if your home was built before the 1980s, there is the possibility that the paint is lead-based. That means cracked paint can lead to disaster. Take the time to fix the cracked paint and apply a fresh coat to your walls, trim, and doors to give it that “just moved-in” feeling.
Reconsider Older Elements
In the same way that we no longer wear corsets or go-go boots, interior designs come and go. And while you don’t want to completely shun a house’s vintage roots, especially in historic homes, some choices simply age a house, such as:
- Textured ceilings
- Wallpaper
- Old doorknobs
- Outdated tile
- Heavily floral drapes or furniture
If your home has these things, you don’t necessarily have to get rid of them to update the house. At times, it’s simply a matter of updating them. For instance, you can paint a popcorn ceiling or keep the wallpaper on one wall as an accent.
Maximize Natural Light
One of the trickiest design challenges on older houses is the lack of natural light, either because it lacks an open floor plan or has small windows. We get it—the dark romanticism movement was practically headquartered in New England. Fortunately, you can step into modernism and sunshine without an expensive and tricky home remodel.
Focus on light colors for your furniture and walls when you are choosing a new scheme for your home. Replace dark drapes with light, airy sheers for your windows. Add a wall mirror or two and, voila. Your rooms are brighter, more modern, and will often feel bigger.
The towns of the Monadnock Region have plenty of old historic homes and the decoration of each one reflects the individuality of the owner. Whether you want to keep the old vibe going or update your interior while remaining true to your homes roots, you are bound to find assesories to help at the many local antique and curiosity shops.
Note on Historic Homes
There’s a difference between an old home and a historic home, and you probably already know which one you’re in. Keep in mind that most areas have local ordinances when it comes to what you can and can’t do to a historic house, so make sure you do your research before starting any home improvement projects.
