8 ways to add character to a new build apartment
Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Gloria Kilbourne
Maybe you had intentions of living in a historic New York building with original features like moldings or beams, but ended up in a new construction (or postwar) apartment with little architectural charm. It has a sleek stone kitchen island, floor-to-ceiling windows, updated baths… but it feels a little bland, blah, meh. Is it possible to inject character into a modern home that doesn’t have much existing structural interest to lean on?
Yes, it can be done! Even the plainest, white-box apartments can be elevated with smart design. The key is a right mix of furniture, lighting, art, and accessories that introduce character, while still being stylistically appropriate for a contemporary setting.
Having a variety of designs — classic, contemporary, vintage — from a wide range of sources will make your space look bespoke. And layered textures, both tactile and visual, will bring the depth that a new build asks for to give it much-needed character. It’s also worth appreciating the blank canvas of your modern space, avoiding faux details that would be out of place in a newly constructed unit.
If you’re looking to tell your unique story in your modern apartment, follow along below for 8 ways for transforming your new build space into a character-full home.
Source vintage furniture
Vintage and antique furniture has unmatched potential for adding soul to any home. Not only does vintage tell a unique story, it also weaves in the characteristics of its own historic time period — perfect for a new construction apartment lacking in standout architectural details.
If you want your apartment to feel sleek, go with Mid Century or Post Modern furniture. And if you want an eclectic look, introduce some older antiques. In any case, throw in a couple of mixed styles to round out the design.
Minimalist vintage Post-Modern design is the theme of this East Village, New York apartment, whose living room features Paul Mayen for Habitat-inspired coffee table and Brian Kane for Metro/Steelcase maple + rubber chairs. Design: Taylor Fimbrez / Photo: Ori Harpaz
2. Swap out light fixtures
Lighting is jewelry for the home: don’t underestimate its effect. Great lamps do wonders for any space, especially for white box apartments, where builder-grade light fixtures can be changed out for vintage or contemporary designer options.
To create good atmosphere, never rely solely on overhead lighting, which leaves an unflattering effect and strains your eyes. Instead, disperse light around the room using different sources: table lamps, floor lamps, wall sconces, and pendant lights. And always install dimmers.
A vintage Robert Sonneman chandelier from the 1970s decorates a Midtown New York apartment’s foyer. Extra points here for the pair of folk side chairs. Design: Caroline McKeough / Photo: Alexandra Rowley
3. Show off with a conversation piece
A show-stopper design piece, or even an unusual decorative object, can spark conversation in any space - historic or new build. Whether it’s a piece of furniture around which you design the entire room, or an accent like a unique side chair, unusual designs can bring loads of style. It can match the rest of the decor, but it doesn’t always have it: if chosen well, a mismatched piece can create strong visual juxtaposition.
A rececled resin chair by Hudson Valley designer Kim Markel offers the perfect foreground view onto an impressive Brooklyn Heights skyline. Design & Photo: White Arrow
4. Upgrade your hardware
A simple way to elevate the sophistication level of your new build apartment is to swap basic hardware for higher end alternatives. Home fixtures that come into direct contact with your physical touch deserve to be the highest possible quality. This includes faucets, doorknobs, drawer pulls, and light switches.
Think: a weathered brass faucet whose patina ages with time; natural horn pulls on your closet doors; a vintage coat hook mounted in your entryway.
Contractor-grade closet door pulls were swapped for lavender lucite fixtures that refract light from the patio door of a West Village high rise unit. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Gloria Kilbourne
5. Introduce textures
Texture not only gives us tactile experience, but also creates a visual sensations that transports us to another place, bringing out powerful emotions. What characterizes the blandness of a new construction apartment is often its lack of texture, so it’s especially important to add layers of tactility to a modern home.
Vintage rugs are a natural place to start. To give even more tactile depth, bring in throw pillows of contrasting fabrics, window treatments in natural fibers, as well as a variety of decorative tabletop elements like smooth ceramics, rustic wood cutting boards, or old leather books.
The seagrass rug, pine wood coffee table, velvet pillows, and ceramic decorative objects give tonal warmth and tactile depth in a Tribeca, New York loft’s living area. Design: Lauren Waters / Photo: Olivia Pierce
6. Add plaster wall finishes
Texture can also be added to walls with plaster finishes to create a romantic, deep look on flat new build apartment walls. Traditional techniques like limewash, Venetian plaster, or Tadelakt create beautiful yet modern effects that shift in different light, and have the benefit of being free of harmful chemicals and VOCs through their natural ingredients.
The plaster wall finish sets a moody backdrop to vintage Italian furniture in a Greenwich Village apartment. Design: Alvin Wayne / Photo: Frank Frances
7. Let art enliven your space
No space is complete without original art. This final layer is critical for turning any modern apartment into a home. To build your collection, check out local galleries and auction houses that carry contemporary artists’ work. Modern tapestries and vintage photographs also make for clever alternative art ideas.
Also, think beyond 2-D. If you have an odd corner, consider a pedestal topped with a contemporary sculpture or handmade vessel. Or hang a wall sculpture for nuanced dimension.
This Chelsea, New York apartment had little personality before the designer added features like a glazed free-form artwork in its hallway. The metal in the foreground is a Shimmer Screen room divider, composed of stainless steel metal beads on a track. Design: Ryan Lawson / Photo: Ori Harpaz
8. Add some whimsy
Don’t be afraid to experiment with intriguing, unique designs. Or to place artworks where they traditionally don’t “belong.” This keeps a space from looking stale and flat, as if it came out of a catalogue. The most chic homes mix together a bit of modern and traditional styles, leaving room for design surprises. There’s a fine balance between classy and overly safe: if you shy away from buying any furniture that doesn’t feel “timeless,” your new construction apartment may feel boring in the present day.
Mixed textile patterns, floral print art, an antique chest, a contemporary pink glass lamp, and whimsical decor make this Manhattan bedroom design the model of inspiring personality. Design: Charlie Ferrer / Photo: Kyle Knodell
Ready to add personality to your New York City apartment?
Time & Place Interiors specializes in bringing a mix of vintage + modern designs that elevate the sophistication of your home. Founder Ksenya Malina loves working on new build apartments that need a dose of character with decor that leans modern yet offers an eclectic vibe. Use the link below to schedule a free information call with Ksenya to discuss your apartment’s interior design project:
