8 ways to add character to a new build apartment
The niche in a modern New York galley kitchen breaks up the cabinetry and introduces a spot to display hand-painted Tunisian ceramics. Design: Time & Place Interiors
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 apartment with little architectural charm. It has a sleek marble kitchen island, floor-to-ceiling windows, updated baths… but it feels a little bland. Is it possible to inject character into a modern home that has no existing structural interest to lean on?
Yes, it can be done! Even the plainest, white-box apartments can be elevated with smart design tricks. The key is to select the right mix of furniture, lighting, art, and accessories that introduce subtle character reflective of a contemporary setting. And try to appreciate the blank canvas of your modern space, avoiding faux details that would be out of place in a new build home.
Having a variety of designs — classic, contemporary, vintage — from a wide range of vendors will make your new construction apartment look bespoke. And layered textures, both tactile and visual, will bring the depth that a new build space requires to give it much-needed character.
If you’re looking to tell your unique story in your modern apartment, follow along below for eight tips and inspiring images 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 a new build 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. However, be mindful to not create too literal of a themed pastiche with an overload of items from the same time period: this can end up looking contrived. Instead, 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 not only for illumination, but also for interior design aesthetics. Great lamps do wonders for any space, especially for white box new build apartments, where builder-grade light fixtures can be changed out for vintage or contemporary designer options.
To create an attractive 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 even the most basic new build spaces. Whether it’s a piece of furniture around which you design the entire room, or a decorative element like a unique occasional chair, an intriguing piece can bring loads of style. This feature can match the rest of the decor. Or, if chosen well, it can juxtapose a strikingly different style than the rest of the room.
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
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. A simple way to elevate the sophistication level of your new build apartment is to swap basic hardware for higher end alternatives.
Think: a weathered brass faucet whose patina ages with time for your bathroom; natural horn pulls on your custom closet’s drawers; a vintage coat hook mounted in your entryway.
Brass fixtures from Waterworks, complemented by handmade zellige tiles and vintage Swedish mirror, make this Greenwich Village apartment’s bath design pop. Design: Margaret Costello / Photo: Kirsten Francis
5. Introduce textures
Texture not only gives us tactile experience, but also creates a visual feeling 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 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. Play around with assembling contrasting textures, which can look stunning balanced against each other.
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 creates a moody tone in a Williamsburg, Brooklyn bedroom, complemented by a vintage tuareg mat layered on top of a contemporary wool area rug. Design: Carly Lisnow / Photo: Olivia Pierce
7. Let art enliven your space
No space is complete without original art. This final layer is critical for turning any modern new build apartment into a home that shows character. To build your collection, I recommend turning to local galleries and auction houses that carry contemporary artists’ work. Modern tapestries, vintage photographs, botanical prints, and framed children’s art also make for clever alternative art ideas.
To avoid a conventional look, don’t restrict yourself to art that matches your sofa fabric. Also, think beyond 2-D. If you have an odd corner, consider a pedestal topped with a contemporary sculpture or an intriguing 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 or decor where they traditionally don’t “belong.” This keeps a home from looking stale and flat, as if it came out of a catalogue. The most chic homes mix a bit of modern and traditional styles, leaving enough space 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
Struggling 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:
