Home Improvement Ideas Home Remodeling Remodeling on a Budget Easy Ways to Give Your Home Character By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Instagram Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 19, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos With little time and little money, you can add lots of charm all around the house. Here are 19 do-it-yourself projects to consider. 01 of 20 Update Lighting Add comfort, convenience, and character with the right lighting. Update the chandelier over the dining room table. Add simple plug-in puck lights under kitchen cabinets and inside closets. Cozy up a dark corner with an accent light. Install mini accent lights above wall art or framed family photos. 02 of 20 Focus on the Foyer Make the foyer useful by clearing out clutter that accumulates around the front door. Include a storage unit to keep mail, car keys, and other essentials in order. If space permits, include a small bistro table and chairs for a cute conversation space. 03 of 20 Frame the Views Dress up your windows with colorful treatments. Hang the draperies higher than the windows to make the ceilings seem higher. 04 of 20 How to Hang Curtains Try these handy tips for measuring and hanging window treatments. 05 of 20 Put Unused Space to Work Give an awkward area purpose and appeal. Transform a basic bay or boxy window into a reading nook. Or furnish an empty corner of the living room with a game table and storage cabinet. 06 of 20 Be Savvy About Storage Jay Wilde If you have a home that lacks closet space, place pegs and shelves in convenient nooks to provide places to hang, store, and display everyday necessities. 07 of 20 Make Way for Display Use open shelving throughout the house to store and display collectibles. In addition to adding storage, the airy shelves can also make a small room feel larger. 08 of 20 Accent with Architectural Details Bring your basic builder's kitchen to life. Frame windows with wide molding, install cornices on top of cabinets, or add bun feet or carved legs to cabinets for furniture-style accents. 09 of 20 Get a Custom Look for Less Embellish or paint plain, purchased brackets and attach them to shelves in any room for a custom look that won't drain your wallet. 10 of 20 Try Wood Underfoot A natural wood or bamboo floor will last longer than synthetic materials, and will transform the character of your interior. In addition, it won't trap allergens. Use machine-washable area rugs to warm the space and protect heavy-traffic areas. 11 of 20 Add Old-Fashioned Appeal Visit a flea market for vintage signs, furniture, and collectibles that will fill your home with friendly charm. 12 of 20 Paint Kitchen Cabinets Can't afford to purchase brand-new kitchen cabinets? Fake it by using bright paint to take your cabinets from dull to darling. Learn how to paint kitchen cabinets. 13 of 20 Update Doorknobs Reinvent your entry or interior doors with antiqued brass, crystal, porcelain, or colored-glass doorknobs. How to Change a Doorknob 14 of 20 Install Beadboard Add dimension and charm to bathroom walls with beadboard. Save money by tackling the project yourself—in a weekend —and using panels, which are virtually identical to authentic beadboard, and they're sold in lightweight 4x8-foot sheets. How to Install Beadedboard 15 of 20 Style the Mantel Give a boring and bare fireplace mantel warmth and charm by adding family photos, heirlooms, and seasonal decor. See how to create a magazine-worthy mantel with these tips. 16 of 20 Add Decorative Shutters Make your home look good inside and out with decorative indoor shutters. Traditional wood shutters and plantation shutters add rustic appeal. Some even help insulate your cozy spaces. 17 of 20 Claim a Plain Wall Transform a blank wall into a storage-and-display showcase by adding stacks of open shelves, or by cutting out drywall to create a recessed niche. 18 of 20 Enhance the Exterior The simple and affordable additions of shutters, window boxes, and planters near the front door make a friendlier facade and provide cheerful color. Hang the window box at a height you can reach easily to care for the plants. Fill it with your favorite blooms. 19 of 20 Let Your Garden Glow Outdoor lights, including floodlights, globes, tier lights, and lanterns, are easy to install and are the perfect way to add warmth and color to your front yard. For a touch of romance, use candlelit lanterns to create soft pools of light along a garden path. 20 of 20 Dress Up Your Deck Make a boxy builder deck look like a custom addition using decorative metal or glass balusters and post caps that double as planters or light fixtures. Add delightful details with colorful plants, pillows, furniture, outdoor rugs, and accessories. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit