Five Ways To Add Historic Charm To Any Home

Hi guys!! Happy weekend!! Weekends for us usually mean a project or two & this weekend I’m not doing any projects, but I’m dreaming of some so I thought I would take you along with me. I get asked a lot on how one can add historic charm to their home if it isn’t historic. I’ve done posts on how to add farmhouse style to any space [HERE] & how to make any space cozy [HERE], but today I wanted to do a quick and simple road map on how you can add historic charm to any space. Of course their are so many other ways you can add that coveted historic charm to your space, but here are five to start with and I can get into more specifics later if you want. I’m using one of my FAVORITE historic homes that I have ever visited in my life today to show you some examples of how you can add that historic charm to your home. The Morrow House [HERE] is the PERFECT example of a historic home that was fixed up and loaded with all the historic charm…

1. Transoms & Charming Doors

Have you ever walked into a home & got instantly drawn in by the doors of the home? From the exterior door to the inside doors? Doors with details like chippy paint, intricate mill work, and historic detail add that “original” feel to any home. & Transoms? That’s my dream, but most likely it won’t be happening in this house of ours. A transom window above the doors instantly says historic charm & is a huge impact you can add to your new build or remodel for historic focal points in any part of your home from the entry door to every other interior door in your home. Transoms add light to each room & just a whole lot of details that can’t be matched.

2. Wall Textures

From board & baton to shiplap to beadboard to wallpaper & beyond wall textures like this add that historic charm of the passion and attention to detail that was added into historic homes back when they were first built. New builds often have smooth drywall for the walls, but adding items like trim work from detailed crown moulding to thick floor trim to everything in between from shiplap and beyond you can really add a ton of charm & make a huge impact on your space. I add wallpaper to this list because adding a classic vintage inspired wallpaper can add a ton of texture and high impact to any space. Here is a small list of some wall textures that can add historic charm:

• shiplap
• beadboard
• board & batton
• wallpaper
• skinny-lap

3. Classic Materials

Choosing tile that is classic and historic feeling is huge. Seems simple, but not always thought of when it comes to picking major materials like flooring, backsplashes, paint colors, & beyond. Carpet instantly makes a home feel modern and tosses that historic charm out the window. Materials like subway tile, penny tile, classic historic paint colors, aged wood flooring, beams, exposed ceilings, & so many other classic materials are great ways to make any place have a historic vibe. Here are some classic materials you can use in your space that will add forever historic charm:

• subway tile
• penny tile
• brick
• hardwood floors
• pine flooring
• painted floors
• timeless muted paint colors
• wood tones
• salvaged materials

4. Antique Furniture

This may seem obvious, but what if you looked at your entire house differently. What if you looked at all of your furniture and thought about finding and replacing a majority with authentic antique pieces. you find at flea markets, antique shops, or your grandmas basement. Antique sinks, antique dressers, vintage sofas, antique cupboards, historic art, architectural salvage, & so much more are great pieces to add to any room in your home. Some of these pieces can be updated with new hardware, paint, or just a good cleaning, but ultimately the charm of an antique piece can’t be beaten. Replacing fireplace mantels with antique mantels is a great high impact way of adding that antique touch to a space. Antique furniture from classic wood pieces to chippy painted cabinets can add the perfect amount of historic charm on top of all the things listed above. Here is a list of where you can use antique furniture:

• antique sinks
• antique dressers
• wardrobes
• fireplace mantel
• farmhouse table
• chandeliers
• accent chairs
• rugs
• kitchen island
• beds
• nightstands
• benches
• coffee table

5. Lighting & Hardware

Lighting and hardware can be the historic cherry on top of your space! Door knobs, cabinet hardware, chandeliers, wall sconces, coat racks, lamps, & I’m also going to antique appliances & antique inspired appliances to this list as well. An antique chandelier or an antique inspired chandelier will be a huge impact in a space and become the focal point that brings all your historic details together. Crystal door knobs & hardware with patina shouldn’t be underestimated either because it’s those small details like antique door knobs that can seal the deal on the historic charm. Here is a short list of where you can use antique hardware:

• door knobs
• kitchen handles & knobs
• wall hooks
• wall sconces
• lamps
• chandeliers
• dresser handles

I could keep going on ideas on how to add historic charm to your home like classic fabric curtains, adding antique accessories like trays, candle sticks, and planters. But I hope that this house and my blog daily show you ways you can add historic charm to all of your spaces. I loved visiting the Morrow House this past fall & truly find it so inspiring so I hope this post left you feel inspired as well! Thank you guys SO MUCH for stopping by the blog today & every single day to see what we are up to! Also, huge thank you for following us over on Instagram to follow our daily inspiration. xx