When a house becomes a home.

There was a recent moment in my life’s history when it felt like I had hit complete rock bottom and couldn’t pull myself out. I could not shake this feeling by running away thousands of miles from home, by eating five pounds of white chocolate chip Hershey’s bars, or by taking three naps a day. But a sliver of bright light peeked through when I received the new issue of Vogue with Lady Gaga on the front page. As I read through her feature on “Shape Shifting” and admired the impeccable outfits, I couldn’t help but feel a breath of fresh air. The pure, overwhelming, one-of-a-kind character of this woman brought a sense of peace to my achy-breaky heart, which reminded me of how I felt when I came home.

So what’s this got to do with home? Character! That’s it! Why do you feel, hopefully, so at peace when you come home at the end of the day? It’s not because the temperature is set to the perfect 73 degrees; it’s because you’ve taken the time to add your own unique character to it, welcoming you home with the warmest hug. If you haven’t done this, let me offer some tips and advice on how to do so and help you in your next midlife crisis.

One of the first and most general pieces of advice for achieving character within your home comes from this Vogue article: “This is a classic Gaga trope, perceiving an object as human.” Ah yes, personification of your home is key; this way, you’ll never feel alone—you’ll always have a guaranteed oasis to support you at the end of the day. Okay, enough with the gushy stuff! So how do we personify our home? Here are some ideas:

Adding photographs is a great start. These could be any memories from your life that make you feel at peace or happy—whether that’s family, friends, trips, a time spent alone on a hike, or your favorite pet. There are so many options! A beautiful decorative frame can dress up your photographs and speak to the style of your home. You can add photographs to your walls, shelves, table arrangements, and any counter space.

Nostalgic knickknacks gathered from your life’s journey are another great way to add character to your home. Place these objects on shelves, coffee tables, and any nooks and crannies.

Collected decor from trips can also do the trick! Whether that’s a decorative plate you’ve hung on your wall, a piece of fabric you brought back from a foreign farmers market, or maybe even a fossil, these objects are bound to spark memories and make your home feel unique.

Secondhand shopping is one of my favorite ways to bring character into your home. You can find such special and personified objects that someone has passed on. Think of our favorite television show apartments, like Monica’s and Rachel’s place from Friends! This home was always full of antiques and vintage items the characters acquired, making their living arrangements cozy and home-like.

Even plants can add character and warmth to your home! The act of coming home and interacting with them through watering will surely add a sense of belonging. Beyond that, plants are so diverse in shape and color that they make a great addition.

Another way to bring character to your home is through materials:

Walls come to mind first because they can carry many different layers through wallpaper, paint, plaster, and other textures. The great thing about walls is that you can make them different from room to room or have them speak to each other in unison throughout your home.

Floors can also carry a lot of weight in this topic of character, with all the different material applications available. Think of wood, tile, stone, carpets, and rugs—each category has so many patterns, textures, and colors to choose from that can match your personality!

Counters are another great area to play around with textures and patterns. Whether you prefer simplicity or complexity, counters can portray both through different stones, woods, tiles, and other materials.

Fabrics are a classic way to bring character into your home and perhaps one of the most attainable. There are so many applications of fabric that you can add to your home, from your furniture to pillows to your favorite light fixture. Take, for example, a recent design collaboration between Jeremiah Brent and Athena Calderone in a beautiful lake house. This home is full of fun and diverse fabrics that make it feel special, especially the custom lace light fixture featured in the dining room.

The flow and layout of your house is another great way to add unique character. Walk yourself through how you live in your home from morning to night. Where do you enter? Where do you start your day? Where do you end it? Arranging your house based on how you use it will add that personification that only your home can have. Considering areas for work, lounging, and entertaining—and making those areas distinct—is a good way to start arranging that flow. For example, interior designer Bryan O’Sullivan distinguishes rooms through his design. The Notting Hill house great room is a great example of a designated space for entertaining, done so by the layout. There’s a grand piano as one gathering spot and a distinct sitting area for conversation—I'm sure it includes other spaces as well. Now, we don’t all need grand pianos to create a distinct entertaining space in our homes, but the idea is that our spaces should reflect our activities and how we live our lives.

This time around, save yourself the peace of mind by adding some character to your home and making it more beautiful!

The Character of Home

When a house becomes a home.

Fall/Winter ‘24-’25 Mood Board

Paint colors