Living in an older home provides the perks of historical charm and plenty of character, compared to a new-build with its clean-cut corners and all-white features. However, the challenge of preserving a historic look while creating a modern feel is 100% real.

Having the look and feel of the present day is still very much desired, despite living in an older property. Achieving a happy medium is entirely possible by mixing traditional elements with modern to create a style that is transitional.

How do you make an old house look new?

To start with, differentiating between a modern and traditional style is important in order to know how to decorate your property, what pieces of furniture to choose, and which colours to incorporate.

A modern style is typically defined by a clean look with colourful elements and crisp lines interspersed. The colour palette is normally very simple and this level of simplicity is carried out through all aspects of the design. A sleek aesthetic and minimal clutter helps shape the look and common materials used are glass, metal and steel.

In comparison, a traditional style boasts a feel that is rich and vintage. Dark wood, textured, curved lines, layering and decadent colours are the main features. Typically velvet, silk and finished wood have a big part to play.

To avoid clashing, at Frank’s we recommend choosing one of these styles to be dominant in a room’s design. Doing so will allow you to choose large furnishings and flooring easily, while the secondary style can be added softly with smaller accents and accessories. 

In order to create a look that is cohesive, choose similar colours, shapes and textures from both styles to harmoniously bring modern and traditional together.

Alternatively, you could take a piece of furniture that is more traditional and paint it white or reupholster the fabric to give it a more modern appearance. Blending the two styles will create a timeless look and feel that will never go out of style.

What are some of the challenges?

When it comes to living in an older property, the character and architecture are fantastic perks. However, these same features can prove a challenge for decorating and renovating.

Some challenges may seem small, such as minor imperfections in the walls. Whereas as other challenges could be outdated windows, uneven floors, or a dated kitchen.

If you are finding that the walls and ceilings are looking imperfect, try painting all surfaces just one colour to hide any flaws while highlighting feature areas at the same time.

Of course, when it comes to refreshing your flooring we recommend replacing any outdated carpet or wood flooring with options that are more innovative, modern and long lasting.

At Frank’s we have a huge range of flooring options suitable for making your old house look new. From hardwood flooring to LVT to laminate floor ng; the options are endless.

Pop down to your local Frank’s and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect hardwood flooring for your home.

Got a question? Ask Frank!