Your home is where you spend the majority of your time. Even if you leave for work or other activities, you are still spending more hours in your house than in any other place. In addition to adding furniture or throw pillows to your decor, you can elevate the design of your home by including woodwork elements into the design.
Many houses are built in mass and are designed once with a few variations and then churned out over only a few months. It can be difficult to tell one tract house from another, and the one down the block may be exactly the same. The differences come in with the details added after the fact with woodwork and other design elements.
A few examples of impactful woodwork projects are beams across the ceilings, bookshelves, or flooring. These are commonly made of wood and can add character and charm to your space. If you live in an apartment or rented space, you can still add woodwork to your home in different ways.
Here are some tips for adding woodwork to your home:
Adds Character:
The character of a house is often talked about on TV or in magazines, but many don’t know what it entails. You may think your house doesn’t have any character, but it probably has at least a little. Character means small features of the house that are not duplicated in every home. It could mean an alcove, a decorative pillar, or a feature wall.
Houses are just buildings with your stuff in them until you make them your own. For some, this means repainting or adding their artwork to the walls. But for others, it means adding key design features that are built-in and add character. Woodwork is an excellent opportunity to add character to your home.
Decor:
Not only will woodwork add character to your home, but it will also add to the decor. A well-stained beam across a ceiling will draw the eye upward and toward a vaulted ceiling or a chandelier. Decorations are not limited to knick-knacks placed around the house. They can be part of the house as well.
Reclaimed wood is an excellent source for woodwork because it not only repurposes perfectly good materials it creates a one-of-a-kind look in your home. There are often limited quantities of a particular type of wood when using reclaimed wood, so it is essential to plan your projects accordingly.
Types of Woodwork you can add to your home:
Beams:
As mentioned above, beams are one of the most common elements to add to a house. They are not structural beams, but they create interest on the ceiling and draw the eye up. The beams can break up the smooth surface of a ceiling and create drama for the eye while still giving it a place to rest among the space between the beams.
Shelves:
Kitchens are becoming the most common place for open shelving options. Installing these shelves with natural or stained wood, rather than painted wood, creates a feature in your home that is one of a kind. The shelves that you choose will allow you to still have storage in your kitchen but include a space to add some decor along with it.
Built-ins:
Built-in bookcases add extra life to a living room or an office without taking up more space than a standard bookshelf. Homes often have alcoves or indents in the walls that are begging for built-in shelving. These bookshelves can be customized to your needs with either open shelves, closed cabinets, or a combination. You can also use it to display your TV.
Mantel:
If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace in your home, a mantel is often a perfect place for family photos and other keepsakes. Elevate the style of your mantel with a raw edge beam designed just for you. A wood mantel can fit with any style of fireplace: brick, tile, or stone. The key is to use the stain and type of wood that compliments the style rather than contradicting it.
Flooring:
Flooring is an obvious upgrade when talking about woodwork. Hardwood floors are thought of as expensive and extravagant, but they don’t have to be. There are many types of flooring that can be done on a reasonable budget and create an entirely new look in your home. Reclaimed wood has a unique look that cannot be duplicated.
Wood Walls:
This is not referencing the wood paneling of the ’80s and ’90s, but a newer design of feature wood walls. A standard wall is covered in drywall and is a smooth surface that blends into any room. A wall covered in wood creates a feature that is meant to be seen. Walking through the front door to a wall decorated in beautifully stained wood is a feature that no guest would forget.
Barn Doors:
Using a barn door in your home doesn’t mean having wide doors like a barn. They are doors that slide on rails attached to a wall, so the door doesn’t open in or out, saving space on both sides of the door. These are often used for bathroom doors in master bedrooms, but they can be used in almost any doorway in the house to save space and create interest.
Reclaim Your Home’s Character:
The world will seemingly never run out of reclaimed wood because it regularly uses things from previous projects. You don’t have to use all of these suggestions for your home, but a few of them can create character where there was none before or add to the existing character.
If you are renting your space, you can still add woodwork to your space by installing shelves that can be removed later or buying a custom bench or shelving unit that fits the space. It is fantastic to walk into your home knowing you have created a place for you to be comfortable and happy, no matter where it is.
Beams can add life to a ceiling, and shelves can add life to the walls, but both of them can bring you happiness in your home.
