8 Unique Renovations to Bring a Historic Charm to Your Home

Historic homes are filled to the brim with charm. Everything from architecture to furniture to decor can either support or detract from your house’s roots. Today’s residences tend to be a mix of restored period pieces, salvaged vintage items and modern elements. 

Adding historic charm to your house can be challenging when you first begin. However, you can achieve the home of your dreams with dedication, perseverance and imagination. Here are eight ideas for unique renovations to add historic charm to your home. 

1. Antique Tile

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Mixing tile with hardwood flooring is one way to increase the vintage charm of your home. Consider putting tile in entryways, down hallways and in outdoor living areas. Classic black and white tile looks good with almost every style of home. 

Research your house’s roots and incorporate tile from the period when it was built for added authenticity. Tile is a foundational design element and can elevate the historic charm of your house for years to come. It requires little maintenance and is also easy to clean.

2. Wooden Trim

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Trim is probably the most beloved feature in historic homes. It adds charm and a sense of elegant finish to every room. If your home already has trim, consider changing the finish to better suit your style. It can be restrained or painted over, depending on the look you’re going for. 

Essential historical trims include crown molding and architraves, or molding over a door. You should also consider architectural elements like medallions over light fixtures and coffered ceilings. You can add charm to walls with shiplap or board and batten trim. Corbels and arches can make corners and doorways more interesting. 

3. Vintage Lighting

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Nothing changes the mood in your home like vintage lighting. It’s a foundational element and an accessory, and it can be the focal point of a room and add glimmers of history to a space. Lighting has the power to take you back to a certain period whether or not the rest of the room follows suit. 

For example, consider a sparkling chandelier. This type of lighting will give a traditional, luxurious feel to your space, whether hanging over a dining table or in the bedroom. A retro chandelier instantly changes the tone to modern, funky and imaginative. You can mix vintage chandeliers, sconces and lamps to create layers of light in your home. 

4. Exposed Brick

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Most older homes have a fireplace, either for cooking or indoor heating during the winter. If your fireplace is blocked, consider having it refurbished and cleaned out. You can ensure the chimney is safe for use or just enjoy the look of the restored antique brick. Chimneys that are structurally unsound can be repaired with local vintage bricks. 

You can also consider putting a faux brick wall in your home. These add a sense of historical authenticity and are easy to take down if you change your mind. It’s also less expensive than uncovering and repairing old brick. The muted red-brown color is a trademark feature in many historic homes. 

5. Bright Exterior

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The exterior of your home can also be adjusted to bring historic charm to your property. Many historic homes use gingerbread trim, vintage doors and windows, painted shutters, ornate columned porches and seasonal landscaping. Choose a style that speaks to you and model your exterior after it. 

Colors can have a big impact on the historical feel of your home. You can increase exterior charm simply by repainting or changing the shutters. Choose complementary colors like blue and orange for maximum contrast, or go with a more quiet monochromatic palette. You could also contrast bright trim with a crisp white exterior. 

6. Wrought Iron Railings

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Wrought iron railings communicate history, tradition and stability. However, they’re also the perfect element to pair with modern colors and decor. You can use them to bring historic charm to your home’s exterior through a property fence or decorative railing. Many historic balconies and stairs use wrought iron railings. 

They can be purchased in a wide variety of designs. Find a repeating motif that matches the interior of your home and then use wrought iron railings to carry that idea outside. They are simultaneously subtle and bold, and their effect on your property can’t be duplicated.

7. Indoor Transoms

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Transoms were originally designed to bring extra light inside and allow overhead airflow. They allow you to close the doors between rooms and still let the breeze come in. Transoms are commonly found in historic homes, both inside and out. 

You can replicate this charming architectural detail in your home. Start by adding a transom to the front and back doors, and then consider renovating each doorway. Transoms work best if they line up and create a cross-breeze through the house. In addition to adding charm, they can emphasize the height of a space. 

8. Restored Furniture

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Although not technically a renovation, this last point is too important to overlook. Once you’ve redone the bones of your home, it’s time to think about furnishings. Historic homes should have a sense of being lived in, with vintage and modern items layered to create contrast and warmth in each room. 

You can thrift and refinish vintage furniture to bring authentic historic charm into your home. Many older houses have vintage clawfoot tubs, tufted sofas, and a mix of chairs and side tables from different eras.  Look for a vintage sideboard or china cabinet if you love old wood. Bright wallpaper can complete the feel you’re looking for. 

Charm Comes With Time

Charm will accumulate in your space over time. Every renovation you complete will take you one step closer to the historic home of your dreams. Use this list to get started and bring vintage charm to your residence one element at a time.

*Written By Rose Morrison of renovated.com