How to decorate a new build flat
The difficulty in decorating a new build is the opposite of that posed by most period houses: because new builds tend to lack hugely defining details (or perhaps because we haven’t yet alighted on a canonical contemporary style of decoration, because it would be clichéd by definition if we did), it can be hard to decide on a direction for your home. A Victorian villa has a specific set of strengths and weaknesses that you can play to, while a Georgian cottage has its own. A new build, in the popular mindset, doesn’t have… any?
None of this is to say that it’s not possible to bring character to a new build, as all the designers featured by House & Garden demonstrate with aplomb. In fact, the lack of distinct rules means that you have a very broad spectrum of options to choose from.
There are a few things we can probably take as given. First off, the walls of your new build are likely to be white, which means you can both choose how (if at all) to repaint them and how to add more warmth to your rooms. Keep your colour schemes unified throughout each room, at the very least – make sure appliances, furniture and decorative elements complement each other – and ideally, consider the colours that run through your whole home, too.
Consider the size of your living space. Spaces in a new build might not be as defined as in a traditional, older building. Any combination of the kitchen, dining space and living area might well all be open-plan and merged together. This can have an impact on how you dress the space – dining benches alongside your table might work better to save space over individual chairs, for example, if you want to fit a sofa or sitting room-style area into the same space. Rugs can be useful in determining which part of an open plan is meant to be used for what purpose. We also love the use of glass partitions or doors to separate one part of an open plan space from another; this lets light flow between them, but gives a useful sense of separation.
Note, too, that appliances can act as statement pieces, if you’re short of space. A large fridge – perhaps a retro-looking Smeg in a striking colour – is as valid a source of envy for your guests as a sculpture or a painting that might not fit on your wall. Don’t feel restricted in choosing from different periods of furniture, either. The fact that you’re working with a relatively blank slate of a building means you can add character through historic pieces that you might not otherwise be able to make fit in an older build. Superficially damaged or worn pieces of furniture will tell their own stories if you let them, and give your new build the feel of having been lived in even if it hasn’t, yet.
In short, the guidelines are there, but they’re relatively loose, which means inspiration can strike from anywhere – so take a look at these takes on new-build flats featured by House & Garden’s favourite designers for ideas on what direction you might want to take your own.