Whether it’s a new house or an off-the-plan apartment, a new build offers a blank slate ready to be transformed into a space that reflects your personality and style.  

As more Aussies choose to build new homes, they’re faced with endless choices to turn a crisp new build into their personal dream home. But it can be done, whether it’s a new house or an off-the-plan apartment.  

“Moving into a new home is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a new community and bring in personal touches to your home,” Swanbury Penglase Interior Designer Beatriz Chamsay said.  

“As interior designers, we are often exposed to trends that change often, but timeless design comes through when we bring it back to understanding our client's unique values and needs, which produces interiors that reflect them.”

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Here are tips from Chamsay on how you can personalise your new build to feel lived-in and have character.  

Start with the basics 

One benefit of a new build is the flexibility of knowing what the finishes of your new home will be, and in some cases, making the selection yourself.

New builds allow homebuyers customisation choices like colour palettes and floor plans. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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Start with a colour palette that resonates with you. This choice will be the foundation for designing a comfortable and personal space.

“Some developments offer alternative colour palettes and upgrade options giving buyers the opportunity to personalise the styling and feel of their home,” Chamsay said.  

Leverage customisation options 

Customisations can play a crucial role in making a new build feel like your own.  

“With new off-the-plan builds, they're often designed to have a base floorplan and palette, which, although makes the building process simpler when dealing with large developments, it may not feel personal at first to the individual homeowner,” Chamsay said.  

“This is why it's important to think about your lifestyle, get involved in the process, and select a base plan that suits your needs the best to start with.”  

For example, while project homes are typically built using pre-designed plans, there are certain customisations you can utilise to make the home feel like your own. 

MORE: Project home customisations worth spending your money on 

MORE: Customisations that make an off-the-plan apartment your own

It’s also important to take advantage of any cabinetry, flooring, or fixture upgrades available to add a unique touch. 

“Homeowners can also use the floor plans to think of how they would like the space to function and flow by developing their own furniture plans,” Chamsay said.

Many developments offer upgrade options to further personalise your home. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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To ensure you enjoy your home to the fullest, it’s important to make design choices that are personal.  

Chamsay said some people are drawn to natural elements like stone, timber and brick as a connection to nature. Others might want a minimal base palette to express themselves, while some may want to add more colour to reflect their personality.  

MORE: Design tips that will make your bathroom a dream to maintain 

Style with what you love

When it comes to your new build, it’s important not to rush the decorating process and fill up empty spaces for the sake of it, as that can lead to ‘fast furnishing’ and getting swept up with what’s currently popular.  

Instead, homeowners can try a more layered or eclectic approach by combining different elements so their interior doesn’t feel like it comes from one origin – buying furniture sets in the same design and finish, for example, is quick way to make a home feel generic 

“Layer colours, textures, lighting, or even furniture pieces from different time periods and styles,” Chamsay advised.  

“By taking the time to select these pieces, this will naturally start creating a layered space homeowners can enjoy for a longer time. 

“Homes are meant to evolve naturally as we do, and by sticking to what's is meaningful rather than what is popular then these homes become timeless to the people who inhabit it.” 

Looking for a new home? Browse our dedicated New Homes section.