A great way to add more interest to your home is to add architectural elements. Your new elements can be faux treatments or actual architectural elements. For examples, adding a bit of faux brick or wood at a corner, to make it look as if it is peeking through plaster gives the room an aged feel. Adding other treatments to the rest of the walls to make them appear aged will increase the effectiveness of this technique.
You can also add different pieces such as iron scroll work, a mock window made from an old window frame, or a faux fireplace to bring more charm to a space. In a space that feels awkward because it needs another window, you can fool the eye with a mirror that reflects a real window, or a painting of the outdoors.
Intricate wooden appliqués can be added to plain moldings to dress them up and they can also be added to furniture pieces to keep them more in line with the style of the home.
Adding a faux fireplace is a great way to add a focal point to a room. You can build your own from decorative molding or you might be able to find an old mantle and other pieces you’ll need at a salvage center.
Adding a faux fireplace is a fairly simple construction. Cut the pieces down if necessary. Drill pilot holes before screwing the pieces to wall studs, and fill them in with wood putty. Touch up the holes or refinish the entire piece. You can paint it or stain it to match the style of your space. A crisp white may be perfect or a distressed look may be just right to give the space more character. Paint the inside with heat resistant paint if you intend to light candles inside the fireplace.
You can also purchase beautiful gas burning fireplaces. Some are so well made, no one will ever know it wasn’t an original element of the home.