Buying an older home has its pros and cons. It might mean you can get the home that you want for less, although you might also have to do plenty of renovation to get it up to the standard that you want it. Some older homes might still include some great original features, which you could restore or replace in a way that's in keeping with the style.

Some people may choose to mostly ignore the original style of an older home, but a lot of people want to try and keep at least some of its charm. However, it's not always easy to make changes that are sympathetic to the original design of the house. If it's something you're trying to do, here are some of the things you might want to start with.

Understand Your Home

Before you start making any changes to your home, it's a good idea to get to know the property properly. For example, when was it built and what style is it built in? Knowing these things will give you a good starting point for any research that you might want to do. You can look up some examples of what your home might have looked like when it was first built and lived in. You can also look for some ideas for how you can turn it into a home suitable for modern living without removing all of its original character. It's also a good opportunity to look into the history of the house, including who might have lived there in the past.

Restore Period Features

If your home retains some of its original features, whether it's moldings on the ceiling and walls, wooden beams, or fireplaces, they might need a little TLC. Older features in homes can often hold up well, but they only last so long without showing signs of wear and tear. If you want to restore some of the features in your home, you can do so in a way that's sympathetic to what they originally looked like. In some cases, it might not be possible to make repairs, but you could consider making replacements that match the originals (or are close enough).

Update In Line with the Style

Making updates to your home doesn't mean completely replacing the charming older elements that might be there. Even if you have to remove something because it's not suitable for a modern home, you can still make updates that are in line with the original style. You can make a home window replacement using windows that are similar to the originals. If they've already been replaced by a more modern style, consider looking at your neighbors' windows or doing some research to find out what the originals might have looked like.

Source Appropriate Hardware, Accessories, and Furniture

A nice way to add some little touches to your home as a nod to the original decor might be to add some hardware and other accessories. For example, sourcing some ironmongery from the period when your home was built could be a great idea. You could find things like door knockers, door handles, and other items that add to your home. You might also think about things like your bathtub or your kitchen faucet. You might not necessarily source original items, but replicas can look just as good.

Use a Matching Color Scheme

One of the easy ways you could make your older home look and feel like it once did is to use a color scheme that makes sense for its age. Try looking for which colors were on-trend when your home was built and consider how you might combine them, along with the different patterns that might also have been popular. You can consider both the colors that you use inside your home and those you choose for outdoors on features such as your window frames and doors.

Make It Modern But Timeless

Updating your older home in a sympathetic way doesn't have to mean making it an exact replica of what it once might have looked like. You can still modernize it but decorate it in a way that looks timeless. Carefully choose some features that are a nod to the house's original architecture and interior style but make sure that you put your own personality into it too. Instead of making it very contemporary, which could mean it looks out of date in a few years, choose a timeless style.

You can update an older home in a way that's sympathetic to its original design, while also making sure it's up to date and suits your needs.