How long has it been since you purchased your apartment off-the-plan? Slowly watch it rise into the sky. Excitedly taken family and friends along to the building site, as the construction takes form. Counted 6 floors up, and 3 balconies over, pretty sure that that space was going to be your future home.

And today, you’ve finally been given the keys to your new apartment, and when you step inside it feels like a hotel suite.

Now for some of you, that may be the exact look and feel you have been waiting for. A brand new, neutral palate, warm-in-winter, cool-in-summer, apartment that makes you feel like you are on holiday every day of the year.

For others, it is a blank canvas waiting to become your own. But where do you start?

Here are 5 simple ways for you to bring character and individuality to your new apartment and really make it your home.

1) First of all, every room needs a feature. Look at your current items, furniture, lamps, art work, mirrors. It needs to catch your eye. You may decide to freshen up an old piece of furniture, give it a paint job or new fabric. Allocate one feature item per room. And, if you don’t yet have a suitable item, see ideas 4 & 5 for an inexpensive solution.

2) Remove the generic, hotel room look in the kitchen by replacing the standard fittings such as drawer and cupboard handles. Fresh flowers always create a homely feel, but you can take it one step further with idea number 3.

3) Balcony kitchen gardens are becoming more and more popular as urban dwellers choose to produce fresh produce without the hassle of a full garden to upkeep. Depending on the space available for you, you can easily maintain a herb garden, and planter boxes that provide you with fresh greens and tomatoes.

4) Light fittings can be an easy way to also add character to your new home. Modern, art deco, antique looks can all be achieved by simply changing the light fittings. If however, your new apartment is kitted out with popular down lights, remember you can always add character by using a feature lamp (floor or table) instead.

5) Finally, the easiest and quickest way to achieve a dramatic impact and really stamp who you are on your new home is the application of paint and/or wallpaper. Wallpaper can add character without needing to change anything else in the room. Wallpaper all walls, or just one feature wall. You can do the same with paint. Not only are there are many color shades these days (you can color match to anything, just ask your paint supplier) but different effects and textures too.

I love moving in to a new home, especially something where I am the first inhabitant. It is exciting. My final bit of advice is to not play it safe, be experimental and infuse it with your own essence.

If you are still at the building stage, then begin to create a “look” board or collage. Home decor magazines are great for inspiration, but also remember to take inspiration from your current treasures and favorite furniture pieces.