Character features are incredibly desirable, and everything from inglenook fireplaces to authentic wooden beams can boost property prices and capture your heart during a viewing. Unfortunately (and perhaps unsurprisingly), not all character additions are strictly practical for modern life. This doesn’t mean that you can’t still love those characterful elements, but it does mean you’ll want to think about their practicality for your specific way of life moving forward. It’s particularly worth asking whether character features are inconveniencing you right now, and whether you could address that issue in the following ways. 

Sometimes, you can get the best out of your character features by simply upgrading them. The most obvious examples of this come from options like putting double-glazed panes in classic sash window frames, or upgrading hardware like door handles to retain classic pieces that actually function. Equally, smaller upgrades, like installing these gas fires from Fires2u within your traditional fireplace, will make a huge difference to usability. Without costing your classic features, these small changes can make a huge difference to how comfortable you feel within your home. Simply make sure that any upgrades are in keeping with your home’s overall style by leaning towards traditional options. This way, you can enjoy a classic home that’s significantly easier to run.

The more characterful areas in your home can occasionally end up being wasted space. This is especially true if you have an incredibly old property that contains characterful features such as old brick ovens and other alcoves. You won’t want to get rid of these things, but you might be wondering how you can possibly get use out of them in this day and age. Often, simple adaptations towards modern purposes are the best options. For instance, old brick fireplaces can be fantastic places to display home accessories, especially if those additions are antiques themselves. Equally, you could fill little nooks and crannies across your home with something similar, or even install some bookshelves for an adaptation that’s guaranteed to last across the ages.