Make Your Builder-Grade Home Feel Custom Made For Less With Tips From Unsellable Houses

Builder-grade homes often have a negative reputation. While there may not be a problem with the durability of the materials, the problem lies more with the aesthetic. Builder-grade homes have limited options when it comes to finishes, which creates cookie-cutter homes that look similar to each other. These homes tend to have little personality and character and look like anyone could live there. And while you may have limited finish options from a contractor, you can add your own upgrades. Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis from HGTV's "Unsellable Houses" have used wood to make a builder-grade home look more customized.

The design pair created focal points throughout the home using wood wrapping. "We selected three key spaces — the entry wall, the fireplace, and the archway between the living room and kitchen — and added rustic wood wraps. Each of these features added a "wow factor" that totally set the home apart," Lamb explains on the blog Lamb & Co. Lamb and Davis used stained fence boards to create a wood-wrapped fireplace in the living room and a wood wall feature in the entry. Fence board panels are more cost-effective, and you can stain them in whatever color you want to match your interior décor.

Wood is a great option to make a home feel more unique and add character. It's also a fairly inexpensive upgrade. You can use a wood wrap on just the mantel for a pop or on the entire fireplace surround for a larger feature. Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis used fence boards and stained them to create their wood-wrapped fireplace. Another option is ¾ inch plywood boards, which can be a good option for smaller features, such as a mantel. Other materials you'll need for the project are screws and a drill or a nail gun, sandpaper, and wood stain. You'll also need an electric saw to cut the boards.

Before installing the boards for the wood feature, you'll want to sand them down to a smooth surface. A 120-grit to 180-grit sandpaper will do the job for most woods, including plywood. Clean the boards of any dust and sawdust left behind before installing the wood. To install, secure the wood boards to the wall and fasten them with the screws or nails. Once everything is in place, use a wood stain to get your desired color.

While Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis installed the wood around the fireplace and in the entryway, there are plenty of ways to use wood to customize your home. Because wood is fairly easy to source and can be inexpensive for some materials, it's a simple way to make a home's interior design look thought-out and custom-made.

You can add wood to ceilings, create a built-in wall shelf or ledge, or create a design that can serve as art. Use different board sizes to create interesting designs. Skinny wood molding can create more intricate designs, and you can use the lines to draw attention to certain features or emphasize the height of the room. Use molding in more traditional ways to create board and batten or picture molding features. Painted wainscotting can help combine traditional and contemporary trends. Find live-edge woods to bring a more natural texture into the room. Large pieces of live-edge wood can be a stunning statement piece on a wall. Or consider wood beams for the ceiling to create a more rustic look.

For wide wood boards, many homeowners may be worried about it looking dated. Instead of installing the wood vertically, consider a horizontal layout. More decorative patterns like herringbone and chevron can also prevent a wood feature from looking like an antiquated wood-paneled wall.