Mina Starsiak-Hawk Shares A Simple Design Element That Makes Any Home Stand Out

A good tip for making a statement in your home is to reimagine fixed features before adding new ones. For instance, walls, ceilings, floors, doors, and windows are great opportunities to do something unique since they are basic elements that are necessary in every space. On "Good Bones" season 7, Mina Starsiak-Hawk made this simple creative move when working on an Indianapolis home. "We want this house to make a statement so we're installing these unique gridded windows that will really make it stand out on the block," she said (via YouTube).

When your home is lined up closely with other homes, it helps to have a distinctive factor or two that can catch eyes. This can be a unique exterior facade, roof, or front door. It can also be the style of your windows. Mina Starsiak-Hawk focused on the front-facing windows of the home with this grid tip, but another way to approach this is to add windows to the front door. Whether it's with stained glass, an arched window at the top, or windows installed all around the door, this is a sure way to create a bright entrance to your home that leaves an impression.

"The windows have this fun grid that plays into the quaint cottage look of the entire house," said Mina Starsiak-Hawk, per Realtor. Window grids are a classic home feature that come in many patterns like traditional, prairie, and cross. They came in colonial times but can still be incorporated into modern homes if you want to do something unique. In addition to fitting into a cottage theme, gridded windows can work with a farmhouse or country style. Something to consider when choosing a grid pattern is how you want the glass panes to be divided because the smaller the sections, the less natural light will be let in. The size of the grids will also determine how busy the windows look.

Naturally, gridded windows cost more than plain windows so you need a bigger budget for this feature. However, there are ways to get the look for cheaper. One hack is to create faux frames with electrical tape. Measure out the pattern you want for your windows, clean them well, and then put on the tape. No one looking at your home from the outside will know! Another renter-friendly upgrade to create some instant charm with your windows is to insert pre-cut muntins into the frames to create grids.