Redfin blog

We’ve all seen them: beautiful homes with custom finishes, built-ins, gorgeous chef’s kitchens – they’re the ultimate dream for any homeowner. While a custom-built home might be outside your budget, this is where builder-grade, or cookie-cutter houses, come in. 

Over the years, cookie-cutter houses have gained a reputation for being boring or lacking originality. But that’s far from the truth. By thinking of a cookie-cutter home as a blank canvas, the design possibilities are endless. We’ll go over what cookie-cutter houses are as well as simple budget-friendly projects you can do to personalize them. Let’s get started.

What are cookie-cutter houses?

Have you driven around a neighbourhood and felt like you’ve passed by the same row of houses twice? You’re not experiencing a sense of deja vu. If you live in the United States or Canada, chances are you’re familiar with the image of a suburban neighbourhood with identical houses spaced evenly apart with manicured lawns and white picket fences. 

These housing developments are known as tract housing or cookie-cutter houses. Homes are built on a tract (area) of land, subdivided into individual lots. While there might be slight variations in the floor plan, materials, or features to accommodate varying budgets, the homes look nearly identical from the outside. Hence the name cookie-cutter houses.

Because of their affordability, you can find cookie-cutter houses pretty much everywhere on the housing market. However, just because you bought a cookie-cutter home doesn’t mean you can’t personalize it. We reached out to experts from Las Vegas, NV, to Buffalo, NY, for their ideas to make your home stand out and create a one-of-a-kind space. Here’s what they had to say.

How to make a cookie-cutter house look unique 

Update a cookie-cutter home with a fresh coat of paint

1. Take colour inspiration from nature
When choosing a paint colour for your home, take inspiration from the natural features in your geographical region. Homes in desert areas look stunning in shades of brown, such as terra cotta or beige, while homes with an ocean view tend to shine in dramatic blues or greens. Also, consider the colour palette in the landscaping immediately around your home to help create the perfect contrasting colour combinations for trim and other details. –ACP Painting, LLC

2. Keep it simple
Skip the frames and paint directly on your walls with simple designs, patterns, and colors. It’s an easy way to make a cookie-cutter house uniquely yours, and you can always paint over it when you’re ready for a change. –Anne Harris Studio

3. Personalize the front door
My most dramatic change when customizing a cookie-cutter home is updating the front door’s paint colour. With some creativity and some colour testing, you can find that one bold colour that says “hey, look at me, I’m different.” –Basurto Painting

Declutter visible surfaces

4. Edit what you have
My number one tip for customizing cookie-cutter houses is to declutter and create “hidden” storage by using baskets to store small items. Keep the space organized, and your room will instantly have an elevated look. Then treat your walls and windows, add moulding, create an accent wall, and add beautiful curtains to add interest to the space. Use wooden elements, plants, and layers with textile to make it warm and cozy. –Petite Avenue Interiors

Elevate moulding and millwork

5. Upgrade trimwork with a bold paint colour
Paint is the easiest (and most impactful) way to elevate your space. It can highlight architectural detail or even create the illusion of an architectural aesthetic. Create intentional contrasts by painting trim, staircases, ceilings, etc. Playing with colour in this way can dramatically change the depth and light of a room. 

Try painting the bottom half of your wall — this has all the benefits of bold colour without overwhelming your space. A two-toned wall gives you the freedom to contrast something playful, like Gin Blossoms, with something classic, like Supermom. Alternatively, paint an accent wall to create a focal point in the space with a neutral classic such as Mojave Gathering. – Natalie Ebel, co-founder of Backdrop

6. Create a custom look with crown moulding 
One way to give a bland, cookie-cutter home a more custom look is by adding crown moulding and/or swapping out your baseboards, casings, and trim. It’s a detail that most don’t think about but significantly impacts the room’s appearance. Whether it’s adding crown moulding, changing the style of the existing trim, or painting it another colour, it’s sure to add some punch and create a more polished look. –MAKS Design Studio

7. Install wood trims to interior windows
One way to make your cookie-cutter house stand out from the rest without breaking the bank is by adding wood trims around all your interior windows to give it a special touch. Paint all the wood accents with a satin sheen with your favourite colour, or stain the wood for protection. –1st Painting Contractors

8. Add interest by painting cabinets, trims, and doors
Consider painting wood accents in your home, such as cabinets, trim, and doors. These details can be highlighted using different paint colours or finishes and give your cookie-cutter home a unique look. –Andy’s Painting, Inc.

9. Create a show stopping foyer by updating the stairs
Builders will often install basic wooden railings and banisters on the staircases of new homes. We like to customize these components with different colour combinations, glossy black railings, and newel posts with white balusters. There’s an infinite amount of colour combinations with this process to give any foyer an eye-popping accent, and it’s a popular upgrade right now. –All Touch Power Wash & Paint

Glam up the living room

10. Create a custom look by swapping out builder-grade finishes
My main focus when upgrading cookie-cutter houses is the living room. It’s surprising how transforming the ceiling, wall, and floor can change the overall ambiance. Changing a ceiling from a POP design to an ultra-glossy reflective finish, a darker wall colour to a lighter tone, and banal flooring to wooden flooring can be the trick to personalize a cookie-cutter house. –Interiors By Mccoy

Upgrade hardware and finishes

11. Update existing doorknobs and cabinet hardware
One of my favorite budget-friendly ways to personalize cookie-cutter houses is to upgrade doorknobs and cabinet hardware. It makes such a difference in your space, and it’s easy to do on your own without needing the services of a professional. –Interiors by Ahuva

12. Think outside the box when revamping a cookie-cutter house
Add some personal hardware to take away the builder’s special and make each set of cabinets or doors your own. And don’t forget that paint is the cheapest way to make the biggest impact. You can paint anything – walls, baseboards, trim, and cabinets, in the kitchen, bathroom, just about anywhere. –City & Shiplap

Add dimension to a cookie-cutter house with lighting

13. Give your home a new look with great lighting 
My number one tip for updating a cookie-cutter house would be the lighting. Lighting can take a space from mediocre to stunning. –Hearth To Home Interior Styling

14. Focus on sourcing stylish lighting
There are so many beautiful and unique lighting fixtures on the market right now. It’s an easy and quick way to make an impact on your home while also adding your style to it. You can take it one step further and paint or wallpaper the ceiling to make your new statement fixture pop! –Lily June Home

Add finishing touches with decor

15. Upgrade your textiles and add plenty of texture
Designing a dream space in your cookie-cutter home is about incorporating things that make you feel relaxed. The space should be a reflection of your favourite things. The trick adds texture with materials and fabrics to avoid making your interior feel cold or bland. For example, using textured wallcoverings can add warmth to your room and enrich the space. Pick one to three materials to use consistently throughout your home. Remember, stay true to your taste, because nothing you like will ever go out of fashion. –Interiors By Lena

16. Embrace wallpaper accent walls
Accent walls are a great way to add colour and interest to a space to set your home apart. If you’re feeling nervous, try grass cloth in a neutral colour for a refined pop of texture. –Rock My Space

17. Don’t forget the little details to pull everything together
My number one tip is to focus on upgrading your wall treatments, overhead lighting, and cabinet pulls. Add some dimension to your space with panel moulding, wainscoting, or bold wallpaper, then swap out your overhead lighting for a modern globe chandelier, and complete the look by elevating your cabinet pulls with some matte black pulls. These minor upgrades will instantly add an effortless modern touch to your space. –Interiors By Beck