Unless you live in a prewar or loft building with an absolute deluge of old-timey architectural details (don't rub it in, OK?), you've probably at some point wished for more of them. A white box of a room, no matter how clean and refreshing, just doesn't have the same cozy factor as a space with its history written on the walls. The good news: Lots of architectural details can be added to a white box, which is both simpler and cheaper than you'd imagine (e.g., a four-by-four is basically a ready-to-go ceiling beam). Yes, it's worth keeping in mind the style of your home or apartment—ceiling beams and molding and plaster walls might look a little out of place if you add them all to the same room in a glassy high-rise—but really it's all up to you. Here are some ideas to tack on.

Molding

With a bit of foresight from an architect or designer, your contractor can apply half-height wainscoting right on top of the existing walls (and yes, of course, crown molding if you desire it). For an even more classical look, paint these details high-gloss.

Paneling

Likewise, a floor-to-ceiling wall of shiplap or beadboard will completely transform the look of the home. Hello, Nantucket!

Ceiling Beams

Pick up those aforementioned four-by-fours or even start with 2x4's, the way Judy Aldridge did in her Texas home, and drill them directly to ceiling joists. Paint and stains are totally optional.

Antique Tiles

Even more than reclaimed wood surfaces, tile walls, backsplashes, and yes, even floors will lend a thoroughly antiqued effect to any room if you install old tiles to begin with. Terra-cotta? Painted porcelain? The chippier, the better!

Ceiling Medallions

If you're hoping to hang a pendant lamp but would love for it to look a little less randomly placed, consider adding a tin ceiling medallion—which you can get for as little as $8 at Home Depot.

Plaster Walls

Something about mottled raw-finish plaster has so much more depth than drywall or even paint. Try shiny Venetian for bouncing light around small rooms, and waterproof tadelakt for bathrooms.

Antique Doorknobs

Any antique store worth its salt will have a bowl of antique doorknobs on some table or another—cut glass, chippy porcelain, probably some worn wood ones if you hunt hard enough. Swap yours out for one of them.

Old Knobs + Drawer Pulls

For kitchens and cabinets, a set of weathered brass handles (even if they're just made to look weathered) will change the whole feel of a room.

An Old Mantel

No fireplace, no problem. Sniff around Craigslist or your local antique store for an old mantel and affix it right to the wall (so it doesn't fall off!). Then style the top to your heart's desire, and do the same to the opening (no candles in the faux fireplace here!).

Picture Rails

Mount this thin piece of molding right below the crown molding and use it to hang pictures—just as they did in ye olden days (and in lots of houses that are actually old).