Decorate With Intention: Unbury Your Treasures
Family heirlooms, photos and other antiques are a significant part of any home. They spark conversation, awaken warm memories and give glimpses into the lifestyles of an old generation. This week we look at creative ways to display these items, so they can improve your own life with their rich history instead of languishing in storage.
In case you haven’t gone through your household mementos for a while (or ever?) , it might seem overwhelming to begin, so I advise you to take it slow. Pull out one box at a time and keep it close to the couch to form through as you watch TV. Being slightly diverted while sorting is really good, since it is going to make it easier to part with these pesky (but cute!) Baby pictures that never made it into the book. Aim to keep only what is really special. It’s hard, but keep in mind the effects of a little collection, carefully preserved, can be a lot greater than a massive pile of boxes of who knows what.
Now that you have your group winnowed (you simply ran off and did that, correct?) We can proceed to curating and showing eight of the most common types of mementos. Let’s get started.
Jennifer Grey Interiors Design & Color Specialist
1. Nature collections. Whether it is sand gathered at every beach you vacationed at as a young child, or even a bird’s nest from the backyard of their first house you bought, many of us have things from nature that hold special meaning. Here are a few simple yet eye-catching ideas for displaying your nature collection:
Place a bird’s nest, hollowed eggs out or other delicate things under a glass cloche onto the coffee table.Use antlers and seashells to carry down stacks of novels or papers.Set jars of sand or seashells onto a bookcase between stacks of books.Frame pressed flowers and leaves and then hang them in a bunch on the wall.Line up stones or crystals along a windowsill or collect them in a decorative jar.
Atypical Type A
2. A distinctive handwritten note. Have a significant letter? Do not let it languish in a box in the basement. Frame it instead, and you will have the ability to appreciate it daily.
3. Old family documents. Envelopes and postcards with age can make an eye-catching wall screen, particularly against a dark wall. Just make sure you use colour photocopies if you would like to hang them without frames or within a room vulnerable to dampness, like a kitchen or toilet.
Beth Dotolo, ASID, RID, NCIDQ
4. Family photos. Trying to find a fresh new way to exhibit those family portraits? Consider supersizing them and incorporating easy frames for a modern look. And if you use ready-made frames, you can easily swap out the photos from time to time to keep the screen current.
For People design
5. Jewelry. Give pride of place for your most cherished jewelry. Sure, you may want to keep the really pricey things locked away, but most of us have costume jewelry with sentimental value. Consider organizing a couple of special pieces on trays and small dishes atop your dresser.
Design Within Reach
6. Clothing. Why hide that gorgeous flapper dress you inherited? Use it as imaginative décor by hanging it in a bedroom .
And what about all those precious baby clothes? Try framing one or two favorites at shadowboxes or possess a pile reworked into a one-of-a-kind quilt.
simple thoughts
7. Children’s art. The budding artists at the household could possibly be coming home with dozens of pieces weekly. What to do with all that artwork? To begin with, create a simple display area with space for showing at least a dozen pieces simultaneously. A gallery wall or large bulletin or magnet board could work beautifully.
With the overflow, consider limiting what you keep to one box per kid. If that seems like too small, you may even take digital photos or scan in the art and make photo books, for a solution that preserves the memories but takes up far less space than the originals.
See more ways to display children’s artwork
8. The fantastic silver. Fancy glassware could be too delicate for the everyday table, but silver really benefits from regular use and looks stunning to boot. If you are fortunate enough to have a set, stop stressing about it and just use it.
Tell us Which are your favourite ways to exhibit your household treasures? If you had only a few minutes to save things from a flame (not counting people and furry friends) what could you choose with you and why?
More:
20 Great Ways to Display Family Photos
Put Clothes and Textiles at a New Frame of Mind
Give Your House Some Natural Curiosities