Top Tips and Tricks for Integrating History into Your Home Decor
Submitted by Andy_B on Thursday, 13 June 2019 Page Views: 304
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We decorate our homes based on all sorts of trends and themes that we’ve found online, or in magazines. But what’s a better inspiration than using our own or someone else’s history to inspire the interior design of our houses? Histories, however different they can be, link us all. It gives us a sense of place and belonging, and lets us know where we’re coming from, which can ultimately help us to decide where we’re going. It’s something that can be handed down the generations, and unlike fads and trends, that will never go out of date. With these top tips and tricks, you can intertwine your home with all sorts of history.Antiques Are Your Prized Possession
Nothing tells the tale of your history like using an antique or two in your home decor. You might be lucky enough to have inherited a family antique, and many people who do put these away for safe-keeping. But why do we do this? Your grandma, for example, gives you an old ornament that’s probably worth a lot of money, yet most of the time these pieces end up in the loft, or put away in a cardboard box for when the children are old enough to inherit it. If you are lucky enough to inherit family antiques, be proud and put them on display, and even if they don’t fit in your conventional style, why not try something entirely new?
Antiques, however are not only expensive ornaments and pictures for decoration. Aged wooden chests and tables can give your home an authentic, old European feel when they’re paired with modern accessories, and vintage wardrobes make great alternatives to the modern storage cabinet. Opposites really do attract in the case that antiques pair really well with modern furniture to create a textured and effective historical theme.
Don’t Forget the Floor!
Our floors probably hold the most history out of everything in the home. Think of all of the people who’ve walked over them, sat on them, the furniture that has been lovingly placed on top of them, and of course the unwanted spillages that your floor has taken on the chin over the years. We often overlook our floors, and we absolutely shouldn’t, but the historical look can really lend itself to the beauty of a floor. Dress your floor like a monarch with a good quality, antique rug - the older and more well used the better, and hand-me-downs absolutely make for the best historical feel. But avoid dirt and stains, remember you’re going for historical, not untidy!
Get Creative
History is at its most important when it’s entirely unique to you, so why not get creative with textiles? Create something memorable and sentimental to keep in your home, that you can pass onto your children when the time comes. Instead of buying cushion cases, why not make them out of your Grandparents’ old shirts and coats. Better yet, a patchwork quilt made out of various items of family clothing from years gone by. Adding ethnic and interesting patterns into your space, whether they’re from a sentimental place or not, adds an entirely new dynamic into your home. Hangings, drapes, and curtains are other great places to get creative with vintage patterns.
Vintage Pottery and Baskets Are In Right Now
And this absolutely reflects in their price, so it’s worth considering this before you start shopping for them. Although more expensive, items like this, particularly if they’re from places in your family history, can bring a sense of heritage into your home. Even if you don’t inherit items like this, it’s possible to shop around them and find them to suit your background. These items can add a different level of class to your home, and make it appear more expensive. Of course, it’s lovely to have a luxurious home, but this is particularly handy if you’re looking to sell your home, especially quickly with this service online. Buyers are more likely to offer a greater price for a more expensive looking home.
Frame Your Memories
Last but certainly not least, create your own history by framing special moments from through your life, whether that be with a partner, friends, or your children. There’s something about putting an item or picture into a frame that makes it important and untouchable, and somewhat invincible. A moment itself becomes a historical item in our own lives when we frame significant items to us. It could be something as simple as a CD cover or cinema ticket, or something as important as an ultrasound or marriage certificate, but either way these incorporate your own family history into your home, and make for a great talking point for guests.
Top image, Creative Commons by Michael Coghlan, used with thanks.
