Wherever you live, it is always important to have a place that feels like yours. I felt this in my childhood bedroom, and everywhere I have moved after. From my college dorm to the apartments in the cities I have found myself in – or flats as they call them on the side of the pond I now call home – the importance of having a home base has remained. When you finally find the right place, it is time to ask yourself the classic question: How do you make a house a home?
Through many flipped pages of Architectural Digest and pinned Pinterest photos, I have always loved the idea of interior design. However, I believe that the best decorations are not for sale. They are the physical memories that are uniquely yours. I have always been a memory collector, and over the years, I have found creative ways to put memories on display.
Suggestion #1: Create Your Own Gallery
The concept of a gallery wall is simple: curating a collection of framed photos or other items to put together. One of the most reputable companies to help you build a gallery wall is Framebridge. Through an online service or one of their physical stores, they can frame almost anything. Gallery walls have a way of looking put together, whether they are cohesive or an eclectic mix. One of my favorite examples of a gallery wall is Kylie Jenner’s wall of black-and-white childhood photos. Black-and-white will always look classic, no matter how old the photos are. I think it is a great way to remember your past and what brought you to where you live today.
Further, photos in tabletop frames are a great way to decorate a credenza or dresser. I think film produces the best photos, and I always carry a classic Fujifilm digital camera. When I develop the film, I get both digital and physical copies, and I display my favorite shots in 5×7 frames on my dresser. It is the perfect personal touch to my bedroom. The photos are one of the first things I see in the morning, which always gives me a spark of joy. I also have a Polaroid from the 90s and have a couple of my favorite Polaroids filmed as well. While digital photos are great, I believe that there is a particular intimacy to film.
Suggestion #2: Decorate Your Coffee Table
Decorating a coffee table is an art form. It is a great way to put together books and objects that speak to you. You may have a collection of coffee table books already. If not, you can find a coffee table book on almost any topic that interests you. If you don’t know where to start, there are booksellers that specialize in coffee table books, such as Taschen, Rizzoli, and Assouline.
Once you arrange your books, you can choose what to decorate them with. I personally like fresh flowers and candles, but the possibilities are endless. My family and friends have done plants, matchboxes, trays, bowls, and much more. Everything you can pair your books with is something you most likely already have in a different place. I think of a coffee table as a real-life collage—pieces you arrange to create a unique reflection of yourself. You can apply the same idea to a bookshelf. I believe it is worth buying physical books, because accumulating a bookshelf over time is an art piece in and of itself.
Suggestion #3: Scraps Aren’t Just For Scrapbooking
While I have always been a physical memory collector, I have personally never been a fan of scrapbooking. I love the idea, but I don’t want to have to stick to a particular number of pages. When I was younger, I put my scraps in desk drawers, each drawer representing a different chapter of life. Once I got to college and lived in a dorm room, I started collecting my memories in a memory box.
At first, I simply used a box that came with a blanket I bought. Later, I found Petite Keep, a company that specializes in customizable memory boxes. They come in three sizes: Mini, Petite, and Grand. I went with the grand, because I think it is big enough that I will have space forever. The boxes use sturdy metal exteriors and come in a variety of colors, so they look good enough to display.
Suggestion #4: Give Pieces a Second Life
When I think of hand-me-downs or vintage shopping, I first think of clothes. However, I have found that it is equally applicable to furniture and decor. I think people often overlook what their families have tucked away in attics or storage. Many families keep things like dinnerware or albums for their record players, and I find it really special to pass them down from generation to generation. When it comes to furniture, I have found antique gems on Vinterior and Olive Ateliers, and they are often less expensive than I would have thought. Antiques and vintage items carry a worn-in feel that nothing can replicate. I prefer that to be in perfect condition by a landslide—it physically reflects the memories attached to the furniture. That is what home is really about.
Suggestion #5: The Ultimate Centerpiece
Last but not least, I have to suggest Samsung’s famous TV, The Frame. It is more expensive than most TVs, but I believe it is a piece worth investing in. The concept is simple: a TV that looks like a framed photo. Once I saw it, I knew I could never go back to having a plain black box on my wall. The Frame is one of those products that does it all. It allows you to have a TV and a statement piece of art, and you don’t even have to commit to the art. I think of this as a piece that incorporates a memory, because I like to display personal photos. However, if you would like to display someone else’s art, there are so many beautiful screens to choose from.
Final Verdict
There are countless amounts of homeware for sale, but I believe that simply buying pieces from a store doesn’t feel, for lack of a better word, “homey”. I think that many people believe that you have to choose between sentimentality and style, but that could not be further from the truth. With a few stylish interior design choices connected to the memories you have made, you can have the best of both worlds.
Whether you have moved or are looking to spice up your current space, I would encourage you to look through what you have and remember the beauty of physical memories. As the world becomes more digital, having something special that you can touch and feel has never been more important. With a little bit of inspiration and creativity, you will feel more at home than ever.
