You should absolutely showcase personal items that hold special meaning to you. By displaying sentimental items throughout your home, you create an environment that preserves and celebrates your cherished memories. These items can be anything from family heirlooms and photographs to souvenirs from your travels or even handmade crafts. Each piece has its own unique story and contributes to the overall narrative of your space, making it feel warm, personalized, and filled with love. Here are some tips to get you started on infusing your space with these meaningful items, even if you have limited space or active kids or pets.
Choose Your Sentimental Items
When choosing sentimental items for display in your home, focus on pieces that evoke meaningful memories, personal achievements, or significant relationships. Sentimental items can include family heirlooms, photographs, travel souvenirs, handmade crafts, or gifts from loved ones. These items should tell a story about your life’s journey and the people who have been important to you. When displayed thoughtfully, they create a warm and personal atmosphere that reflects your unique experiences and values. Remember, it’s not about the monetary value, but the emotional connection and the memories they represent. You can repurpose vintage finds. For example, stores like Anthropologie offer vintage items that can be repurposed into unique decor pieces, adding a personal touch to your home.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft stock images
Find Display Areas in Your Home
Look for areas in your home that can serve as display spaces. Here are some ideas:
- Wall Space: Utilize vertical space by hanging shelves or shadow boxes.
- Mantle or Bookshelves: These can be great spots for displaying smaller items.
- Glass Cabinets: If you have a glass cabinet, it’s perfect for displaying items while keeping them safe from little hands and paws.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft stock images
Get Creative with Small Spaces
If space is limited, here are a few creative ways to display your items:
- Floating Shelves: These can be mounted on walls without taking up floor space.
- Corner Shelves: Make use of corner spaces with custom-fit shelves.
- Multi-functional Furniture: Look for furniture that offers storage/display options, like coffee tables with glass tops or cabinets with display sections.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft stock images
Consider Rotating Your Displays every Six Months
If you have more sentimental items than space allows, consider rotating them. Change the displayed items seasonally or whenever you want to refresh your space. This way, you can enjoy all your memories without cluttering your home. We really like Miller Box Co. They are located in Hamilton, Ontario. They create custom shadow boxes and other display solutions for three-dimensional items.
Digital Displays are Terrific Options
For photographs and other digital memorabilia, consider a digital photo frame. You can load it with multiple pictures, and it will rotate through them, saving space and keeping your memories visible. We really love aura frames. They are known for their high-definition digital frames with features like wireless photo sharing, cloud storage and motion sensors. Frames come in many different sizes, colors, textures etc.
Image credit: Aura Frames
Involving Kids & Pet Proofing Your Displays
If you have kids, get them involved in the process. Explain the significance of the items and let them help in choosing safe spots for displays. This can be a great learning experience for them and may help them respect the displays more. And remember, with kids and pets around, it’s important to ensure your sentimental items are safe. Make sure you place items on high shelves and out of reach. Consider secure display cases that have lockable doors. And finally use sturdy frames. If you are displaying photos, it’s essential frames don’t tip so investing in frames that are more substantial is the best approach.
Photo courtesy of Microsoft stock images
Instead of hiding away sentimental items, people are finding creative ways to display them. This can include building shadow boxes, blending them into bookshelf decor, or creating a gallery wall of family photos and mementos.
