Meaningful Decor Ideas- Heather

I’m an art lover of all kinds.  Paintings, mixed media art, sculpture…I even find myself admiring old bricks on dilapidated buildings or moss growing through weathered stepping stones.  When it comes to decorating your home however you have to be a little more selective.  I’m all for art just because it makes your heart happy.  In my home I like to mix the pieces that I like with the pieces that have a strong emotional backing like images of my family, memories, and things that remind me of my journey through life so far.  There are lots of ways you can add meaningful art to your home and not look like you’re a day care or hodge podge of randomness (although random is good sometimes, right?) 

 

1.   Lyrics- My mom used to sing ‘You Are My Sunshine’ to me as a child.  I still get warm fuzzy feelings when I hear that tune so I decided to print out the lyrics and frame them in my son Lane’s room (it’s very fitting if you see his little sunny smile as well.)  I found this print below here. 
  

 

 

 

 

2.       Macro shots- You don’t have to be a photographer to capture the details of the elements around you that you really love.  Phone apps make it easy to create a look or play around with lighting.  Many places like Nations Photo Lab even let you print directly from your phone.   Are you especially proud of your rose bushes or fragrant lilacs?  Snap a macro shot and frame it in your home.  Did you love that restaurant on vacation or the old boardwalk?  Snap a cool angle of the sign or an old bench at the eatery, or a close up of the weathered wood on the boardwalk.  Is there a stepping stone walkway you notice every time you go to your favorite park?  Capture that, because someday many years from now you might forget what it looked like and want to relive those memories.  Why not save all those little moments at your fingertips. 

 

 

3.       Silhouette art- An easy way to make a group of pictures look cohesive and artful is to pick a few of your favorite images and have them made into silhouettes.  You could do a grouping in a bright and bold palette or go for a neutral pairing of black and white.  You can find these services plentiful on etsy.com and I even have a listing for them in my Etsy shop. 
 

4.       Roman numerals- I love these.  I like the simplicity of the lines and the fact that they represent a special date that’s personal to you.  They can look modern or traditional depending on the frame, and don’t compete or take away from other artwork.  I chose my son’s birthdays, but you could do wedding dates, first kisses, first date night after baby (kidding….but that is quite a monumental occasion), or whatever suits your fancy.  These are simple enough to do in programs you probably have on your computer like Microsoft Word.
 

5.       Greeting cards, invitations, or announcements- Have you ever gotten a card that you love to look at, and is so pretty that it seems like a shame to hide it away?  Frame it!  Whether it's a pretty illustration or a quote that speaks to you, it’s all ready to go up on the wall. 
 

 

6.       Homemade artwork- Your child’s first painting is a cherished item.  So it’s sort of full of scribbles…that’s ok.  A piece from even the most expressive child when framed fits in just fine with a grouping of more refined images.  You can also opt to buy or paint clipboards and hang them on the wall as a flexible frame that you or your child can update as the creative juices flow.  Below I repurposed a farmhouse accessory (I believe it was some kind of feeding tray.  Please don't trust that explanation as I'm pretty farm illiterate) winding pieces of wire in various spots and using mini clothespins to display our favorite items of the moment.

 

7.       Fabric- My sister has a group of old scarves in very pretty patterns and colors that were passed down in our family.  Rather than throw them in a box to collect dust, she framed them in a grouping of colorful frames and placed them in an arrangement on her staircase wall.  The effect is beautiful and interesting.   You could use a sash from your wedding, a piece of ribbon from a bouquet, or a piece from a baby blanket or worn out onesie.

8.   Mementos- There is no shortage of ways to display relics from past adventures.  You can frame concert tickets, baby bracelets, baby foot prints, etc.  It’s also nice to create (or buy) a memo board where you can keep a revolving display of your favorite memories in a way that looks tidy and fun.
          

   

 

 

9.       Plates- Antique silver trays, a plate that has been passed down in your family that you’re too afraid to actually use.  These items can look great displayed on your walls. 

10.   Engineer Prints- You can go to your local Staples or Office Max and get what they call an engineer print.  It’s an oversized, high quality black and white print on standard weight paper.  The sizes range from 18” x24” to 36” x48”.  They are a great way to make a statement without spending a ton of money (prices range from $1.79 to $7.29.)  I found various maps from my husband and my favorite places and framed them in matching oversized frames above our mammoth of a sectional.  It’s nice to have an everyday reminder of our first adventure to our first big move across country.

 

 

11.   Family Crests and Monograms- This is an easy way to add a sophisticated piece that goes with all your décor while having something that is personal to you and your family.  It’s as simple as perusing through Etsy to playing around with your desktop office program and finding a nice font that you can print out oversized on a heavy cardstock to frame.

 

You may not get the perfect display first time around, and it might take a while to figure out you and your family’s style, but once you start adding meaningful pieces you’ll find that your home is more than the way it looks…it’s your story.  Now happy hanging!

 

Xoxo, Heather