Decorating home is something many homeowners aspire to — after all, interior design is what makes the home beautiful and unique. Now, there are many ways to make your home come to life, but sometimes the best way to make it happen is to use sentimental items. After all, sentimental items should be proudly displayed, rather than kept in boxes at the bottom of the wardrobe. Photos, beloved painting and such are the perfect way to infuse your space with some personality, so here are some creative ideas that will help you enrich your home with sentimental items:

Use photos to create stunning wall art

This is an interesting way to decorate your living room without spending too much on expensive decor items. You probably own a box full of photos of your loved ones, and some of them are probably too pretty to be placed in a box. So, you could use them and create a stunning piece of wall art — you don’t even need to buy a frame, because simply gluing them to the wall look pretty enough. Of course, there are panels and boards that could be used as well, and some of them can be modified and repainted, but next time you feel like adding something sentimental to your space, feel free to consider some old (and new) family photos.

Use children’s drawings

If you have children (or very young nephews and nieces), you probably know how cute and creative they can be. So, instead of hanging their drawings on the fridge, why don’t you frame them? Colorful children’s artistic expression of creativity can be a welcome addition to your wall art collection, and plus, using elegant custom frames will surely add more charm to the picture. Besides, adding some colors to your home will certainly make it feel more vibrant and positive.

Frame your favorite poem

Using frames for photos and paintings is a given, but how about framing some words? You probably have a poem that you find deeply touching or song lyrics that speak to your on a personal level. Proudly displaying them will add surely let your personality shine through — just don’t forget to pick nice frame and font that is in tune with the rest of your home decor. Aside from poems and lyrics, you can also opt for a meaningful quote from your favorite book, movie or public figure. And in case you don’t want to frame it, you can actually draw it on the wall, especially since there are very skilled painters and decorators who’ll be able to do it precisely the way you want it.

Fridge magnets

Fridge magnets are actually decor items that often get overlooked, which is a shame, considering they can be sentimental. Remember the last time you took a trip somewhere and bought yourself a fridge magnet as a souvenir? Even if you’re not a collector of magnets, you’ve probably been given one from a friend or a relative fresh from the holiday trip. Using fridge magnets as decor items can make your kitchen (and fridge) look more interesting and colorful. Besides, having a bunch of memories in the form of fridge magnets will surely make you feel good and sentimental about your past trips whenever you look at them.

Family heirlooms

When you get tired from paintings and framed photos, remember that there are other ways to sentimentally decorate your home. One of them is proudly displaying valuable family heirlooms, such as your grandmother’s silverware and your mother’s porcelain tea sets. Aside from these, you can also display a grandfather’s clock that’s been in your family for a few generations, or if you don’t have a clock, just try to find anything that has been valuable to you and your family, and try to turn it into a decor piece.

Organize a home library

Now, if you don’t live in a large home, you probably don’t have enough space to make a standard family library, but reserving one shelf for prized books that used to belong to your grandparents will definitely make your home look more refined and classy. This can especially look good if you’re a fan of vintage home decor. Besides, there are many ways to create a unique bookshelf, and if you’re a fan of mixing old and modern decor pieces, that can be an excellent way to match a minimalist and contemporary bookshelf with old-looking valuable book collection.

Using sentimental items to decorate your home can make your place stand out and look more special. Just remember to keep a fine line between kitschy and creative, so your home won’t end up looking like a museum or an antique store. After all, the best way to have an elegant home is to make sure that everything is well-balanced and neatly decorated.