7 Home Decorating Tips That Are All About You

Your home is many things — your shelter, your private escape, your family hub — and it should also be a place to tell your life story. Here are seven easy ways to add personalized accents to your living space.

1. Display photo booth strips

Everyone loves a good photo booth. Instead of throwing all those strips in a drawer, display them. Put them in a cool vase so guests can flip through all of them, or go one step further and frame some of your favorites for a gallery wall.

2. Frame keys from your homes

This is such an easy craft that anyone can do that reflects your home journey and is sure to attract compliments. Gather keys from all of your past homes, grab a shadow box or deep picture frame, and glue the keys directly onto it. Then write the address underneath each one.

3. Showcase your family history

Display a few passed-down items on your bookcases and other surfaces throughout your home. Have an old letter from a family member or a treasured photo? Consider putting it in a frame and hang it in a special location where you’ll be reminded of the memories.

4. Bring out those old records

If you’re a music lover, show it off — display a few of your favorite albums on a bookshelf, or hang them on a wall gallery-style. Choose a wall mount that allows you to switch out your favorites depending on the time of year, mood, or home decor.

5. Reminisce about your travels

Whenever you go on vacation, buy an item to help you remember your trip. You can display small souvenirs on desks or shelves. If you pick up postcards, write the date and a few sentences about the trip on the back, and keep them in a vase on your bookshelf. When you’re feeling wanderlust, you can easily flip through those memories.

6. Frame special memories

In addition to displaying pictures of your family and friends throughout your space, frame photos of landscapes and scenery from places you’ve been, such as your wedding venue or an annual vacation. Instead of relying on generic art from the store, you can create your own based on your experiences.

7. DIY custom coasters

One final crafty idea: Create your own coasters (here’s a step-by-step tutorial for this easy DIY). Simply put, you can print some of your Instagram photos and glue them to ceramic tiles. They’re expressive and functional.

Does everything in your home need to tell a story? Not at all. Sometimes you just want to buy something at the store because you like it, and that’s OK. But if you decorate with intention and purpose, your home will look a lot more like you and a lot less generic. And those homes are the best kind of homes.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published on Jan 18, 2018 in partnership with The DIY Playbook.