It seems like the trends in home decor are drifting away from heirloom pieces and traditional design, and are moving forward in a more modern direction where the actual design instead speaks for itself. This is great and there is no need to argue with popular demand, but there are many ways to creatively transform some of your favorite memories into extremely innovative interior accents. Don't throw away those nostalgic pieces of your life's history- transform them to add a playful touch to any home decor!
Comics, cartoons, and childish textiles can hold tons of wonderful memories but they take some ingenuity to display. A clean, modern decor that utilizes primary colors could find an old school comic against a matted background with a sleek frame can punctuate an area and give the contemporary a dose of retro. Small patters cut out of children's sheets may be framed individually and used as a fun decorative collection, or perhaps sewn as an accent onto a single toned pillow to brighten up a surface.
Don't forget about those toys we played with as youngsters that have made it through the years boxed in the attic. We don't want to throw them out, but they're just gathering dust. Why not break out a bit of spray paint and create tasteful ornaments out of baby-blocks, simple shapes, or select figurines. By using flat tones they won't be overwhelming and will instead look clean and playfully chic.
Collected black-and-white photographs can make a wonderful display encased under a glass pane tabletop, combined with squares of bold color to eliminate the scrapbook effect. It can be really fun to incorporate nostalgic photos in other intimate areas of the home in the form of small cameo lockets or with showy ceramic frames. Photos and flowers always seem to be a great combination, so consider adding a small frame wherever life blossoms in your home.
Of course, even furniture can stir memories of simpler times. Taking an outdated piece of furniture and replacing the legs or upholstery can save it from certain replacement while still exhibiting a bit of flair. Tacky molding can always be removed and replaced with clean, modern lines to bring the piece up to date. There are also plenty of iconic furniture pieces that combine modern materials with classic nostalgic design if you have the budget to make such an investment. If not, refinishing older furniture is a great way to create something that looks contemporary while still holding onto its rich history.
Hopefully your fear of yard sale nostalgia is eased by the fact that the old can easily become modern. There is no reason to keep hiding away those tacky pieces when they can be modified and rejuvenated to serve once again in your home decor. Some things just can't be tossed aside and those are usually the ones we only wish we could have around us. With a little creativity and hard work that could finally happen.