how to personalize your home
I have three areas that I'm going to talk about today for personalizing your space. I’ll start with art, move to travel accessories and finish with antiques. Personalizing your space is important because it makes your home feel multi-faceted, personal, and unique. I love it when my clients have a piece they want to include in their design that is meaningful to them. In this blog post, I’ll share some practical ideas for making your space feel like it reflects you!
Incorporating Personal Art in Your Home
Personal art is such a meaningful way to make your space uniquely yours. The first step is to choose the right pieces. Look for artwork that resonates with you—whether it’s a painting from your travels, something a loved one made, or even a favorite family photo. These are pieces that should bring you joy every time you see them.
Not everything need to perfectly match the artwork. It’s more about complementing the artwork rather than matching it exactly. For example, if your piece has bold colors, keep the surrounding furniture and decor neutral so the art can really pop. Or, pull one or two tones from the artwork into throw pillows or a rug for a cohesive feel.
If your nervous to make a mistake with art, start small! You don’t need to commit to a huge gallery wall right away. Maybe frame a couple of pieces and try them on a side table or a corner of a room. You can always build from there. And remember, art is personal—there’s no “wrong” way to do it if it makes you happy.
Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment! Your home should reflect your personality, and incorporating personal art is one of the best ways to do that. So, have fun with it and let your creativity shine.
This client had a Debbie Harry Art pieced painted by her dad. We loved getting to incorporate it into her bar design to make this space feel personal, and help her feel connected to her dad!
Our client for this project was an artist and created this art piece for this space. It fit perfectly with our design and colors, and is the perfect addtion to add that personal and meaningful touch.
These client’s had these oil painting of their dogs that we reframed to match the space. We also included a shoulder mount from their childhood to bring a nostalgic and playful interest into the living space.
Showcasing Accessories from World Travel
Accessories from world travel are close to my heart, as I spent a year and half traveling the world and brought many mementoes home from my trip!
I always encourage people to have travel mementos around the house because they bring so much personality and meaning to a space. The first step is to think about what story you want to tell. Your travel accessories often have memories tied to them, so group items by themes, like pieces from a specific country or items that reflect a shared color palette.
It depends on the item, but shelves are your best friend for styling these items. You can style a shelf with smaller accessories like pottery, sculptures, or trinkets from your travels. If you have larger pieces, like a rug or a tapestry, use them as focal points—hang them on a wall or drape them over a sofa.
The key to connecting your travel mementos with other decor is balance. You don’t want the space to feel like a museum. Mix your travel pieces with everyday decor items like books, candles, or plants. This keeps it feeling curated and lived-in.
Finally, don’t overthink it. The best part about travel accessories is the story behind them. Display what you love, even if it’s unconventional. And if you have something really quirky—like a vintage sign or a market find—embrace it! It’s those unique touches that make your home feel like your home.
This client had several accesories from their world travel that they wanted to include in their home. We created this open shelving to make space for all the pieces they would like to showcase, and helped them to organize and design this to be a beautiful space.
In this bathroom, we inlcuded an antique rug the family had found in their world travels. We pulled colors from the rug to help make the warmth in the room and create a cohseive design. Plus it is such a fun reminder of travels!
This is another example of using open built-in shelving to showcase travel accesories and decor. We love the funky and personalized look this brings to shelving.
This client had fabric they collected from around the world that they wanted to turn into cutstom pillows. This was such a unique way to memoralize the colors and pattens seen around the world in their personal home.
Blending Antiques with Modern Home Decor
The last way to add personality into your home is to add antiques into your space. They add so much character to a modern space. It’s all about mixing the old with the new! It all starts with a love of contrast. The beauty of mixing antiques and modern design is in the juxtaposition. For example, a sleek, minimalist living room can feel warmer and more inviting with an antique wood coffee table. The key to all of this is balance. If you’re using an ornate antique, like a gilded mirror or a carved chest, pair it with simpler, modern elements. A clean-lined sofa or neutral walls can help the antique stand out without overwhelming the room.
Another trick is to choose one statement antique piece per room, like a chandelier or a console table, and let it be the star of the show.
Using antiques and modern furniture is less about the style and more about the mix. Mid-century modern pieces pair beautifully with contemporary spaces because of their clean lines. But even something as traditional as a Victorian armchair can look amazing when reupholstered in a modern fabric. It’s about creating contrast and celebrating the uniqueness of each piece.
This client had these two antique pieces that had been pasted down through their family that they wanted to include in their luxurious modern design. We used the table on the left side of the room to create a display space and ground the room, while the chair sits in the corner mixing perfectly with space.
The client wanted to include these vintage Mid-Century Modern chairs into their modern, glam bedroom. We added extra patterns through the pillows to connect the chairs to the pillows on the bed and the rest of the design in the room.
This client had these antique lights they wanted to incorporate into their home, we felt that they were just the right amount of glamour and drama for this freestanding tub space. We love how personal they make this space feel!