4 Keepsakes From Your Childhood Home Designers Say You Should Actually Hold on To
From tea sets to trinket boxes, these are the four things worth holding onto when clearing out your childhood home
There are plenty of toys, trinkets, and questionable decor choices from my family home I'm glad to see the back of now that I'm older, but that being said, nothing transports me back to my childhood like the keepsakes I chose to hold onto.
While almost all past treasures have sentimental value, some keepsakes from your childhood home are worth holding onto for more than just the sake of nostalgia. Whether it's a rare tea set passed through the generations or a beloved mahogany dresser that once stood in your parents' living room, decorating with vintage or nostalgic pieces that really have meaning will give your home buckets of personality.
'The pieces worth keeping are almost always the ones with genuine provenance and memories of when, where, and why they were chosen,' says interior designer Jennifer Baxter of Baxter Hill Interiors. 'Well-made objects that have traveled through time with a family. An antique chair bought on a road trip. A set of silverware used for every significant meal. A piece of art that hung in the same spot for decades.'
1. Vintage Dishware
Ali Mahon's vintage dishware and china tea sets take pride of place on her kitchen shelves.
Whether it's an entire Spode Italia collection or a prized milk jug you've had in the family for years, secondhand dishware almost always enhances empty shelves or dining tables and will feel timeless in years to come.
A small slice of your childhood, holding onto a few plates or teacups, is never a bad idea. A way to evoke happy memories as well as lend life and story to your cooking space, antique dealer Ali Mahon says, 'I come from a long line of collectors, so I have kept many keepsakes from my childhood home. Both grandmothers loved collecting China and sterling silver, so I have many patterns from which to choose.'
Vintage ceramics, too, are worth holding onto, Ali explains. 'An aunt was a potter who had created a wonderful array of teapots. I use all these pieces when I entertain, and I display them on open shelves when not in use so I can remember and admire.'
2. Good Quality Furniture
An antique mahogany dresser stands at the center this entryway designed by Shani Core, flanked by brass candelabras and colourful ottomans.
One of the most popular ways to decorate with vintage is with furniture. While vintage furniture trends come and go, truly timeless pieces remain constant.
Referring to the mahogany dresser (pictured above), interior designer Shani Core said, 'Here, we used a beautiful antique dresser that lived in my client’s bedroom as a child and repurposed it to anchor the foyer. This heirloom is not only beautiful but functional and holds everything from extra linens to candles and all the items you may need as you’re running out the door.'
'To bring in something fresh and new, we added skirted benches in a fun Anna Spiro print on either side with a coral contrasting welt, a vase of fresh cuttings from outside, and a fun catchall. The antique mirror is also a family heirloom that lived in a separate space!'
3. Artisanal Textiles
Vintage quilts and an American flag bring lived-in charm to this cozy bedroom designed by Ali Mahon.
'I’d keep anything handmade or regionally specific, like ceramics from a particular place, textiles with a cultural story, furniture made by a local craftsman,' explains Jennifer. 'As fast furniture becomes more common, these objects feel increasingly rare. They’re also the pieces most likely to start a conversation.'
Decorating with vintage fabrics doesn't need to feel overly fussy or traditional. A patchwork quilt can make a bedroom feel instantly more cozy, as can an antique tapestry hanging on a wall.
'I also inherited antique textiles,' says Ali. 'I mix an early American quilt (pictured above) with contemporary sheets and duvets on every bed. I frame antique flags and mount hooked rugs on linen-wrapped stretcher bars so they can be wall-mounted as art. A 19th-century crib quilt can be as graphic and modern as current work from one of today's emerging artists.'
4. Catchalls and Trinket Boxes
A vintage jewelry box sits ontop of a stack of books on Shani Core's coffee table.
Smaller decorative pieces are just as special as larger furniture items. Catchalls and trinket boxes may seem minor, but they can uplift an empty surface whilst providing some storage.
'Atop my piles of coffee table books (pictured above), you’ll see various objects from my childhood bedroom,' explains Shani, 'including a hand-painted jewelry box which was made and painted by my grandmother, who was an artist. This jewelry box lived on my childhood dresser and has stayed with me throughout my life. Although the latch is broken and I no longer use it as a jewelry box, it adds the perfect touch of pink to the stack of books below.'
By considering how much of a room should be vintage, you can style these nostalgic objects with your newer furniture and decor. As Jennifer explains, 'The key is contrast. You want the age and character of the object to stand out against something more contemporary: an antique carved chair against a saturated modern wall color, or inherited silver on a minimalist surface. The juxtaposition makes both more interesting.'
No matter what keepsakes you hold onto, 'What you want to avoid is building a room that perfectly matches the object’s era or geography,' says Jennifer. 'That can quickly feel themed rather than collected. The object earns its place precisely because it doesn’t totally match.'
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