This Stunning Decor Item Might Already Be Sitting in Your Closet
Many people have keepsakes from childhood that they hold on to. Some are smaller, like a stuffed animal or a baby blanket. Others can be larger and take up a lot of space in your closet, like an old dollhouse. If you’ve got one of the latter, instead of letting it collect dust in storage, consider using it to add a unique and personal decor touch in your home.
Jamie, a writer in Chicago, put a dollhouse built by her grandfather over 30 years ago on display in her 750-square-foot apartment. The salmon shade of the dollhouse complements the light pink color of her living room walls.
And Boise, Idaho-based graphic designer and public artist Stephanie Inman has fully embraced this design idea, decorating her home with several miniature buildings, houses, and barns she created herself. Placed amongst art supplies, on shelves near picture frames, and in a glass display case, Stephanie shows off these miniature structures instead of storing them. And a special bonus: She also has her childhood dollhouse sitting on top of her refrigerator.
Decorating your home with your dollhouse adds an unexpected touch of whimsy and nostalgia to home decor. A dollhouse is literally one of your first “homes.” It also makes your current home feel more special and lived-in, compared to when you set out new items with no sentimental value. Your keepsakes are meant to be displayed, not to be hidden (and hogging likely limited storage space!).
Don’t worry that your childhood dollhouse might be too big or commanding of a decor item for your living space. As Jamie put it in her Apartment Therapy house tour, “Don’t let the internet tell you you can’t be a maximalist in a small space.”