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Prior to arriving on campus for my third year at Brown, decor was on my mind quite a bit. As I’m sure you can guess, the prospect of decorating my corner of my first ever apartment was exciting to say the least. And honestly, regardless of where you live, every new year brings a refreshing opportunity to reflect who you are into how you craft your space.
In my case, being an expert of leaving things until the last minute, a whole wall of cohesive art had to come together in one night. It’s also a preference of mine that everything I decorate with has some sentimental value, so I knew I’d be working with much of what I already had. And through the process of scouring my house for items I could turn into decor, I compiled this list of three random things you can frame that you might already have lying around your house.
Silk scarves
One of my favorite items to thrift when traveling, silk scarves are nothing short of beautiful. I recently came across inspiration for framed silk scarves as statement wall pieces, and immediately fell in love. All you really need is to measure your scarf, find a large square frame that fits it, and frame it against a simple background color; I love a dark burgundy, or fresh white. And, if you don’t already have one, silk scarves like this one are a pretty easy and cheap find on second-hand shopping platforms!
Festival/event wrist bands
If you’re sentimental like me, you likely have a festival or event wrist band lying around somewhere; these are decor gold. I knew I had a few left over from concerts this past summer, and discovered that if you arrange them nicely on a simple background with some contrast, they make a very visually interesting piece of decor. Folding them different ways helps create some movement, and you can really play with the layout. Framing wristbands is also such a fun way to memorialize the formals, festivals, or really any event that they come from.
Handwritten notes, cards, recipes, receipts, etc.
Next up are all things handwritten. This is always a fun one, because the possibilities are truly endless. For example, there’s a cozy old diner residing in my hometown that still runs everything through cash and paper. I once decided to keep the handwritten receipt from a particularly memorable brunch there, and it’s become a favorite little keepsake of mine; I threw it in a frame, and suddenly I had a sentimental piece of decor that took maybe a second to put together. Think family recipes, old birthday cards, sticky notes of encouragement, etc. Honestly anything handwritten works, and adds the sweetest touch to a blank wall.
So, as we continue to settle in on College Hill this fall, consider giving one of these; sentimental decor has never been so easy!