I always say that our homes are a reflection of our style and personality in the same way that clothes and how we choose to dress can give an insight into who we are; our tastes and interests. A well-designed home should tell the story of its owner, not only to enlighten guests but to also create an authentic and unique interior that feels inviting and homely to those who live there.

The great thing about adding that personal touch is that it doesn’t need to be expensive. Photographs, travel souvenirs - even framed pictures drawn by your kids can be used to create a distinctive look within your home decor.

If you want to add more personality at home, try starting with the living room. Here are five simple and easy ways to showcase your style using items of sentimental value.

Put Your Memories on Display

Small token memories such as photobooth photograph strips, postcards and concert tickets look great when pinned on a cork pinboard. Cork is really having a moment as an attractive, environmentally friendly material to have in the home and the colour and texture of cork is synonymous with 1970s interiors which are really making a comeback.

Framing beautiful cards that you received or have picked up in art galleries or gift shops is a great way to inexpensively add art to your walls that is attached to a memory or a time or a place. See the video below on how I create bespoke artwork with DIY framing:

DIY your art and make your own wall canvas

Making your own large-scale artwork is a huge social media trend and a great way to use up leftover paint. First off, choose a canvas size that works well in your living room and then paint it in blocks of colour. Alternatively, build up layers of paint to create a piece full of texture.

You can also turn to your phone for a scenic memory that can be turned into a printed canvas piece. A colourful row of beach huts or a snowy scene would look great when blown up in scale. If your picture requires some fine-tuning, you can sharpen it with some basic photo editing. Simple tweaks like boosting contrast, playing with saturation or adding a warm filter can elevate it from camera roll to canvas-ready. You can even make blurry pictures clear nowadays, so don’t pass a photo just because it’s a bit out of focus. However, if you fancy upgrading your phone to one with a fancier built-in camera, check out the EOFY sale 2024.

Be Proud of Your Books

Books are a great possession to use within living room home decor styling: layer them on the coffee to attract interest, place them on their side on shelving to give height to small decorative items like mini vases or votives, categorise them by spine colour, or turn them the opposite way for a minimalist, Scandi-style shelfie.

Mix old and new with vintage, thrifted pieces

Featuring vintage, one-off pieces in your home will add unique charm and character and will stop it from looking like a replica of other people’s houses. Mixing old furniture with new is easier than you might think; as well as often being structurally sound and made to last, vintage furniture often has a history and story to tell in its own right. A thrifted chair upholstered in a fabric of your own choice will not only reflect your unique style, but no one else will own the same item.

For a really bespoke look, why not have a go at upcycling? Less attractive vintage furniture and homeware items can often be purchased inexpensively in community warehouses or on auction websites. There is also now an array of DIY furniture paints available in order for you to create your own unique furniture flip or hack.

Dry out special flower bouquets for long-lasting displays

If you have received a special bouquet, or you have recently got married and want to keep a token of your special day, drying out or pressing flowers is a beautiful way to elongate the memory attached to them. You can then simply pop them in a vase in your living room.

Pressed flowers work best with stems that can be laid flat and don’t have too much of a heavy centre, such as pansies or Hellebores. You can either press them between the pages of a book, by using a specific flower press or even press flowers using an iron and parchment paper. For heavier flowers like hydrangeas, simply hang them upside down in a cool, dry place until the petals go crisp (yet the petal colour is retained).

Alternatively, if you want a fresh and vibrant addition that doesn’t require long talks with florists, consider opting for flower delivery made easy. Bringing in blooming flowers not only invigorates your living room but ensures an effortless touch of personal style. Fresh flowers can be beautifully complemented by vintage vases or unique containers that resonate with your interior theme.