Homeowners with Heirlooms
There are many things to consider when buying a new home, but one thing that isn’t always top of mind is sufficient space for storage of heirlooms and photography. Many homeowners find themselves cramming sentimental boxes into attics, stacking bins of mementos in their garages, or wasting money on off-site storage spaces that do not protect heirlooms from deterioration.
It’s common for us to have an array of heirlooms. As seniors, we’ve accumulated an assortment of treasures over the years. Moms might sentimentally hang onto a box of their children’s adorable baby clothes. Others might have trophies or special items passed down to them from their parents. Here are tips for properly storing or showcasing family heirlooms.
Heirloom Storage and Preservation
In Florida, we don’t have basements like those up North, and our attic spaces are often hot and limited to small crawlspaces. This means Florida homeowners must make the most of closet shelving systems and create makeshift storage spaces. Space-saving storage beds with drawers, furniture with hidden cubbyholes, and hideaway storage cabinets are popular solutions for Floridians to store many types of heirlooms and mementos.
In regards to photographs, it’s crucial they’re stored in a dark, dry, climate-controlled environment with temperatures below 75 °F and less than 65% relative humidity levels. This means your Florida garage or attic space is not ideal for keeping your photos safe.
Experts also suggest storing delicate items in an acid-free cardboard box or metal box. Photos, ticket-stubs, artwork, certificates, lace, doilies, quilts, garments, textiles, and other keepsakes are best preserved in special boxes when moving or storing. You might even go the extra step by placing precious photos or documents in a plastic sleeve for further preservation. Packing supplies, archival boxes and acid-free containers are available in a variety of sizes at home good stores.
Showcasing Heirlooms and Home Décor
There are some things that simply shouldn’t be tucked away. Grandpa’s special Medal of Honor, hubby’s first-place trophy, grandma’s handmade quilt, or your timeless wedding photo should be showcased in your home. A single item might fit well on a display in any room, or you may invest in a curio or display cabinet to feature a variety of keepsakes. One of the hottest design trends for 2017 is mixing antiques items with modern décor. For example, consider displaying your collection of vintage black and white photos in modern frames that are the same color and size to create a contemporary, stylish wall décor.
If you prefer not to mix retro with the current vibe in your main living spaces, consider placing heirlooms on display in a guest room. An heirloom theme in your guest room could feature framed photography from past generations, antique lamps, hand-me-down furniture, and shelves with family mementos. Imagine the delightful surprise when relatives come for a visit and see you’ve dedicated a room to honor your family history.
We hope these tips help homeowners carve out space for any and all heirlooms. As full-service real estate professionals, we can align you with top-notch interior design and organization experts and others – ready to help guide you through any room makeover. Call Dick and Karla Nielsen at 813-294-5786 for more information about buying, selling, and investing in Florida real estate.
