Your hobbies and interests are part of what makes you “you.” (Ditto for those who share your home.) If you and/or your family are passionate about something, shouldn’t your home reflect that? There are ways to incorporate your favorite things into your décor without making your entire home look like a preteen’s poster-strewn bedroom. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

SPORTS

Image: Pottery Barn

We won’t tell you not to build bleachers in your living room, drench the walls in your team’s colors and cover them in pennants and posters, but there are more sophisticated ways to show team spirit. The basketballs in the image, for example. Elegantly displayed, they look more like a work of art than sport.

Stately homes and castles often have ‘weapons rooms’ where the walls are covered in interesting arrangements of swords, battle axes, and so on. What if you showed off your pickleball racquet or golf club collection the same way? Think outside the (batter’s) box and you’ll find many ways to share your love of the game in unexpected ways.

BAKING

Image: Etsy

If The Great British Baking Show inspires you to create a pastel kitchen draped in bunting, with a life-sized cutout of Paul Hollywood glaring from a corner for extra inspiration, you do you. For a less specific approach, consider hanging your collection of rolling pins, aprons, Bundt pans or what have you on a wall. Pretty cake stands look beautiful on open shelves. A personalized bakery sign might be a fun touch. Bonus: if your utensils double as décor, they’re easy to find and you’ll have more shelf/drawer space, too.  

TRAVEL

Image: Pinterest

A gallery wall of vacation photos is a classic choice and a conversation starter. But what do you do with all those pieces of this and that you just couldn’t resist bringing home? Why not follow the example of Renaissance adventurers and display your souvenirs in a “cabinet of curiosities.” Not to be confused with Guillermo del Toro’s horror anthology with the same name, these cabinets were used to show off the owner’s treasured mementos from their various adventures. You might think of it as an oversized shadow box, but doesn’t “cabinet of curiosities” sound more mysterious and exciting?

BOOKS

Image: Pinterest

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all devoted readers in possession of numerous books must be in want of their very own library. While a whole room (or even a corner) devoted to books is a definite design choice, don’t hesitate to think outside the shelf. When it comes to decorating with books, there are as almost many options as there are bestsellers. Need ideas? Check out this post from The Turquoise Home.

VIDEO GAMES

If video games are your passion, you probably already have the appropriate set up and seating. But do you have a custom-made neon sign? A mural of your favorite character(s)? Themed rugs? All this and more is out there waiting whenever you’re ready to level up.

Happy decorating!