The Tranquil Vintessa

Recently, I’ve become more and more interested in building a life and collecting treasures along the way. Whether that be from my travels or finding a piece I love at the thrift store. Homes shouldn’t be sterile. They should be real, imperfections and all. It’s what makes them feel like a home, not a showroom.

I think the best way to describe it is like a grandmother’s home. When you go in, you see family photos and collected treasures. Seeing their life surrounding them in their home is such a personal experience, and it’s something I wish was represented more.

When I started curating my home, I wanted a distinct look. I didn’t want something that felt overly curated. I wanted people to come in and know without a shadow of a doubt that this is my space.

I wanted a collected, treasured home, one that looked like I’ve been here for years, even if it’s only been a few months. Something that was uniquely me. And surprisingly, that’s not something you can find in a weekend. It’s something that takes time and energy. You have to find your own look, your own style. And somehow, I found it just by going out and living life.

I first began collecting photos. That’s the life aspect.

I collected photos of friends, family, pets, and moments. Display the big ones, like graduations, weddings, birthdays, or major life events. Even adding a photo album instead of keeping everything on your phone or online brings warmth to a home.

Collecting moments is an important step in creating a collected home.

Leave the idea of a set aesthetic behind. We are not a curated list to be Googled. We are complex people. Let your home reflect that.

In my home, I have some items that are Far Eastern and Middle Eastern themed, some pieces that lean more cottage inspired, as well as pieces that are Afro bohemian. They all mesh well together, but there is no single theme. It’s simply a collection.

This is how you build a home that is truly yours. You listen to what inspires you, not just what fits your Pinterest board.

Add with intention. Avoid going to the thrift store and buying things just for the sake of buying and filling up your home. A true collector chooses items that feel like they belong to them, not just another piece to buy. Otherwise, you’re just accumulating things.

You can tell when someone bought things just to buy them. The pieces all look similar, don’t have anything distinctive about them, and end up sitting in random spaces rather than feeling cohesive.

So when you’re looking to build your collection, think in terms of: “Does this make me smile?” “Where will this go?” “Will I use this in my next place?”

If you can answer those honestly without saying, “I just need this to fill this hole,” then that’s a collection piece. It helps you curate rather than simply fill space.

Allow yourself time.

It is so fun to decorate. We all love seeing a vision come to life. But a collection isn’t really a collection if you’re buying every piece at one time. That’s just a haul.

Allow your home to be collected. Allow a wall to be bare or imperfect until you find the piece you love. Work on a project or a DIY so when you look at it, you feel accomplished. Allow your photo wall, shelf, or table to be overrun, a little cluttered, and full.

Build a collection, not perfection, and take your time. It’ll all be worth it in the end.

I have built my collection over the years, since I first moved out. I have pieces I’ve repaired, replaced, and accepted as they are. Each represents something, whether it’s my first purchase when I finally had a little extra cash, something I found at a thrift store and had to buy two of so I could match with a friend, or gifts that I treasure.

The best thing about a collected home is stepping inside and finding a space full of love, happiness, and memories.

And you simply don’t get that from a haul.