Decorating Your Home for Your Business

When I think of quilting, I think of the time when I was growing up. I am 68-years-old as I write this, and quilting reminds me of the era when my grandparents were young adults and when quilting was not just a hobby, but a way of providing warm bed coverings. I know quilting is still popular today, even among young people, but for me it will always speak of an age gone by.

With that background in mind, I want to write about my wife's cousin and the home she shares with her husband. Jane operates Quilting in the Country, a quilting business on the outskirts of Bozeman, Montana. The business located on the grounds of the acreage on which their home is also located. The home is more than a home, however; it is also used as a showplace on occasion, to display quilts and fabrics. Given that, it is significant that the home contains many decorative touches that reflect the age when quilting was part of a way of life. Whether that was Jane's intent or not, it works.

Jane has used several categories of decorations to transform her home into one that draws the visitor back to an earlier era in our nation's history:

The Use of Quilts. An obvious decorative item for the owner of a quilting business is quilts. Jane has used them in different areas of the house to good effect. Not only do they "advertise" her business; they also show ways in which the products can be used. One table in Jane's home has a quilt for a tablecloth. It is attractive, but you really have to trust your guests to be careful when a meal is served! Quilts also serve as hangings--an easy way to decorate a wall.

The Use of Old Toys. Many older people have toys that they have saved from their childhood. Rather than sticking them in a box in the attic, those toys can be used to evoke an atmosphere that will remind many people of their own childhood. Jane's own younger years are reflected in the toys she has displayed in her home. If you haven't saved your old toys, you might check out garage sales or antique stores.

Mason Jars. When I was growing up, canning fruits and vegetables was a seasonal activity in my home. Canning is not as popular as it once was, but Mason jars (and other brands) are still available. Garage sales can be a source of jars. For decorating, the jars can be partially filled with marbles or other small objects, or even with fruits. Jane has used the jars as part of her decorating.

Old Furniture. If you are a recipient of the household goods of a parent or grandparent, you may already have some items of old furniture in your home or some storage area. Some larger pieces can still be used in the ways in which they were intended when they were built. Smaller pieces can be used to fill in corners and/or to hold other items in an eye-catching way. Over the years, Jane has acquired pieces that add to the beauty of her home. A little school desk, for example, recalls those early years of school for many people, and also serves as a "platform" for some other items. An old high chair has an equally old stuffed doll sitting in it.

Old Entertainment Items. Jane has an old record player that sits on top of a piano. Other people have old radios or other items as decorative items. Let your interests guide you in what you use. Rather than displaying collectible items on shelves, use them as decorations. They can be much more satisfying that way, as well as more interesting to your guests.

Old Kitchen Items. On the back porch of her home, Jane has placed a collection of items that includes an old teakettle that serves as a flower pot for some artificial flowers. What you do with your items is limited only by your imagination.

Old Family Pictures. Many families have formal pictures of parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. They can be used to add an "antique" quality to your home. If you don't have such pictures of your family, be on the lookout at garage sales or antique shops for pictures of strangers. Just because the pictures are not of your relatives does not mean that they cannot be used as decorations in your home. If nothing else, they will have your guests trying to guess which of your family members most resemble the people in the pictures!

The above are just some of the ways in which Jane has decorated her home. The best way to appreciate Jane's home decorations is to visit her home. Barring that, check out the pictures that accompany this article. They will give you some idea of how she has recalled an earlier time in her own life and the lives of her ancestors.