Homes that have their own story to tell also possess a certain unique charm for it. Old houses and historic mansions have that kind of grandeur, as if centuries of history are contained within their walls. This heirloom style of decoration requires more than a few vintage pieces, but is still easy to do even if you didn’t get handed down any antiques. You just have to know where to start.

Wallpapers with patterns or stripes are commonly used in the early times. Wallpapering instead of painting the walls will make your home faithful to the heirloom style.

Mirrors are key elements in an old-fashioned home, especially if they have ornate details or embellishments. Going for gold and silver hues as well as those with a tarnished look makes the theme more realistic as if living in the 1940s. The bigger mirrors, the farther back in time you go as if time traveling to the Victorian era.

A mirror or two will add to the overall effect that you are trying to achieve, as well as give the optical illusion of a room that is bigger than it actually is. Even a single mirror can have a dramatic effect as long as it’s sufficiently large and you put it in an appropriately sized ornate frame. The effect of this decor piece is as much an effect of the mirror as it is from the frame, so it’s one place where you shouldn’t scrimp.

Lighting fixtures also add to the glamour of the place. Chandeliers are perfect but so are antique or vintage lamps. Go for those with a soft glow for a dramatic effect.

High-backed chairs too give sophistication to the dining room. The Victorian style utilizes these kinds of chair, which give the room an ambiance of formality and status symbol.

Chandeliers are probably the last thing you’d think of buying for an heirloom style room but they are far from being the least important. In terms of drama, chandeliers are some of the best items you could ask for because they’re so elegant and have been established as quite the status symbol. You don’t need to have chandeliers hanging all over the place; just one above the center of the largest space will already create the dramatic effect.

Home Design has never been so easy with these Persian area rugs.