Framing the Past: Easy DIY Historical Decor
I’ve always been fascinated by the history of the places I’ve lived. It’s one of the main reasons I was drawn to our current home. There’s something about old walls and worn floors that makes me wonder about the lives lived within them long before we arrived.
I’ve gone down more than a few rabbit holes researching the people connected to this house, and every new detail I uncover gives me a little thrill. I find myself imagining what life looked like here 50, 75, even 100 years ago—back when electricity and indoor plumbing were still novelties.
Did they cook similar meals in this kitchen, despite how much it’s changed? Did they sit beneath the same giant elm tree out back? And if they did… what did it look like then?
I’m not entirely sure what drives that curiosity. Maybe I’m just an old soul, searching for some small connection to a life that feels oddly familiar.
Needless to say, being surrounded by pieces of the past has always brought me comfort—which is why I wanted to share these simple, historically inspired decor pieces I made. They’re easy to recreate and can be adapted to fit just about any home.
Staying True to the House
As we’ve renovated, we’ve tried to stay as true to this home’s original character as possible. Painting the wood trim was always a hard no for me. Even replacing some of the original windows—cracked as they may be—felt like a small heartbreak.
The upstairs bathroom, however, had already seen its fair share of changes over the years. Its last major update came sometime in the 1960s, complete with a cast iron sink featuring a Hudee ring and a laminate “marble” countertop to prove it.
When we took it on, we leaned into an early 1900s feel—adding details like an antique commode converted into a vanity and tile running halfway up the walls. Somewhere in the middle of that remodel, I found myself inspired to create a few wall pieces to match the space.
Falling Down the Right Rabbit Hole
During one of my research deep dives, I discovered that our local library had digitized a large collection of historic newspapers—and made them free to the public. It felt like striking gold.
These archives are a window into everyday life from the late 1800s onward. Not just the big events, but the small, ordinary details—what people bought, how they dressed, what remedies they trusted, what life looked like.
I was especially drawn to the advertisements. They’re intricate, beautifully designed, and full of personality. And more than that, they tell you exactly what mattered in daily life at the time.
When I came across a few old pharmacy ads, it clicked—they would be perfect for the bathroom wall.
Finding Your Own Pieces
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
I started by searching within my city’s newspaper archive, but there are actually quite a few resources out there. Many newspapers across Iowa and the United States have been digitized through the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America collection and other programs and are available for free.
Other archives may require a subscription, and some are accessible with a library card. If you’re not sure where to start, your local library is a great resource—they can usually point you in the right direction.
Most archives are searchable by keyword, which makes it easy to explore. You can look up family names, historical events, businesses, or even just simple terms like “bakery,” “clothing,” or “pharmacy.”
I started with “pharmacy” and browsed until I found ads that stood out visually. Since many of them appear alongside other advertisements, I picked a few others I liked and resized them before printing them at home on regular computer paper.
I ended up choosing:
- A surrey and buggy advertisement
- A holiday ad listing various goods and prices
- An old laxative ad—which felt especially fitting for a bathroom wall
All of them dated back to the early 1900s, right around the time our home was built.
Aging the Prints
To give the prints a more authentic, timeworn look, I used a simple tea-staining method.
I filled a shallow pan with boiling water, added a few black tea bags, and let it steep for a few minutes. After removing the tea bags, I placed the prints directly into the liquid and let them soak for about 10–15 minutes, checking occasionally until I liked the color, and noting that they would lighten slightly as they dried.
Once they were ready, I carefully removed them and laid them flat on paper towels to dry. I wanted that slightly warped, imperfect look that comes with age, so I left them as-is—but if you prefer a cleaner finish, you can press them flat while they dry.
Finishing Touches
Once dry, I trimmed the prints to size and placed them into vintage-inspired frames.
You can absolutely hunt down authentic vintage frames at thrift stores or on eBay, but I opted for budget and time-friendly options online this time around—and they worked perfectly.
The Final Result
And that’s it—simple, affordable, and incredibly personal.
These pieces feel like they belong here. They tell a story. And if I’m being honest, they still give me that same little thrill every time I walk past them.
I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a larger version to hang somewhere else in the house… but for now, this little collection feels just right.
Stay tuned.
