- 1). Consider decorating in a style that fits the era of the home -- such as Victorian or Art Deco -- or embrace a style that uses antiques, like shabby chic. If you're aiming to make your home more historical in its decorative leanings, these styles will allow you to take advantage of some of the home's inherent architectural features.
- 2). Paint the walls and consider a faux painting technique, such as a sponge or leather finish.
- 3). Take advantage of built-in bookcases. Many old homes have a library outfitted built-in bookcases. These can store more than books; they work as decorative elements, too. If the shelves have been painted, add some wallpaper to the backs of the shelves. It brings a subtle decorative element without you having to paper the whole house. Fill the shelves with old books, small paintings and decorative sculptures.
- 4). Make the long hallway decorative by creating a picture wall. Make it an accent wall by painting the hallway walls a different color than the walls going into and out of the hallway. Then hang up old photos or photos that you have converted to black and white or sepia.
- 5). Look for furniture coverings and accessories made of natural materials such as leather, cotton or linen. Upholstery and accessories commonly featured natural materials, because some of the newer materials like vinyl or polyester were not on the market yet.
- 6). Choose furniture that's proportionate to the rooms. If the house qualifies as an old stately home, chances are good that the rooms are large and the ceiling is high. While not every piece of furniture needs to be large to fit in the room, having several larger pieces like a grand piano, a large couch or a chaise lounge will help the furniture look anchored in the room instead of swallowed by it.
- 7). Collect decorative items that come from another time. Some possibilities include old deck chairs, antique steamer trunks to be used as coffee tables, wing-back chairs, fainting couches and leather-top tables.
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