Creating a Nostalgic Colourful Home

Portrait Shot of Rachel
HOUSE TO HOME #33
Rachel Theodora

With a beloved nostalgic knick-knack or a colourful retro piece in every corner, Rachel has created a space where nostalgia and charm come to life. With colourful accents and playful details reminiscent of moments in her childhood, her home is a treasure trove of stories, whether it’s the handkerchief her grandmother embroidered or a hand-drawn birthday card from her parents from when she was a child.

Rachel doing her creative journalling

“I am an Interiors Content Strategist, and I work alongside a team of trend forecasters to create solution-driven forecasts for our clients’ needs. In my free time, I watch a lot of reality TV and I also read a lot. I’ve always wanted to do crafty things but I don’t have the attention span or hand-eye-brain coordination. I once tried cross stitching for 30 mins and got frustrated. In the past year, I’ve picked up creative journaling (or junk journaling) and found it immensely enjoyable.”

Creative journal spread
Journalling with a black pen
Rachel's journal spread

“I knew I wanted to incorporate bold colours from the get-go so we chose blue for our bedroom doors, red steel for our kitchen door and olive for our closet cabinetry. When it comes to loose furniture, my husband loves the industrial look so we have a few pieces in the living room and bedroom.”

industrial living room inspiration
Living room inspiration for industrial look

“I think the most memorable moment was when we both discussed how our interests would meld together in our home. It got me really excited, because I hated the logistics of renovating, but I loved thinking of what could go up on the walls or what colour palettes I could choose for soft furnishings.”

Ultraman art print framed
vintage collector items display
Beatles collectable
Classic Sateen Peach Duvet Set paired with Classic Navy Fitted Sheet and Classic Moss Pillow Case Pair by SOJAO

“I think our space is a good blend of who we are as people. We love collecting nostalgic junk that speaks of our childhoods and interests - my husband has a cabinet full of ultraman, and I love Polly Pockets, Russian dolls, and anything grandmotherly.”

Cabinet featuring ultraman collectables beside a shelf filled with books
Polly pockets and russian doll collections

“I love being able to score something that is less commonly found. Many of my decorative objects are either from Carousell, passed down from my mum, or bought at thrift/charity shops when I travel. One of my favourite pieces in my gallery wall is a cross stitch that says ‘Piss Off,’ which my mum made for me. I also framed my grandma’s embroidered handkerchief—it’s washed and clean, haha.”

Rachel's gallery wall featuring decorative objects
Wall featuring a cross stitch and framed handkerchief

“I believe it comes down to 5 Cs for me when thinking about home decor—comfort, cosiness, cohesion, colour, and clutter, but organised clutter. I like to think of my space as a mishmash of different styles, eras, moods, and vibes.”

Room inspiration for industrial style
Work station inspiration
A collection of books from the many years of reading
vintage house inspiration

“I’ve been an avid reader since forever (probably started properly reading at 7 years old), so I’ve accumulated a lot of books over the years. I also get sent a few books a month to review on social media. I love reading about the frailties of the human heart and anything that evokes a sense of longing or nostalgia. It usually takes me about three days to finish a book if I’m able to spend a whole day reading.”

“Home is wherever my tchotchkes are. I love surrounding myself with things and memories, whether they are colourful bedspreads, risograph prints, or my huge collection of books.”

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