5 Clever Ways to Incorporate Travel Memories into Your Home

When was the last time you traveled? If like most Americans, you canceled, postponed, or didn't book a vacation in 2020 because of the pandemic, it's probably been a while. All you have is your memories. Oh, and those egg timers from that trip to Europe and boxes of photos in the attic. So why not transform your interior space with mementos of your best travel experiences? Here's how to do it:

#1 Turn Your Photos into Works of Art

Transforming old vacation photos into home art is pretty easy nowadays. The latest photo editing apps let you design stunning journals that double up as coffee table books. Experiment with different collages, filters, and color palettes. Or try one of these creations for something extra special:

Turn your favorite vacation photo into a canvas art print and hang it on the living room wall.
Invest in a digital photo frame that syncs up to your smartphone. These frames display different images from your device, so you'll have a constant reminder of your travels.
Print your favorite travel photos onto comfy cushions and place them on your sofa. Not only does this add a splash of color to your living space, but you'll spark a fun conversation when someone visits your home. Talking of sofas, check out the latest furniture reviews if you want to upgrade.

#2 Organize Your Travel Photos Properly

If you're like the average American, you have hundreds of old travel snaps hidden under the bed, in the attic, or at the back of the kitchen sink. It's time to organize your collection. Pick your top five favorite images, place them in brand new frames, and display them around your home.

Here are some other photo hacks:

Upload old photos to your digital albums and keep your memories in the cloud.
Create a custom greetings card with a favorite vacation snap and give it to a friend.
Invest in some proper storage for your pics like leather boxes or wooden containers and place them in your living space. It will be easier to access your photos when you need a pick-me-up.
Print your all-time favorite photo onto a tee or coffee mug. Sure, it's corny, but you'll remember that special moment forever.

#3 Find a Place to Put Those Souvenirs

You've probably collected all kinds of souvenirs over the years and never got around to throwing them away. Now's your time to do something with all these relics:

Invest in some contemporary shelves and display souvenirs like ornaments and decorative pieces. If you're no longer a fan of these items, give them to Goodwill.
Take those fridge magnets you picked up on your travels from the back of your bedside cabinet and place them where they rightfully belong: The fridge!
Place pins, key rings, miniature bells, and other smaller souvenirs in a storage box. You might want none of these items on display, but it's nice to look back at them from time to time.
Frame those postcards you picked up at souvenir stores. A kitsch image of the Eiffel Tower in a pricey frame makes a pretty cool contrast.

#4 Get Creative

When organizing your travel collectibles, you'll come across stuff that neither a photo nor a souvenir. If you still have items like flight ticket stubs, train tickets, resort brochures, and receipts, get creative:

Create a collage with old tickets from around the world and frame it. This personalized production makes an incredible statement piece that might be worthy of hanging on your living room wall.
Scan all your scraps of paper and use photo editing software to create digital art. You can turn your creations into small canvas prints and customize a bedroom wall (or two). You can also create custom photo collages using online templates, while also adding quotes to the pictures - this will make the photographs more personalized and also stand out from regular collages. Another way to make your collage more unique is by adding more flair to it, which can be done through filters and frames, and even get rid of unwanted objects or messy backgrounds in the original photo.
Pro-tip: If you struggle to remember where your tickets and receipts came from, ask the friend or family member you traveled with!

#5 Display Bottles of Sand in Your Kitchen

Bottles of sand are among the most common travel souvenirs, and they are (kind of) back in fashion. Why not display them on a stool or kitchen shelf? Whether you bought your bottle(s) of sand from a souvenir stand at a luxury beach resort or made one yourself as a kid, these items instantly add color to any dark and dreary space. Give this design idea a try!

Before You Decorate

It's tricky to travel right now, especially to international destinations. However, you can incorporate old memories into your home until it's safe to go on vacation again. Follow the tips above and reminisce about all those life-changing travel experiences from yesteryear.