Bring the world into your home by infusing your interiors with travel inspiration. Whether your destination was Tokyo, Bali, or the American Southwest, your travels can inspire your living space.
Bring the right furniture and decoration to express yourself at home, telling stories about your adventures and the different cultures you have encountered. Here are some ideas to bring a taste of wanderlust inside your home and make it feel like a worldwide retreat:
If you love the rugged beauty of the American Southwest, a room designed with this aesthetic can bring warmth and character into your home. Think rustic furniture, earthy tones, and natural materials like leather and wood.
A leather sofa with hints of wear, a wooden coffee table with distressed finishes, and Native American patterned textiles evoke the idea of open plains stretching out before you and big, limitless skies above. You can also add items like cowhide rugs, wrought iron light fixtures, and vintage Western art to enhance this style.
You can try visiting Houston Texas furniture stores specializing in Rustic and Western decor if you want to procure items of this nature. Many of these stores have a wide array of pieces to bring a little bit of Texas into your home, no matter where you might reside. These can be combined with items from your travels—souvenirs from your visits to national parks, or photos from your road trips—to make a space yours, like a frontier of your very own.
It's also easy to inject a travel-inspired feel into your home through textiles. You can use different materials and designs to get your desired effects.
The fabrics from all around the world will add texture, color, and meaning to any space. Think of Morocco's rich tapestries, India's intricate weaves, or the bold patterns of Africa. These can be used as throw blankets on your couch, rugs on the floor, or wall hangings.
Choose a color palette that evokes your travel memories, like deep reds and golds, which say opulence, Middle Eastern bazaar; blues and whites, which say Greek islands. Then, layer these textiles in the living room or bedroom for a feel-good effect that really tells a story. Or mix and match patterns and textures to achieve an eclectic look full of life.
Your walls are a blank canvas waiting to be filled with your travel memories. What better way to transform your empty walls than to fill them with good travel memories
Start with a photo gallery wall with shots from your favorite trips. Mix in other pieces of art, such as prints of famous landmarks, maps, or local crafts you picked up on your travels. For a more curated look, consider framing these items in a consistent style, but don’t be afraid to mix sizes and orientations.
Destination-oriented wallpaper is another great way to evoke a place. Murals of a beach in the tropics, a Japanese cherry blossom-inspired pattern, or even a world map can each make a real statement. These elements really can add an extra dimension to the room and set the tone for the rest of your decor.
Break out those dust-collecting travel souvenirs and add them to your decor. Show off your travel adventures with relics from the place you love to visit.
Set the pottery you brought home from Mexico on the kitchen counter, or use a pretty Italian vase as the centerpiece for your dining table. Many things - shells, stones, driftwood, etc., can be placed in glass jars or bowls for display on a coffee table or bookshelf.
Turn a beautiful Indian fabric into a curtain, turn a Moroccan rug into an impressive wall hanging, or use an African basket to house blankets in your living room. By incorporating these items into your daily life, you’ll always be reminded of your travels whenever you use them.
Another beautiful way to bring travel elements into your home is in the dining room. Why not set your table with dinnerware you've collected in your favorite places?
You might set up your table with Mexico's bright, hand-painted plates, Japan's elegant porcelain, or the Mediterranean's earthy stoneware. Pair these with linens that reflect the region's color and pattern.
This love of travel can also be reflected in the furniture in your dining area. Rustic farmhouse tables bring about thoughts of the French countryside, and sleek, modern chairs evoke memories of a hip, trendsetting café in Milan. Add a centerpiece of fresh fruit, a bouquet of flowers, or even just candles inspired by your travels.
More often than not, nature is a huge element of our travels. It can also be your greatest muse for home decoration.
Get in touch with your inner Mother Nature through plants, stones, and wood to create an interior that sets you in an earthy and grounded feel. Large leafy plants bring you to feel the tropics, while succulents and cacti whisk you away to a desert landscape.
Wooden furniture and decorative items could also bring elements of warmth and texture to a room, such as tables, shelves, and even floorboards made from reclaimed wood. Natural stone can add beauty to everything from countertops to decorative accents. Not only are these materials very appealing, but they seem to really bring the element of calm that makes the house feel like a haven.
Form and function can also blend in travel-inspired decoration. Think of objects that not only are beautiful by themselves but which serve a purpose, too. The handwoven basket you brought back from Africa can store blankets or magazines; the ceramic bowl you picked up in Japan can be used to hold fruit or as a catch-all for keys and coins. By choosing both functional and decorative elements, you will be able to have a stylish and practical home.
There needs to be that one nook in every home where you sit down, probably with a good book or just have some relaxing time over a cup of tea. Whether it's a colorful corner with cushions and throws that evoke the sights of a Moroccan souk or just a quiet, minimalist space with Japanese influences, it could be a space inspired by your travels. Add to it your favorite travel books, photos, and keepsakes. Let this space be one in which you can escape and let your thoughts drift away to dream up your next trip.
Finally, what will give the final touches to your home can be what really makes the difference when it comes to having a travel-inspired space. Add several more personal touches of smelling salts—candles, incense, or even essential oils—things that remind you of your favorite places. A scent can whisk one away to a place and time; it makes the space seem so tailored and, hence, relatable to one's travels. Small, ornamental types of decorations, like trinket boxes, sculptures, or lanterns, add global flair.
How do I begin with the concept of travel-inspired interior decor for my home?
Pick a style or a destination you feel inclined about, then pick furniture, upholstery, and decorative elements that give off that feeling.
Can I mix different travel styles in one room?
Yes! You can mix various styles to achieve an eclectic, very personal look that narrates your individual travel experiences.
Where can I find travel-inspired furniture and decor?
You can source them from specialty stores or online sellers, or even from your travels in local markets and antique shops.
A travel-inspired home gives you the perfect means of bringing the world right into your living space, hence a place that mirrors your adventures and interests. Carefully choosing furniture, textiles, and decorating pieces that speak to your travels can bring about a space not only beautiful but also deeply personal.
It doesn't matter whether you're inspired by the rustic, rambling feeling of the American Southwest or the bright colors of Marrakech markets; there are myriad ways to bring elements inspired by travel into your home.
