You don’t need much. If it meant you got to see the world, you’d be happy riding in the back of a crowded “chicken bus” or sleeping on a friend’s floor area rugs in a tiny but picturesque surf village. So, when you come home, why does your own place pale in comparison to the pictures on your camera?
Just because you don’t spend much time at home doesn’t mean your place needs to look as spartan and dull as the last hostel you stayed in. Your home should be a salute to everywhere you’ve been and every place you still want to go. So, whether you travel a few times a month or just once a year, here are a few ways you can bring your favorite destinations into your home décor and feel like you’re always on vacation.
Lug home a rug — Whether you’ve traveled to the Far East or just hope to someday, oriental area rugs will help set the “wanderer at heart” tone. If your style is more Mediterranean, silk area rugs will help evoke the feeling of a lazy afternoon in Tangier. The best news here is that you don’t have to break into your next trip’s budget: you can find plenty of cheap area rugs free shipping online.
Devote a room to your favorite trip – It needn’t be a big room (in fact that might be overkill). It could be your bathroom. Use your favorite landscape photos from the trip to find a group of colors that suits your taste. The deep blue of a perfect Kauai beach day can become the inspiration behind your room’s paint color. If you have macro photos of the flora and fauna from these locales, pop them into small snapshot frames and group them on one wall. You’ll remember that day every time you pass it.
Map it out – Every traveler has a locale that’s near and dear to his or her heart. Grab a map and cut your favorite place to fit a picture frame. Overlay the map with a photo of yourself or you and your partner or travel companions in that exact spot. One cute idea for honeymooners: cut maps from the place where you met, the place where you married, and the place where you spent your honeymoon into the shape of hearts and frame side by side. And of course, no traveler’s home is complete without a map bearing pins of all the places you’ve been and want to go. Hint: use one color push pins for places you’ve been and another for future trips.
Shop your way around the globe — The next time you travel, make it a point to find unique items to fill your home. I’m not talking about kitschy knick knacks or collectibles, but rather taking the opportunity to find unique pieces that you’ll wish you’d scooped up the moment you saw them. Need throw pillows? Stop into a local home goods store or boutique and find pillow cases. Got a wall that’s just begging for something but don’t know what? Make it your mission to find just the right sign, decorative hanging, one-of-a-kind painting or religious icon to fill that empty space. The benefit of doing this is that your home becomes a living travelogue that’s continually being updated. You’ll never run out of conversation pieces when you’re home long enough to entertain!
Dream a little – Okay, so maybe you’re like me and you mostly spend your time wishing you could just drop everything and take off to the next exciting destination instead of actually going there. That doesn’t mean you can’t bring the excitement of seeing the world into your décor. Even if you’ve only gone to your dream beach in your daydreams, you can still plan a room around the colors and imagery of that special place. Hop on the Internet and take a mental trip to that bucket-list place you’ve been dreaming of. Take note of the colors and décor used in the pics that you find. You can then incorporate these same styles and feelings into your own home, even if you’re still thousands of miles away.