Travel Inspired Design
One of the best things about travel is falling in love with new places and exploring new corners of the world. Even though you have to come home, you can bring details from your adventures into your space to keep the memories alive! Our Old City client found the intricately painted drum table above while traveling in Morocco, and we found the perfect place and accents to give it a new home!
Less is more
When it comes to adding global elements, be selective. If you go overboard, you run the risk of a kitschy room; on the other hand, a couple of thoughtful accents evoke hints of wanderlust. Did you love your honeymoon in Bermuda? Skip the seashell print curtains and opt for a rattan headboard instead. Try to recreate the vacation feeling through color, texture, art, or a combination of all three.
Serena and Lily Balboa headboard
Accent your personal style
A good rule of thumb is to add pieces that fit your home’s existing style and function. A hand-knotted vintage carpet from Bangladesh is perfect in a traditional home with a formal living room, but probably not the best choice if you have an aging pet. If you prefer vivid color and bold accents, bright Moroccan ceramic tiles look beautiful in a kitchen or on a patio. Love neutrals and abstract art? Traditional Mali mudcloth pillows will fit right in with your aesthetic.
Select touches with personal meaning
Choose things with real sentimental value and you’ll never go wrong. Artwork and home goods are wonderful ways to bring your travels home with you. Display framed photos, like the sunrise over the ocean in Tulum you captured with your phone, as daily reminders of special moments. Add details that stood out to you on a trip; if you were transfixed wandering the gardens of Kyoto, plan a small area at home to recreate the experience. Personally, I love art collected while traveling. It gives your home a constant reminder of the places you’ve been and fond memories. Most places will work with you to ship things home so you don’t have to lug them around (and risk damaging your precious goods!)
Stone Forest Wabi Birdbath
Travel inspired takeaways
The best way to incorporate travel into your home is to keep it authentic and stay true to your style. If you find something that really speaks to you as you visit different locales, bring it home so that you can enjoy it for years to come. Clients often come to us with inspirations from their travels and we love helping them them pull it all together in a way that has meaning to them yet feels cohesive. Send us your travel inspired images – we would love to see them! Happy travels!
Header image: Travel inspired sitting room by Glenna Stone Interior Design – Photo by Rebecca McAlpin
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Glenna Stone Interior Design is an award-winning residential and commercial Philadelphia interior designer creating spaces that are a harmonious marriage of beauty, function, and lifestyle. Whether for a home, vacation retreat, or place of business, our goal is to design statement surroundings that express who you are. We encourage you to visit our website, view our work, and keep up with the latest interior design concepts on our blog.
