We all like to pick souvenirs from places we travel to. To remind us of the beautiful memories we made and to make those memories last a little bit longer.
Often times what seems like the perfect keepsake while buying ends up being clutter back at home. Either it doesn’t go with the decor or there is no space to display it. If you are very aesthetic-conscious, these mementos, at times, just end up in a storage box or a drawer. And you know what that means, right? Out of sight, out of mind thus defeating the purpose of the souvenir in the first place.
I have been through this. This dilemma of choosing between the drawer and the shelf! Until I decided that I will be more conscious about what souvenirs I buy. There has to be a theme, a purpose. Of course, there will be situations where the travel keepsake means more than the theme or purpose and I cannot be rigid about it. But where I can, I will.
So, here’s some ways I have used and displayed my travel souvenirs in home decor.
Feature Wall
I was browsing the art print stalls that line the Seine in Paris when I found a sketch of a Parisian bridge with the Eiffel Tower dominating in the background. It was at that moment that the idea of having a travel-themed feature wall came to my mind. I started collecting art prints and postcards from various places I travelled to as souvenirs, depicting the highlights of the place. When I finally bought my own flat in London, one of the first things I did was to showcase them on a wall in my living room. All I needed were some picture ledges from Ikea, so affordable and easy to use!
I absolutely love this idea of feature wall. Not only does it remind me of my travel memories, but also is a lovely way to organise my souvenirs. It’s personal and has the scope to evolve as the years go by. Isn’t that how home décor should be?
Framed Tiles
When I visited Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, I was absolutely enamoured by the colours and the patterns of the myriad of wares for sale. It reminded me so much of India; warm and vibrant! I wanted to bring back a piece (actually, let’s make it plural 😉 ) of Istanbul to London. The hand painted ceramics and tiles from Turkey are a symbol of its rich history, art and culture. So, I bought 6 tiles (Iznik replicas) and some hand-painted bowls, carefully packed them hoping they would make it safe and sound to London.
I bought gold frames online and customised the size based on my tiles. I then framed these tiles and put them up on the wall along my dining table. Since I have an open plan living/dining/kitchen, these tiled frames wall art and an area rug really help define my dining area.
Bedspread/Tablecloth
For more creative ideas on how to display your travel souvenirs, check out my Pinterest board here.
Pin it for later!
What are your favourite souvenirs to bring back from your travels? How do you like to display them?
Cheers,
Ameeta xx
Loved what u did with those tiles.. unique!!
Author
Thank you so much Vaijayanti! I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect frames for those tiles 🙂
I loved this one…very beautiful and creative. I am gonna put my paintings on feature wall too.
Author
Thank you so much 🙂 Putting up your paintings on the feature wall is a great idea Sharmin, those Ikea picture ledges are really easy way to showcase them. Do check them out 🙂
So creative and well utilized! I always get myself cliched fridge magnet so I don’t have to think too much where to place it. But now I’m planning to get a huge world map and carefully cut the pictures I take in those places to fit the state/country outline. Just to make it more personal 🙂
Author
Thanks Sindhuri 🙂 That’s a fab idea, I love it when home decor is personal and has stories to tell! Great conversation-starters too when guests visit 😉
Loved loved the tiles. Very creative…
Author
Thanks Prachi, wish I were as creative as you are xx