To travel the world is to live a life imbued with a sense of freedom and wonder. But when a traveler finally comes home, their wanderlust doesn’t simply go on a coffee break, no, it continues to thrive deep within, yearning to express itself in every possible way. So naturally, every type of traveler wants and needs to decorate their living environment in a way that fuels their never-ending wanderlust.
To achieve this, you want to think beyond a framed picture on the nightstand or a cheap magnet you picked up on your last day there, as true travel decor aims to bring a unique vibe to life, one that will inspire you to look back on your exploits with a smile. Here are the four tips to help you achieve just that.
Use Earthy Hues for the Foundation
It all begins with the way you design the foundation of the room, or in other words, how you choose to paint the walls and how you choose to decorate the windows. This decision will set the mood in the space and bring a vibrant setting to life, one that gives out a distinct hint of adventure. Of course, these hues should be tailored to your preferred travel style.
Ask any famous interior designer, and they will tell you that you can express this unique vibe in a myriad of ways, and by using a myriad of color schemes. You can choose earthy hues and shades to accentuate your love for the great outdoors, especially if you’re, for example, a lover of the African landscape. On the other hand, pastel hues and even white colors can bring a chic interior to life, emphasizing your love for urban travel and exploration.
Complement Your Surroundings with Travel Accents
The second important step is to tend to strategic decorating. Keep in mind, though, that too much decor can throw off the balance in the room, confuse the observer, and just make the whole design seem out of place. Consistency and strategic decorating will be key here, so choose your travel decor wisely.
Focus on picking your most valued memorabilia, things you picked up on your exploits that hold true sentimental value, and display them proudly in key areas of the room. Without cluttering up the place, you can work on creating a striking focal point that will inspire guests to gravitate naturally towards it.
Build a Travel-Themed Focal Point
Having a focal point in every room is a must nowadays, as it not only ties the design of the space together, but it can also serve as an excellent conversation piece. In the living room, for example, consider earthy leather sofas as the primary element of your focal point around which you can bring additional decor pieces ranging from throws and blankets, to globes on the side table, with a fluffy Moroccan rug underneath.
The key is to paint a unique picture here, one that will take people on a journey and inspire them to envision themselves travelling the world and adventuring through faraway lands just like you did. Adjust the tone of the focal point according to your travel preferences, using rustic decor to depict landscapes and nature, or ornate modern decor to portray a distinctly urban vibe.
Create a Statement Wall, or Two
Another great way to make the room unique is to create a statement wall. The decorating possibilities are endless here, and you can choose to keep it personal by framing travel photos and putting various personal trinkets on shelves, or you can choose to hang statement decor elements such as tribal masks, or paintings you bought from street artists, depending on your preference.
If you want to take it up another notch, why not hang polaroid photos across the wall? It’s a great way to infuse that retro feel into the setting and evoke the sense of another time before smartphones when people used to experience destinations in a very profound and personal way. Follow this mindset to create a statement wall that will truly capture the essence of what drives and motivates you to travel.
To be able to travel and experience the natural and urban wonders of the world is to experience life for all it’s worth. That said, you want this enthralling feeling to follow you when you come back home as well, so be sure to use these design tips to create a travel-themed room that will feed your never-ending wanderlust.
About the Author:
Derek Lotts is a Sydney based writer and researcher, a regular contributor at Smooth Decorator blog. He writes about décor, gardening, recycling, ecology, and business. He thinks all of these topics fall under the self-improvement category. He believes in the power of sharing ideas and communicating via the internet to achieve betterment.
