5 Ways I Bring my Travels into my Home
Traveling has been a dream of mine since I got married and boarded that first plane on my honeymoon to Jamaica.
Through every season of my life, I’ve found myself consistently eager to learn new traditions, discover various comforts, and understand the daily lives of “locals” across the world. I’ve encountered wonder and awe in the differences and similarities, and caught my mind considering: How are we different? How are we similar?
Ever since that first trip to the comfortable confines of a “worry-free” tropical resort, I have had the opportunity to cross countless borders – both stateside and across the Atlantic. I’ve nestled in the coziness of Western U.S. mountain towns, and I’ve ventured into cathedrals that were built just years after Christ walked the Earth.
Throughout all of these (very different) experiences, I always find myself falling in love with the textures, colors, and traditions of the areas I visit. At each destination, there are objects, textiles, and various memorabilia that simply beg me to pack them into my suitcase and incorporate them into my Alabama home.
The best part about bringing travel into our homes? Each item and/or memory reminds us of the great big world out there. These items - whatever they are and whatever memory they may hold - have the opportunity to bring a new story into our home, and to spark the fire in our hearts to keep discovering. To keep exploring.
Maybe you’ve found yourself yearning to bring your travel experiences back into your home, but not exactly sure how. Maybe you want your space to feel reminiscent of things you’ve seen and places you’ve been immersed in, but confused about how to do so in a cohesive way. Maybe you’ve got a trip coming up, and need a little inspiration for how to bring some memories back in a tangible way.
If you nodded your head “yes” to any of these, or if you simply love the idea of bringing experiences into your home, then keep reading! Because today I’m thrilled to share part 2 of my new blog series, WANDER > HOME, where I’m unpacking 5 Ways I Bring My Travels into My Home. Let’s dive in!
Color. One of my favorite ways to incorporate other places into my home is through the power of color. This can be as simple as a bedspread that reminds you of the Mediterranean, or as “permanent” as a wall color that is reminiscent of Charleston, South Carolina architecture. You may have heard me mention before that while the trend over the past decade has been a heavy focus on whites and neutrals, color is making a comeback. What better way to embrace this change than to bring colors from other places in the world into your home?
Textiles. Boy oh boy, do I LOVE the experience of bringing unique textiles into my home. I will say, this also brings me to a funny memory of trying to bring Turkish rugs home – it was hard but SO worth it! I have so many rugs, throw pillows, bags, and even spools of YARN from places like Turkey and Guatemala. The great thing about textiles is that you can always switch them up – trying them in different rooms, in different seasons, etc. Textiles are also an excellent way to enhance the COLOR in your home as we talked about above.
Art by Locals. To me, this one is a no-brainer. The artwork I have had the opportunity to invest in from places across the country and the world literally brings my home to LIFE. When I see certain pieces on my walls, I immediately flashback to the artist’s face at the street market where I purchased it from. I love artists far and wide, including those right here in my home city. But there is just something so special about the uniqueness of art from other destinations, and most importantly, the hands that created it.
Photography. I am no professional photographer, but as you probably know, photos are one of the most exceptional ways to capture memories. In a day and age where taking AMAZING photos is as easy as pulling out our iPhones, there is simply no excuse for not having incredible photos from travels. The important thing here is to avoid leaving those amazing photos in a digital file. Print them! Draw them! Hang them! Even making a photo book for your coffee table is a remarkable way to share your experience with others AND remind yourself of what you saw. I’m not sure about you, but photography feels to me like an opportunity to transport myself right back to the places I have been.
Found Objects. This is a tricky one because I’ll be the first to tell you that seashells and coral have the tendency to stink up a suitcase. I learned that the hard way! Regardless, found objects are one of my favorite (and most unique) ways to bring travels home with me. I love having a dish where I can place these objects…and I think it’s so cool how so many memories can end up existing in one place. From trinkets purchased at local markets to yes, those stinky seashells discovered in the tide…there are endless objects we can pack in our bags to remind us of the memories we’ve made.
Wandering the world is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The smells, sights, and sounds – they beckon us to consider the meaning of our lives and, if we’re doing it right, they remind us of the power of slowing down and taking in our surroundings. I believe in the deepest parts of my soul that travel - whether to your neighborhood park or to the French countryside - is crucial to living a well-rounded life. At the end of the day, it’s how we bring these priceless experiences into our homes that matters most.
I hope this encourages you to explore the world around you, both near and far, and to create spaces in your home that remind you of every experience.