Got Vacation Souvenirs? Use 'Em to Decorate

Incorporating my travels into my home has always been difficult for me. Those pictures I took? Too many to actually fit in an album. That Indian headdress I purchased? Too exotic for my traditional living room.

I've lost count of the amount of times I've returned home from a fantastic vacation with a boatload of memories, a burning desire to tell everyone about my adventure and an inability to reconcile my vacation-life with my permanent life. But, help is on the way! According to new interior designer Tineke Triggs, traveling is the best inspiration for globally-inspired home decorating. Read on for some great tips on how to tastefully incorporate travel into your home decor. (For more destination-related design ideas, read Gina's post.)


1) Make a special piece from your trip the focal point of the room. Art works especially well as a focal piece. If your items are smaller, consider placing them on a bookshelf or coffee table. Been to more than one favorite destination? "You can put different pieces from different places together in one room but the key is not to turn your home into the airport travel shop," she says. Less is more. Incorporating one or two exotic pieces into the room will speak volumes, especially when they inevitably spark great conversation with your guests. If you can't afford expensive art, have one of your travel gallery blown up and frame it. "I had a client do that with pictures of the Indian sea and they look beautiful and professional," she says.

2) Invest in foreign tile patterns. Tile comes in a variety of sizes, colors and patterns. Tiles from Morocco and Mexico are very popular and can transform a bathroom into a getaway.

3) Consider the value of intricate lighting fixtures and wall sconces. There are some great internationally-inspired lighting options out there. The right lighting can add charm and character to any room.

4) Pillows are an inexpensive way to add regional flavor to a room. There are hundreds of great colorful fabrics out there from Africa, Latin America, Asia, India and more. Just buying a yard or two and making them into pillows for a bed or sofa can change the room. You can also use the fabric to make a throw or duvet cover to give new life to an old piece of furniture.

5) Be careful with what you purchase. Remember to "think about where you are going to put it before you buy anything." All too often we buy objects that don't go with anything in the home. Don't shy away from items that aren't exactly your style, but be sure that you can incorporate them into your room.

6) Color your world! Choose paint colors that match the palette of your favorite destination to help set the tone of the room. Accent a wall with that color like a vibrant Saffron red of India or Royal blue of Paris.

7) Can't make it to your dream destination? Shop anyway! "We are so global right now that it its easy to find shops in most big cities as well as online retailers that sell pieces from around the world," she says. Tineke's favorite places to find affordable pieces with global flare? Try World Market or Pier 1.

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