Travel-inspired home decor ideas are something I don’t talk about often, but they’ve become one of my favorite parts of traveling. When I first started exploring the world, I’d collect shot glasses or lighters just to prove I’d been somewhere cool. Now that I have two XL Ziplock bags full of random shot glasses (and I barely even take shots!), I’ve realized I definitely don’t need them all.

Now that I’m older and have my own place, I prefer souvenirs I can actually use or display. That’s exactly why I put together this list of travel-inspired home decor ideas.

What to consider for your travel-inspired home decor ideas

Below I’ll get into some of the ways I’ve used souvenirs for my boho modern home decor and where I’ve sourced these items!

If you want to have eclectic home decor from around the world you’ll want to consider a few things before you start spending money at every stand you see.

1. First BUY LOCAL! This is something you’ll have to do everywhere you go. With mass consumerism and imported souvenirs from other countries you’ll want to make sure that what you get is authentic and comes straight from the communities that you’re visiting.
2. Next you’ll want to CONSIDER YOUR VIBE! If your house or apartment is mostly modern bohemian with earthy colors it may be weird to bring in some electric blue ceramic tiles from Greece. I know this, because I’ve been considering it for my upcoming trip to Greece! Don’t waste money on something that may not go well together in the space. Take pictures of your place before you go to help you!
3. To add on to buy local, you’ll also want to BUY WHAT’S CULTURALLY RELEVANT! If you’re in Spain don’t buy random Egyptian scrolls you see at a store. Typically that means that you bought something from a random souvenir shop that probably purchased boxes and boxes of junk from overseas. Buying that may not help locals, and may just line the pockets of greedy companies. Do some research on products that your vacation spot typically exports. For example, Peru is known for items made from alpaca or llama fur so those are the items I purchased!
4. PURCHASE THINGS THAT FEEL LIKE THEY’LL LAST! Anything that seems even remotely cheap, even if it is locally made, isn’t worth spending money on. I think westerners have gotten into the mind set of buying things just to buy them, but to me it’s a waste of money and resources. One of my favorite souvenirs is a genuine leather bag from Italy that I recently realized I’ve had for over 6 years now. It feels great and doesn’t have a fancy designer logo, but I love it!
5. Of course this is a blog post regarding decorating with travel souvenirs, but always BUY WHAT YOU’LL DISPLAY. If you buy things that you’ll know you want to display, you’ll be happy you have it, and excited to show it off to all of your guests!

Let’s get into some of the things I’ve purchased and from where!

How I Decorate My Home with Travel Inspired Decor

Pattern Table Runner from Peru

As previously mentioned, Peru is known for its textiles and clothes that are made from alpaca or llama fur. Most people will buy clothing or accessories, but I saw a table runner that I thought had a beautiful pattern and would be a great addition to my home.

I bought some scarves too for myself and my mom, but it’s such an interesting addition to my living room. It’s the perfect length for a TV stand and I’ll always have an interesting story to tell!

Candle Skull from Mexico

This skull that I bought in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a great travel souvenir for home decor. I purchased this from a small boutique near the beach that featured a lot of different modern and more eclectic home goods. I would say this store was more for the locals that wanted home decor rather than a touristy shop with keychains and shot glasses!

The great thing about this skull is that you can put a tea candle inside and then it lights up in a very pretty way. It’s also clear that this ties back to Mexican culture, and I love telling people where I got it from!

City of Madrid Poster from Spain

I lived in Spain for 9 months, but my favorite city is for sure Madrid. I got this poster from a boutique very similar to the one in Mexico. It was filled with home decor for locals instead of tourists. I love it because it reminds me of one of my favorite cities in the world and super easy to travel with.

One important tip for styling your home with travel souvenirs, is to buy things that can easily fold! Prints and pictures that can be packed easily and then framed once you’re home are a lot easier to pack into a suitcase!

Tiger Print from China

I’m cheating with this next one, but I love it so much I had to include it on the list and it is paper cut out art of a tiger made in gold paper! I actually got this at the Chinese embassy on Embassy Day here in Washington, DC. However, it was made by a Chinese artist and I’m sure I’d find something similar in China.

I’m hoping to make my way to China in the next few years and will be able to get more art or decor to add to my travel souvenir collection.

Espresso Cup from Ireland

My espresso cup that I bought in Ireland doubles as decor and function. I like that the green brings a bit of color to my kitchen!

I did break my own rule and bought it from a touristy gift shop (specifically the one at Cliffs of Moher), HOWEVER I’ve been looking for an espresso cup forever and this one kind of fell on my lap :).

Looking Forward: Travel Inspired Home Decor I Want to Buy Next

Folk Art from Greece

My next international trip is to Greece in July (so soon!) and I’ve already started thinking about what I want to buy when I go. Of course there’s obvious things like olive oil and wine, but I definitely want home decor that reflects my trip.

I’ve seen a lot of people online talk about folk art in Greece. There’s ceramics, wood art and more! I basically have to figure out what I think I can pack in my suitcase without breaking.

Glasswork from Egypt

Now this is definitely something that might be a bit of a challenge to bring back home with me. However, whenever I see pictures or videos of bazaars in Egypt, I always see the glasswork. I would LOVE to be able to bring something like that back home.

With my trip coming up later this year, I’ve been looking into other popular exports from Egypt. Copper is very popular there, and there’s tons of copperwork that I could add to my walls or prop up on a stand.

Closing Thoughts on Decor for Travelers

Before you go on your trip look around your home and think of things that your space needs. Whether that’s more art for a blank wall or functional items like an espresso cup. Let those items find you on your next trip so that you can build a more eclectic home!

Don’t forget to shop local when you can and use sustainable travel apps (like the ones I have listed here) to help make the search easier!

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