Goodkin

Souvenirs for Home Décor

For many, the biggest joy of traveling is getting to experience new cultures, bond with loved ones over adventure and eat unique foods. But don’t let an excellent opportunity pass you by while you are traipsing through foreign countries: the chance to decorate your home with authentic, gorgeous and affordable décor items!

Sure, there are plenty of places in the United States to buy “globally-inspired” home décor accessories and items, but think of how great you and your whole family will feel every time they have memories sparked when they walk into a room and see something that was purchased as a family on an awesome vacation.

A few rules:

• Always buy what you love, but do try and think about your current décor scheme so you’re more likely to actually incorporate the new purchase into your home
• Remember, you’ve got to get it home. Either buy things that can be safely transported (not breakable) or small enough to stow in a luggage
• Consider shipping home items that are too fragile/large to take back on the plane with you
• Buying something a little “wild”? If you’re concerned something you love won’t fit in with your current décor, buy 3 – 4 similar items so you can create a vignette that will make sense in your home

Need some inspirational ideas before you set off on your traveling adventure? Here are a few things we’d keep a lookout for if we were traveling:

• Italy – glass, small drawings or paintings from outside art markets
• France – small prints or paintings; small antique, wooden boxes or architectural fragments
• South America – textiles, candles, colorful masks and figurines
• India, Asia – fun lanterns, lights, textiles, porcelain
• Cambodia and other Asian countries – silks (which can be used for great wall art) and paintings
• Australia – Why, wooden boomerangs, of course!
• Everywhere – Your own high-resolution photographs that you can blow up, print out and hang for memories of your trip!

You can see how limited our inspirational list is. Won't you help us plump it up? If you've visited any foreign countries, let us know what you bought as souvenirs and what you wish you would have bought! Not traveling anywhere soon but still want some global decor inspiration? We've got you covered: Colorful, Global Decor Tips.

[Photo: Flickr member Adalbertop licensed for use under Creative Commons license Attribution 2.0 Generic]