Decorating
20 Inventive Ways to Decorate With Your Holiday Souvenirs
Showcase your souvenirs from around the world in creative and quirky ways
Souvenirs always seem like a good idea when you are on that overseas adventure – but incorporating these treasures into your home aesthetic can sometimes prove to be a challenge. Take heart, though, there are ways to enjoy those holiday finds in fun and tasteful ways, well after you find yourself back on home soil.
Be it kitsch finds, cultural artefacts or maps of where you have travelled, there are a number of savvy solutions to keeping your treasures on display and your holiday memories close at hand. Little or big mementos of your travels can add interest to your home – not to mention become a talking point when entertaining guests. They also help us to remember the distances we have journeyed in our lives and the different experiences we’ve had – a handy reminder for when that nine to five drudge starts to wear a bit thin and a new happiness goal is needed to get you through the week!
Take inspiration from these ideas…
Be it kitsch finds, cultural artefacts or maps of where you have travelled, there are a number of savvy solutions to keeping your treasures on display and your holiday memories close at hand. Little or big mementos of your travels can add interest to your home – not to mention become a talking point when entertaining guests. They also help us to remember the distances we have journeyed in our lives and the different experiences we’ve had – a handy reminder for when that nine to five drudge starts to wear a bit thin and a new happiness goal is needed to get you through the week!
Take inspiration from these ideas…
2. Savour soft furnishings
Pillow cases and other assorted soft furnishings are such a no-fuss souvenir to bring home. They travel well and can make a brilliant addition to a living area. The Union Jack cushion and vintage style suitcases here give a well-travelled edge to this living room nook.
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Pillow cases and other assorted soft furnishings are such a no-fuss souvenir to bring home. They travel well and can make a brilliant addition to a living area. The Union Jack cushion and vintage style suitcases here give a well-travelled edge to this living room nook.
Browse more of this beautiful property
3. Make use of floating shelves
Simplify your finds to the bare necessities and group them together. Here we have a collection of sea finds in glass jars, a few maps, some stones and a motley of marbles among other things. There is a lot going on here, but the way it is displayed is simple, well organised and inviting.
Simplify your finds to the bare necessities and group them together. Here we have a collection of sea finds in glass jars, a few maps, some stones and a motley of marbles among other things. There is a lot going on here, but the way it is displayed is simple, well organised and inviting.
4. Frame your travel maps
Create a wall feature by framing maps from your travels. Maps are lightweight and easy to pack – making them an ideal souvenir for when that luggage is tipping the scales at the airport check-in.
Create a wall feature by framing maps from your travels. Maps are lightweight and easy to pack – making them an ideal souvenir for when that luggage is tipping the scales at the airport check-in.
5. Install a kitchen magnet wall
Other than postcards, I am a complete sucker for collecting magnets. They are so easy to pack and are a great way to display all of those places you have experienced. This magnet wall is a great idea and just begs to be personalised with keepsakes from overseas adventures.
Other than postcards, I am a complete sucker for collecting magnets. They are so easy to pack and are a great way to display all of those places you have experienced. This magnet wall is a great idea and just begs to be personalised with keepsakes from overseas adventures.
6. Repurpose old shelves and storage for new displays
What do you do with those unique sea treasures that washed up onto the beach on your last getaway? This old drinks crate is perfect for showcasing these coastal gems. Old pigeonholes or spice racks are also a good idea. Note the simple repurposed glass jars turned into votives as well – such an easy way to create ambience.
Find out how to repurpose your old glass jars and bottles
What do you do with those unique sea treasures that washed up onto the beach on your last getaway? This old drinks crate is perfect for showcasing these coastal gems. Old pigeonholes or spice racks are also a good idea. Note the simple repurposed glass jars turned into votives as well – such an easy way to create ambience.
Find out how to repurpose your old glass jars and bottles
7. Group replicas
Mix up different sized replicas and group together with books. The Eiffel Tower is also the perfect shape for a bookend or paperweight. Replicas of the Egyptian pyramids, the Hindu God, Ganesh, or those stretching wooden Balinese cats lend themselves to this idea as well.
Mix up different sized replicas and group together with books. The Eiffel Tower is also the perfect shape for a bookend or paperweight. Replicas of the Egyptian pyramids, the Hindu God, Ganesh, or those stretching wooden Balinese cats lend themselves to this idea as well.
8. Theme your scheme
Make your souvenirs into an inspiration for an overall style. The hanging baskets fixed to the wall paired with the pendant lighting, rustic-style table, bench seat and bar stools embrace an earthy feel in a contemporary space.
Make your souvenirs into an inspiration for an overall style. The hanging baskets fixed to the wall paired with the pendant lighting, rustic-style table, bench seat and bar stools embrace an earthy feel in a contemporary space.
9. Install a splashback with a difference
Everyone has a favourite souvenir that they look out for and collecting matchbooks is an old favourite. This impressive collection is secured behind Plexiglas that doubles as a kitchen splashback.
Everyone has a favourite souvenir that they look out for and collecting matchbooks is an old favourite. This impressive collection is secured behind Plexiglas that doubles as a kitchen splashback.
10. Make a global entrance
That small bit of space under the staircase can be turned into an impressive display feature. Narrow shelving is often a perfect match for those bits and pieces you weren’t sure what to do with.
More: Discover other ways to use that small space under the stairs
That small bit of space under the staircase can be turned into an impressive display feature. Narrow shelving is often a perfect match for those bits and pieces you weren’t sure what to do with.
More: Discover other ways to use that small space under the stairs
11. Create a coffee table focal point
You don’t have to devote a whole wall to your souvenir collection – sometimes a cluster of interesting pieces does the trick. These Japanese sake cups displayed on a simple red tray make for a simple and portable feature.
You don’t have to devote a whole wall to your souvenir collection – sometimes a cluster of interesting pieces does the trick. These Japanese sake cups displayed on a simple red tray make for a simple and portable feature.
12. Build an eclectic exhibition
More intrepid traveller than bookish? Convert all of those inbuilt bookshelves into prime display space. The light-coloured shelving pictured draws attention to these assorted keepsakes.
More intrepid traveller than bookish? Convert all of those inbuilt bookshelves into prime display space. The light-coloured shelving pictured draws attention to these assorted keepsakes.
13. Put treasured finds in the spotlight
Displaying souvenirs does not mean you need a serious collection. Sometimes less is more. The selected finds here are displayed elegantly on a floating shelf. The downlights create a sense of warmth and draw the eye to the points of interest in a subtle manner.
Displaying souvenirs does not mean you need a serious collection. Sometimes less is more. The selected finds here are displayed elegantly on a floating shelf. The downlights create a sense of warmth and draw the eye to the points of interest in a subtle manner.
14. Showcase international costumes as wall art
Traditional dress can stir up the tourist in most of us, but what is the point in leaving a purchase to gather dust in the wardrobe? Display the different cuts of fabric and cultural stylings on as wall art.
Traditional dress can stir up the tourist in most of us, but what is the point in leaving a purchase to gather dust in the wardrobe? Display the different cuts of fabric and cultural stylings on as wall art.
15. Hang a picture gallery
Simple white frames holding exotic materials and mounted together on a wall as pictured here make for a modest but interesting display. Notice how the lighting elements have been used to subtly highlight the area.
More: Discover more ways to create an artful gallery at home
Simple white frames holding exotic materials and mounted together on a wall as pictured here make for a modest but interesting display. Notice how the lighting elements have been used to subtly highlight the area.
More: Discover more ways to create an artful gallery at home
16. Customise your shelving spaces
Why not go all out and customise your shelving to showcase your treasures from around the globe. There is no point in keeping everything in storage boxes, after all.
Why not go all out and customise your shelving to showcase your treasures from around the globe. There is no point in keeping everything in storage boxes, after all.
17. Create covetable corners
Simple white frames in varied sizes are a great way to display postcards, maps and photos from your adventures. Particularly if you are partial to purchasing art gallery postcards like I am.
Simple white frames in varied sizes are a great way to display postcards, maps and photos from your adventures. Particularly if you are partial to purchasing art gallery postcards like I am.
18. Frame regional textiles
There is such an exquisite array of textiles overseas to be tempted by. Fabric is an easy find to pack, so when you get home display it behind glass. If you have taken the time to bring it home, you may as well go the extra mile and get it professionally framed to make sure it lasts the test of time.
There is such an exquisite array of textiles overseas to be tempted by. Fabric is an easy find to pack, so when you get home display it behind glass. If you have taken the time to bring it home, you may as well go the extra mile and get it professionally framed to make sure it lasts the test of time.
19. Cover a wasted wall space with tribal masks
Showcase your collection of masks from around the world by grouping them together on a wall in a haphazard manner.
Showcase your collection of masks from around the world by grouping them together on a wall in a haphazard manner.
20. Flaunt impressive miniatures
Sometimes those miniature Limoncello bottles are hard to resist (when in Rome!). But what do you do with the build-up of decorative liqueur bottles that are overcrowding your liquor shelf? Make them into a wall feature, that’s what. With some soft back lighting, all the different hues of the tiny bottles will come to life.
MORE
Houzz Tour: Magical Melbourne Sanctuary for Fun Duo
20 Walls That Shout ‘Look At Me!’
Holy Hobby! Houzzer’s Put Their Favourite Pastimes on Display
8 Ways to Bring Your Holiday Home With You
TELL US
What have you brought home with you from your travels? And how have you displayed them in your home? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sometimes those miniature Limoncello bottles are hard to resist (when in Rome!). But what do you do with the build-up of decorative liqueur bottles that are overcrowding your liquor shelf? Make them into a wall feature, that’s what. With some soft back lighting, all the different hues of the tiny bottles will come to life.
MORE
Houzz Tour: Magical Melbourne Sanctuary for Fun Duo
20 Walls That Shout ‘Look At Me!’
Holy Hobby! Houzzer’s Put Their Favourite Pastimes on Display
8 Ways to Bring Your Holiday Home With You
TELL US
What have you brought home with you from your travels? And how have you displayed them in your home? Let us know in the comments section below.
Mmm, what to do with all of those vibrantly coloured woven baskets and bowls? Fix them to a wall in a gorgeous grouping.
Check out more fabulous wall feature ideas