Styling: 11 Unusual Ways to Decorate With Maps
Let’s get physical… and political and nautical. Maps come in myriad styles and scales, and they make great wall art, as these schemes prove
In recent years, it seems the humble map has morphed from being merely a practical aid into something of a design statement. Perhaps as we increasingly come to rely on digital versions on our phones or sat navs, the printed map is becoming more of a nostalgia piece. Reassuringly low-fi and – especially with older designs – a hand-drawn charm, much like a well-worn book, its presence in our homes can be comforting as well as decorative. Here’s a roundup of display ideas, from modern murals to one-off old designs, to inspire you to dust off your old maps and incorporate them into your décor.
Supersize a street map
Old town maps offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, especially so if they’re of an area with which you’re familiar. Blowing one up on a giant scale is a great way to pick out all its rich detail.
Old town maps offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, especially so if they’re of an area with which you’re familiar. Blowing one up on a giant scale is a great way to pick out all its rich detail.
Make it splashproof
For a kitchen splashback that’s a talking point in its own right, eschew tiles and paste a map to the wall instead. Then fit a sheet of glass or Perspex over the front, creating a wipe-clean yet characterful backdrop. Consult with your builder to work out the best way to go about this for your particular space.
See more stylish splashbacks
For a kitchen splashback that’s a talking point in its own right, eschew tiles and paste a map to the wall instead. Then fit a sheet of glass or Perspex over the front, creating a wipe-clean yet characterful backdrop. Consult with your builder to work out the best way to go about this for your particular space.
See more stylish splashbacks
Journey around the world
A world map can work particularly well in a child’s room, acting as both an educational aid and colourful décor. Track down a mural company that can custom-size a design to perfectly fit your wall.
A world map can work particularly well in a child’s room, acting as both an educational aid and colourful décor. Track down a mural company that can custom-size a design to perfectly fit your wall.
Make it multiple
If you’re a fan of map prints, try dedicating one single wall or area to house them all, making an en masse design statement. To keep the look considered, try to run a cohesive element throughout, whether it’s frames in the same colour or maps in a similar style.
If you’re a fan of map prints, try dedicating one single wall or area to house them all, making an en masse design statement. To keep the look considered, try to run a cohesive element throughout, whether it’s frames in the same colour or maps in a similar style.
Repeat for impact
If you’re particularly drawn to a certain design, roll with it. Displaying the same image on repeat like this does a similar job to repeat-pattern wallpaper. To get the look on a budget, keep an eye out for wrapping paper featuring a map design – they can often be found for just a few pounds a sheet – then hang with wallpaper paste.
If you’re particularly drawn to a certain design, roll with it. Displaying the same image on repeat like this does a similar job to repeat-pattern wallpaper. To get the look on a budget, keep an eye out for wrapping paper featuring a map design – they can often be found for just a few pounds a sheet – then hang with wallpaper paste.
Sail the high seas
Providing a nautical twist, a shipping map offers an equally charming yet slightly alternative aesthetic, and would make for a quirky touch in a bathroom or within a seaside home. Paste a few large maps together on a wall, using wallpaper paste or PhotoMount, for a similar look.
Learn more about coastal style
Providing a nautical twist, a shipping map offers an equally charming yet slightly alternative aesthetic, and would make for a quirky touch in a bathroom or within a seaside home. Paste a few large maps together on a wall, using wallpaper paste or PhotoMount, for a similar look.
Learn more about coastal style
Paste up a helpful planner
Whether you live in a large city or just have a favourite area you like to visit, pasting up a giant map of one place can be both useful and decorative. To make it more interactive, you could stick cork tiles to your wall and place the map over the top (or use a giant pinboard as the basis of your map), allowing you to stick pins in it to highlight favourite haunts or places you’d like to visit.
Whether you live in a large city or just have a favourite area you like to visit, pasting up a giant map of one place can be both useful and decorative. To make it more interactive, you could stick cork tiles to your wall and place the map over the top (or use a giant pinboard as the basis of your map), allowing you to stick pins in it to highlight favourite haunts or places you’d like to visit.
Customise a canvas
Framing large maps can be costly. As an alternative, try buying an artist’s canvas, which are usually relatively inexpensive, and simply fold your map print around it in the way you’d fold giftwrap around a present. Secure in place at the back with gaffer tape. As an added bonus, it will be lightweight and require only minimal wall fixings.
Framing large maps can be costly. As an alternative, try buying an artist’s canvas, which are usually relatively inexpensive, and simply fold your map print around it in the way you’d fold giftwrap around a present. Secure in place at the back with gaffer tape. As an added bonus, it will be lightweight and require only minimal wall fixings.
Consider your surroundings
The amazing city skyline view this apartment offers is perfectly complemented by these city map prints. Visit local designers’ markets to look out for makers producing interesting maps of your area, to help your space connect with your city or neighbourhood.
The amazing city skyline view this apartment offers is perfectly complemented by these city map prints. Visit local designers’ markets to look out for makers producing interesting maps of your area, to help your space connect with your city or neighbourhood.
Go monochrome
Although often associated with strong colours, maps can still work just as well within a sophisticated, monochrome scheme. Simply stick with black and white designs to keep the look tonal.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of maps as decoration? Share photos of yours in the Comments below.
Although often associated with strong colours, maps can still work just as well within a sophisticated, monochrome scheme. Simply stick with black and white designs to keep the look tonal.
TELL US…
Are you a fan of maps as decoration? Share photos of yours in the Comments below.
Old hanging maps have a wonderful weighty, textural charm to them. A large design, such as this one, looks striking hanging as an alternative headboard, visually framing the bed.