Traveling is extremely fulfilling. Seeing new places helps mental health and opens your mind to new ideas and cultures. So, it’s only natural that you’ll want a memento or two from the experience. There are lots of things that you can fit in a suitcase, but the best ones are the items that you can display in your home. They give you something to point at and say, “I did that”, and evoke memories of the trip. Take a look at our tips for incorporating them into your home.
Motif versus theme
The difference between tasteful and in-your-face is likely to come down to motif versus theme. Themes shape the big-picture aesthetic and vibe of a room. Motifs complement and reinforce the theme through decorative embellishments. To put it simply, a theme in interior design is made up of symbols. Think of those cabins by the sea that put anchors and starfish in items around their room. It’s too much to live among for more than a weekend trip and leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Instead, focus on motifs through materials and colors. For example, pastels for the beach, cotton bedding, woven baskets, furniture from driftwood etc.
Surround your items with motif pieces
So with that in mind, it can stick out if your gifts from Israel are sitting in a room, naturally in a place of prominence in a room that is clearly a modern Western style. If you want it to look like it belongs, consider adding materials and colors that might evoke Israel. Some ideas include the blues of the famed Israeli pottery, whites for its limestone architecture, and sand colors for its landscape. Incorporate clay, woven textiles and wood in your home so your item doesn’t stand out as a lone item that doesn’t fit.
Display them in a cabinet
That is to say, the case if you only have one item. You might find that you are a collector of items from around the world and you have enough that dotting them around your home is taking over. Instead, consider installing a dedicated shelf for them, using up vertical space like your items are a piece of art, or putting them in a display cabinet to get eyes on them. You can even personalize your cabinet so that it fits the aesthetic of the items. For example, make a Mexican-inspired vignette with Talavera pottery, woven blankets, and colorful textiles. Or create a Moroccan corner with lanterns, woven pouffes, and decorative tiles.
Create a focal point
You might want to start with one or two eye-catching pieces as a focal point. Layer in complementary accessories for a collected look over time. Select a wall, tabletop, or section of shelving in your home to feature your most visually striking or meaningful global piece. This could be a large tapestry, an ornate mirror, a colorful mosaic, or a carved statue. Use directional lighting or a spotlight to draw attention to the focal point and clear the area to really make it stand out. You can then go on to compliment the item with items with the same materials and color schemes from the same region.
Conclusion
If you’re a famed globe-trotter and combined collector, you’re going to want to display your items, but since your home isn’t from that area, that can backfire. If you want to display your items with pride, they should be integrated with the rest of the room.
