World Traveler: Decorating with World Maps and Mementos

By Colleen's Contributor Maureen McGough

Got the mid-winter blues? Feeling cooped up? Want to just get away?

Indulge your travel dreams by decorating with vacation mementos and maps of the world. Whether it’s a wallpapered room, a set of trays, or a throw pillow, there are plenty of ways to create a travel theme using new pieces and your own worldly possessions.

Here are some ways to introduce this globetrotting trend to your décor:

• Decorate a dining or living room wall with framed maps. Use maps with pale, soft shades for a clean, yet creative look. For a personal touch, find one for each of your favorite vacation spots.

• Bring the travel trend to the table with vintage world map plates and trays. You can find prints encased in glass or images hand-painted on porcelain. These add simple, subtle charm and also act as great conversation pieces.

• Your own travel memorabilia might be tucked away somewhere, just begging to be put on display. If you’re up for a DIY decoupage project, preserve memories in a personalized coffee tabletop. Make it unique with a collage of personal photos and postcards.

• Give your kitchen an around-the-world feel by showcasing menus from favorite restaurants and resorts. Vintage travel ads and posters make perfect additions to the kitchen area as well.

• A turquoise map serves as an ideal color inspiration for a beach house. Use the shades of the map in tabletop accessories to create a cohesive look.

• Go global with a collection of multi-colored globes. Use globes in varying sizes and scatter them along a shelf or mantel. For a more modern feel, go with a black and white model.

• Test the map trend on a small scale by adding continental throw pillows. Rest your head close to home on the North/Central America pillow or drift off to far away lands with the Asia/Australia and Africa/Europe versions. Etsy offers several affordable options, including a Paris map pillow cover ($35) that’s simple and chic in black and white.

• An antique map makes for colorful, original wallpaper that sets the tone for an entire room. Whether used as a backdrop behind traditional furniture or to offset modern accent pieces, world map wallpaper can be the finishing touch for a one-of-a-kind look.

Let that feeling of wanderlust take you away. Find key items and pair them with personal tokens of travel. And now start planning your next trip so you can add more memories to your growing collection!

Photo courtesy Free Digital Photos. Maureen courtesy of Eve Women's Interest Blog.