Home Decor for Travelers: 10 Creative Ideas

Vintage Suitcase Chair

We can't get enough of classic, vintage suitcases. They're very stylish, but unfortunately, they're not necessarily roomy or lightweight enough for modern air travel. The solution? Turn them into furniture. That's the idea behind the vintage suitcase chairs from Refurbished Rose, a boutique that specializes in upcycling (using old or waste materials to create new products). The chairs, which generally retail for about $200, are custom built, and each one is completely unique. (Want one? Contact the designer, Natasha Chatman, at [email protected].)

Moustache World Map

A framed world map is a simple, easy kind of wall art for travelers. But it's been done. A lot. That's why we adore this whimsical moustache world-map print, designed and sold by a husband-and-wife team of artists in Central Florida. Featuring various types of everyone's favorite facial hair arranged in the shape of the Earth's continents, it's a creative, clever take on the prototypical map-in-a-frame—and the perfect gift for any of your bearded buddies who like to travel. The map sells for $20.

Transit Map Shower Curtain

A series of city transit maps are sold in shower-curtain form by Ward Maps, which offers curtains featuring Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Washington, D.C. These novel shower curtains make great gifts for big-city newbies, who can familiarize themselves with the nuances of local public transit while lathering up. And travelers can use them to commemorate a favorite vacation. Each curtain costs $29.

Suitcase Pet Bed

Does your dog or cat like to cozy up inside your carry-on whenever you pull it out to pack? If so, take the hint, and get your pet its very own Samsonite. This upcycled retro suitcase pet bed, which comes with a removable washable pad, will save your suitcase from the onslaught of animal hair that happens every time Mr. Meow or Sir Barksalot snuggles up in that neatly packed bag. Buy it for $59 from Kaleidoscope of Colors. (Adorable dog not included.)

Wineglass Charms

Loop these vintage-inspired charms around guests' wineglasses at your next event, so that everyone will know which glass is theirs. Moreover, the whimsical travel images are great conversation starters. (You now have an opening to expound on your obsession with Paris.) The handcrafted wineglass charms cost $22.50 for a set of seven.

Handcrafted Travel Pillow

These handmade pillows from Peking Handicraft, which are available in gift shops and specialty stores around the U.S. and Canada, will highlight your love of faraway destinations. And they'll make your couch a bit cozier, too. Prices vary by pillow, and a wide variety of destinations are available, including Los Angeles, Boston, London, San Francisco, Paris, New York, and Chicago.

Map Photo Mat

Dust off those scissors. This is a surprisingly simple travel-inspired design that you can make with just an old paper map and a frame. You'll find step-by-step instructions on the blog DIY Newlyweds, but here's a basic outline: Create a photo mat out of cardboard (DIY Newlyweds used an empty granola-bar box), cover it with a paper map, and voila—you have a distinctive, clever way to display travel photos. Match the map you're using to the destination featured in the photo for even more artistic oomph.

City Map Lampshade

Here's the creative answer to those tired Ikea light fixtures: a map lampshade that's truly original. These are made from old city maps pieced together with white ribbon and yarn. The maps are treated and sewn onto foil to protect them from heat and wear. Best of all, they bring your affinity for travel to light. Each shade is unique, and sells for just under $200 from Umbu, a merchant based in Switzerland.

Travel Art Print

Available in a kaleidoscope of colors and printed with any destination imaginable (including extra-planetary ones, if you're so inclined), these customizable travel prints are a sweet way to remember a favorite trip with a loved one. The unframed images, handmade by a graphic designer in Colorado, start at $20.

National Parks Checklist Map

Is your bucket list brimming with majestic national parks? If you're nodding in agreement, this adorable park checklist is right up your trail. It features a map of the U.S. with each national park marked by a numbered fir tree, as well as a sheet of colored stickers to highlight where you've been. According to the seller, "The more parks you visit, the more colorful your print will be!" Get the checklist, which costs $35, from Ello There, a shop run by a husband-and-wife design team in Brooklyn.

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