The hardest part about coming home from vacation is leaving everything that you loved about it behind. Typically, a tacky shot glass or T-shirt quickly becomes your only memory of a life-changing trip. Here are six ways to personalize your home through travel decor so you can hold on to those precious memories a little bit longer. And bring that vacation feeling home.
How to Personalize Your Home to Feel Like Your Favorite Destination
Candles
On a recent trip to Morocco, I fell in love with the smells of the busy markets, spices, and food. Luckily, one of the hotels I visited—La Mamounia—created a candle with a scent specifically made for the hotel. I obviously caved and bought it, and it has been a great way to remember both the country and hotel.
Similarly, Homesick Candles makes candles with unique scents for all 50 states. So if you loved the smell of spruce trees on a recent trip to Colorado, you can smell them once you’re back home.
Photos
You don’t have to be a pro photographer to take awesome vacation photos. Photo website Artifact Uprising has an easy uploader that’ll transform even photos taken on your phone into a beautiful album, framed print, or calendar. I personally love the Instagram Friendly Books for your coffee table. Or enlarge some of your photos to hang in a gallery on your wall for some simple travel decor.
Grafomap
These thoughtfully designed map posters from Grafomap are another great addition to help personalize your home after a meaningful trip. Simply type in a location or city, and you can customize the colors, layout, and text. The company currently has nine different designs to fit almost any travel decor style.
Cutting Board
These state-shaped bamboo cutting boards are a unique way to show love for your favorite place, whether that’s where you’re from, currently living, or dreaming about. From wall-hanging to cheese-serving, who says home decor can’t serve a second purpose?
Wall Mural
If you’re really looking to make a splash in your home, create your own wall mural wallpaper with your favorite vacation photo. Note that you will need a high-quality photo to enlarge for this travel decor item, however; Wallsauce.com has some epic photos of major travel landmarks. Or pick from the map wallpaper options for a more global approach.
Pillows
Custom-designed pillows are a comfy and easy way to add travel decor of your favorite destination. Simply upload your favorite photo to Target Photo’s website, and bring your best vacation memory straight to your couch.
Coasters
Location-specific coasters are a simple and inexpensive way to personalize your home. I love the Idea Design Coaster Set, which features illustrations of six popular cities. These Neighborwoods Coasters are also a great option if you have a favorite memory from a certain destination. Check out Etsy for even more custom coasters and travel decor ideas.
More from SmarterTravel:
- The 7 Best Photo Printing Sites for Travelers
- 7 Tiny Travel Gadgets You Can’t Leave Home Without
- 5 Ways to Make Your Bedroom Feel like a Hotel Room
Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Black Friday Sale: 6-Night India Tour,...
Exoticca
vacation
$1599+
Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
cruise
$12399+
Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental
$19+