7 Decor Pieces to Bring Home from Your Travels This Summer and Where to Look

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There is nothing better than returning home after stint of travel. What’s even better is making room for a few souvenirs you’ve picked up along the way.

Travel not only enriches the soul but also offers a unique opportunity to collect treasures that transform your living space. This summer, as you explore new destinations, consider collecting items that will add depth, character, and a worldly charm to your home.

I write this in between unpacking some of my special finds. So here’s is a curated list of meaningful items to bring back for a interiors style that tells the story of your travels.

1. Ceramics

Handcrafted ceramics make beautiful and functional additions to any space. Think bowls, trays, or jars that can organize everyday items while adding an artisanal touch. The unique textures and glazes, often influenced by local traditions, create visually interesting spots around your living room, kitchen, or office.

2. Drinkware

A simple mug can be a daily reminder of your travels. Pick up ceramic mugs from local markets or independent studios- especially those with distinctive patterns or colors. Every morning coffee or tea becomes a small moment of joy, connecting you to a place and memory.

decor to bring home from summer travel europe worldly style mugs

3. Books from Galleries, Museums, or History Collections

Books serve as lasting windows into other worlds. Whether it's an art catalog from a gallery, a museum exhibition book, or a history volume dedicated to the region you visited, these selections enrich your coffee table styling and nurture your intellect. They also spark conversations with guests about your journeys and interests.

decor to bring home from summer travel europe worldly style books

4. Architectural Minis

Architecture-driven souvenirs like miniature replicas or fabric prints featuring local buildings introduce structural beauty and cultural references into your décor. The details you noticed bring you back to those moments sightseeing on your trip.

decor to bring home from summer travel europe worldly style architectural miniatures

5. Candles + Matchbooks

Scented or unscented candles sourced from your travel destination can evoke memories through smell and capture the feeling you had when visiting. Whether made from local beeswax or enriched with regional essential oils, these candles bring warmth and a subtle, inviting fragrance to any room.

Along with the candles, matchbooks make for unique and useful small decoration. I’ve just started a collection of matchbooks from my travels this year. They can fill shelves, dishes, and jars with pops of color and fun fonts. And these little objects are still functional for your daily routines. If you use them as often I do day to day, refill the containers with matches like these. They come in all sorts of colors and sizes.

home decor souvenirs to bring home from travels match boxes matchbooks and a candle

6. Nature’s Souvenirs

Natural elements can be very unique to each place you travel. If you are able to- bring back stones, shells, dried flowers, leaves, or sticks. Anything that reminds you of the natural environment you traveled to. Smooth stones, sea glass, or shells collected during hikes or beach walks add a grounded feel to your interiors, and make for one of a kind decor. You can display them in glass bowls, on trays, or as part of a trinket shelf.

Just remember not to disrupt the ecosystem you are visiting.

souvenirs to bring home from travels stones from beaches in barcelona

7. Artworks

Original artworks or postcards from local artists capture the spirit and culture of the communities you patron. Whether framed on walls or displayed on shelves, they bring vibrant color, creativity, and a personal narrative into your home.

Where To Look for Unique Souvenirs

The best places to look are definitely charity shops, local markets, or small galleries. I would avoid items that outwardly say the destination or have too much word art. For example- instead of a poster that has the Eiffel Tower and big letters spelling out “PARIS”, bring home a piece from a local artist. You’ll find it suits your collective style when you return home and evokes the atmosphere of your travels far better.

Now- don’t forget to leave room in your luggage for a few special finds next trip. After you return from your travels, you’ll have a worldly home rich with stories and distinctive style. Embrace the art of mindful decorating and let your space tell the story of your adventures.

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Aidan Lammers

I am an emerging interior designer by education and longtime artist. As my first blog The Curative Company, LLC has been created for you with much passion to show the curation of design from the perspective of a creative. Learn more about my company and I here.

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