For many, this year provided the opportunity to travel once again! Whether you went far away or stayed close to home, you likely brought back something to remember your adventure. Some people feel that souvenirs are unnecessary and all they need to come back with are memories. I am NOT one of those people. HA! I love to be reminded of our travels in our day to day life.
The book Travel Home by Caitlin Flemming and Julie Goebel influenced me to be more intentional about decorating with travel treasures. The guide “Navigating a Flea Market” spoke right to my vintage-loving heart and taught me so much! I highly recommend it for anyone who loves travel and decorating.
Below are some of my favorite items to bring home!
TEXTILES
Textiles like a table cloth (above) and kitchen towels are great to bring back because they are lightweight and easy to pack.
ART
Art is just the best. Try to find some form of art to bring home. I purchased this small Eiffel Tower painting from the artist himself in Place du Tertre, a square set up for artists in Montmartre.
BOOKS
We often hit up at least one museum on vacation. I love getting a book of an exhibit we saw or the works in the museum’s permanent collection. The only downside is that these types of books can be heavy so you have to watch the weight of your checked luggage.
HANDMADE GOODS & UTILITARIAN ITEMS
I love that these are things that are both beautiful and functional. Purchasing items like this can even support the makers directly and give you souvenirs that feel more unique or even one of a kind. I knew I would think of France every time I used the wooden spoons, soap, bottle opener, market tote, or cow horn spoon rest pictured above and that makes me so happy! Jewelry, like the bracelets above, is also great because it’s easy to place in your purse for the flight.
PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHS
With smartphones giving us access to high quality photographs 24/7, most people come home from vacation with tons of great images. I love printing these photos in albums or choosing a handful to print and frame. A gallery wall of travel photos could be really fun too!
WINE
We brought home rum from our honeymoon in St. Lucia, but for the first time ever, I brought home wine from two different trips this summer. In Willamette Valley, one of the wineries boxed up wine for a friend and I so that it was ready to be our additional free checked bag. In France, I placed the bottles in inexpensive wine travel bags that are basically layers of bubble wrap shaped like bottles. Then I wrapped them in some close for extra protection. They worked like a charm and I can absolutely say I have no regrets about this decision!
Of course you can only bring back what you have room for so plan accordingly! No matter what you decide is worth bringing home, I assure you that having these treasures in your home will both bring up the best memories AND encourage you to daydream about your next getaway!
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