Incorporating Global Styles
Global design styles can add character to your home. From Moroccan tiles to Scandinavian minimalism, the world is your oyster.
Mixing Cultures
Choose pieces that resonate with you. A single statement item can tie a room together.
- Visit local markets for unique finds.
- Research cultural significance.
- Balance different styles for harmony.
It’s Your Home
Your home should be unique to you and your experiences. If you love to travel, bring back souvenirs for yourself to decorate your house. Even better is to buy items that you would use in your home anyways. A spoon rest from Spain, a platter from Portugal, and a mirror from Milan tell stories of where you have been and remind you of the good times you had there. These special items would be boring if you got them from down the street but buying them from around the world brings instant talking points when you have guests over. Especially if you are fresh out of school and barely have any utensils or other kitchen items, start collecting them when you are traveling. You will treasure them that much more.
Hometown Pride
Perhaps its where I’m from, but I’m used to a lot of hometown pride. Kansas City has the opposite reputation of New York City. If you see someone wearing an “I <3 NYC” shirt there, you know they are a tourist. In Kansas City, the only people that do not wear KC pride shirts are the people visiting. I have a street banner that used to hang in the Plaza area of Kansas City. It hangs in my living room and brings a totally different vibe to the room without it. I love that its a unique item that I have never seen anyone else have. I did buy it from a store called Made in KC years ago. I also have a print of the downtown area and magnets of the shuttlecocks at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. I love my hometown and I love bringing that pride to my decor.
Show some pride where you are from and where you live now. Frame a street map of where you grew up or of a place that means a lot of you. Banners, street signs, and art that tells your story helps make your home unique. Even if you move around and leave that place, its still part of you.
Themed Rooms
If you want to get really fun, theme your rooms around the places you love the most. A French bathroom or Italian dining room will transport you to your favorite places without the pricey airplane tickets. Ocean themes are really popular for bathrooms, but just because there’s water doesn’t mean you can’t theme it after anywhere in the world. Bring in colors of that country’s flag, some motifs that represent the culture, and pictures of your favorite spot you’ve been to there. Every visitor will love seeing a flash into your trip and what you love about that place.
