This is a guest post by Nadya from the blog, Allen Roth HQ.
Have you got the travel bug? If you’re anything like me, travelling has probably given you some of your most exciting and cherished memories.
Immersing yourself in a new culture is thrilling, but once you’re back to the daily routine of home it can be easy to leave these memories behind. Have you ever wished you could keep the buzz of travelling alive once you’ve returned?
One great way to do so is let your travels influence your environment.
This doesn’t just mean putting up photos, but can also mean letting your travels inspire your home. In this article, we’re looking at how you can design an outdoor space inspired by your travels, perfect for instantly bringing back those beloved memories.
Bringing Foreign Design Ideas Home With You
At first this can seem a little daunting.
The space you have might prohibit you from some of the things you’d like to do with your design. It would be great to be able to decorate with plants, for instance, but while this is sometimes possible, it may be that the local climate doesn’t allow you to do so.
You might fall in love with a style of furniture or other design quirks that a certain country or region has, but furniture is certainly not the simplest souvenir to bring back!
Once you start to get creative, though, you’ll see that there are plenty of ways that your foreign trips can influence your outdoor space. Every decision you make on your garden and outdoor furniture can have a nod to your previous adventures. Even the color schemes you use can remind you of beautiful places you’ve been.
Perhaps you can decorate to replicate the ‘pink city’ of Marrakech or the blues and whites so commonly seen on Greek buildings and churches.
Hopefully, even as you read this you are starting to remember striking features from trips gone by which can be incorporated. If not, we’ve got some more great tips.
Wall Features
Outdoor wall features can make a brilliant addition to almost any garden. They’re also a viable option in terms of bringing home as a souvenir, so you can be on the lookout on your next trip. Ceramics are a great option, produced in many parts of the world with some beautiful patterns.
Check out these from Orvieto, Italy.
They can easily be hung upon the wall in a sheltered outdoor space.
Other hanging items could include buddha heads, which are often manufactured in India and Asia, and give your space an eastern vibe.
Signs
Another great example of an outdoor feature is a sign, or multiple signs, depicting your destinations past and future!
You can even work out the mileage and direction if you so wish, or illustrate these signs with designs that remind you of the place. It can be a fun activity to design these yourself and is great for getting kids involved.
It can also be a talking point if your visitors ask why you have a sign with how many miles it is to Melbourne in your backyard!
Furniture
Though you probably won’t be able to bring furniture back from your travels with you, you can certainly let your decisions be made based on furniture.
Certain materials and designs, such as bamboo, for instance, are more common in certain parts of the world. Furniture can be customized, why not try a patio furniture cover with an Indian, African or East Asian textile pattern? You can check these 3 simple tips to choose the right cover.
If you are purchasing furniture, look for rattan styles which are popular in Mexico and other hot parts of the world. The places you have visited will again inform your decisions here.
Outdoor Cooking Spaces
Many of us have some way of cooking outdoors, and this is something that varies around the world.
Whether you are influenced by the ‘braai’ of South Africa, outdoor kitchens which are common in South America and the Caribbean, or the ‘earth ovens’ common in Hawaii which involve underground cooking.
Customizing the way you cook outdoors can mean meals reminiscent of those you have had on vacation or whilst travelling, and they can be so much more exciting than the standard grill or smoker!
Conclusion
All of us have our own travel histories (and travel futures). Showcasing the places you’ve been can be great not only for impressing visitors, but for making sure a little piece of your trip stays with you.
Have you enjoyed our outdoor space tips? Let us know if you have any tips of your own (or plan to utilize ours) in the comments section below.
About the author
Nadya Jones is a blogger and an entrepreneur.
She is the co-founder of Allen Roth HQ, a blog about home design and improvements.
With her husband Brett, she writes tips and tricks they learned while renovating their house in Raleigh, North Carolina. Nadya handles the interior design. Brett implements her ideas in a cost-efficient way.
Follow her on Twitter @diy_brett and Pinterest nadyaar9542.
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