Did you return from your last vacation with a suitcase overflowing with treasures? Does your love for local crafts threaten to topple over into full-blown clutter? Let’s create a curated home and tasteful souvenir display. We want every item to find a home in your beautiful home.
Key Takeaways for Souvenir Display:
- Keep some surfaces free of items (I know this is a hard one!)
- Organize items in groups on trays, cutting boards, or books
- Rotate décor in one spot for each holiday. (I use a small glass round entry table in my home)
Blank Space
Resist the urge to cover every surface. Strategic empty areas allow your treasured souvenirs to breathe and become the focal point.
Group Together
Combat visual clutter by grouping similar souvenirs together. Trays, cutting boards, and even beautiful books can act as “display platforms,” transforming a jumble into a cohesive collection.
Rotating Souvenir Display
Seasonal decorating is a fantastic way to showcase your souvenirs without overwhelming the space. Dedicate a specific area, like a table or shelf, to showcase rotating vignettes based on the season or holiday. Think of it as a mini museum exhibit for your travel memories!
Turning Souvenirs into Home Decor
The Kitchen:
- Keep countertops clear for functionality.
- Utilize open shelving for display. Here, group souvenirs by theme (think spices from Morocco or a collection of miniature teapots) or use a cutting board as a base for a curated display of culinary keepsakes.
- Hang souvenirs like decorative plates or woven baskets on a rail beneath shelves or in a gallery on the wall or over the sink.
Your Coffee Table:
- I find a double-stacked coffee table or side table offers a perfect opportunity for curated displays. Use a tray on one table to group smaller souvenirs thematically (miniature Eiffel Tower, a book on Paris fashion, vintage postcards, and a Diptyque Paris candle in your favorite scent). And keep the other table clear to set down a drink or book, creating a sense of balance.
- This would also work well with a coffee table with a shelf to keep the top clear of clutter and place items below (as long it was safe from kiddos or pets.)
- If items are too precious or fragile, bookcases or shelving might be a better option.
- And resist the urge to put “all the things” on your coffee table at once. Rotate items that you love but let each piece shine.
Speaking of Shelves:
- Open shelving can be a double-edged sword. I love the look of a full and layered bookshelf, but you need to give your eye visual breaks. Keep the top surface of bookshelves empty and only keep decor within the bookshelf itself. Or hang minimal artwork around a filled bookshelf. This creates a visual resting place for the eye and prevents an overwhelming feeling.
- Decorating shelves is not easy. Think about scale, shape, and balance. I typically will keep moving items until they appeal to my eye. Or sometimes, just place items and give them a few days to see if you are happy or need to continue to shuffle. Think of this like a game.
Seasonal Rotations:
- Dedicate a specific area, like a round entry table like I have, to showcase seasonal vignettes.
- This allows you to incorporate your travel finds in a fresh way each season. For example, a nautical-themed display featuring a Rotterdam sailboat souvenir and a cloche with binoculars from Antwerp representing spring and looking ahead to summer.
- Rotate other keepsakes, like the swan vase (a vintage find) and kukui nut leis (Hawaiian honeymoon memento), throughout the year to keep things interesting.
The Cabinet of Curiosities:
- This piece of furniture (or it can be a designated bookshelf or cabinet) is the heart of your souvenir display (or at least it is for me!).
- Organize items by theme (color, travel destination, historical period) within the cabinet.
- By keeping your treasures in one designated spot, you can showcase a wider variety of keepsakes without visual overload.
- Rotate treasures from the cabinet throughout the year to refresh your seasonal vignettes and keep your displays ever-evolving (…and dusted!).
- A designated bookshelf is the perfect place to add in all of your little objects, either grouped or layered among the bigger items.
- Always organize your items and step back to see if they look like you intended or if you need to gather some smaller items into a bowl or place on a riser.
- In my opinion, more is more! And I love it!
Remember: Your home should reflect your unique story. Embrace the souvenirs that spark joy and use these tips to transform them into a curated and comfortable home