How Travel Inspires the Art of Design

Dec 10

There’s something magical about stepping into a place you’ve never been before. Whether it’s wandering through a bustling Moroccan souk, marveling at the symmetry of Parisian architecture, or feeling the cool, minimalist calm of a Scandinavian retreat, travel has a way of awakening your senses. For me, it’s not just a personal passion—it’s a creative fuel that profoundly influences the way I approach design.

The Design Lessons Hidden in Every Journey

Every destination has its own story to tell, and design is often its most captivating narrator. Colors, textures, materials, and even the way light interacts with a space are uniquely tied to a place’s culture and history.

Travel opens your eyes to the unexpected: the raw, earthy tones of a Tuscan villa’s aged stone walls, the playful patterns of Mexican talavera tiles, or the layered textures of a Japanese ryokan that seamlessly blend tradition and modernity. These moments don’t just inspire—they linger, shaping the way I think about spaces and the feelings they evoke.

Designing with a Global Perspective

Incorporating travel-inspired elements into a space isn’t about mimicry—it’s about capturing the essence of an experience and translating it into something personal and timeless. A room inspired by a coastal Italian getaway might not have literal Mediterranean pottery, but it might evoke the same breezy, sun-drenched feeling with warm terracotta tones, soft linens, and natural wood accents.

It’s about creating a connection between the space and the story, ensuring that design isn’t just beautiful but also meaningful.

The Unexpected Joy of Blending Cultures

One of my favorite aspects of design influenced by travel is blending influences from different places to create something entirely unique. Imagine pairing the rich, saturated hues of a Moroccan rug with the clean lines of Scandinavian furniture. Or incorporating the intricate carvings of Balinese woodwork into a contemporary setting. The result is a layered, textured space that feels collected rather than decorated—like a visual scrapbook of life’s most memorable adventures.

Travel Reminds Us to Think Beyond Trends

Trends come and go, but the lessons from travel endure. Every place has its own timeless elements, whether it’s the unchanging elegance of Parisian moldings or the enduring craftsmanship of handwoven Peruvian textiles. By drawing inspiration from these details, we can create designs that feel authentic and rooted in something deeper than what’s “in” this year.

Bringing the World Home

Travel doesn’t just influence the way I design—it changes the way I see the world, and that perspective naturally finds its way into my work. It’s in the unexpected use of color, the thoughtful layering of textures, and the way I think about the flow of a space.

My goal is always to bring that sense of wonder and discovery into the spaces I create. Whether or not my clients are avid travelers, I want their homes to feel like a journey—one that sparks joy, curiosity, and a sense of belonging.

So, where have your travels taken you? What colors, textures, or stories have lingered in your mind? Let’s find a way to bring those moments into your home and design a space that tells your story.