If you ask people what the worst thing about Covid is, I am sure most of them will say that it’s the inability to travel freely. Not surprisingly, the travel restrictions have made me want to explore other places even more, while also making me realize how important travel is to our personal growth and overall well-being. And it’s no secret that the places we have visited in the past continue to influence our lives long after we arrive home. The experiences we have while traveling expand our view of the world as well as enrich our everyday lives. They show up in our homes, activities, meals, and even our wardrobes in dynamic ways. 

Now more than ever, I am building my travels into my daily life and personal surroundings. This new ritual has been essential to maintaining my peace of mind during the pandemic and has provided me with a daily escape from our currently limiting realities. Honestly, with everything going on, I need that escape right now more than ever.  

So, how do you creatively integrate your travel experiences into your day-to-day?

Here are a few easy ideas: 

• In Your Home - Quirky coffee table books are not only fun to put on display for others to enjoy, but also to provide us with a quick and accessible reading break at home. Another way to bring your travels into your home is to celebrate the places you love through art and pictures. After stumbling upon a photography store in Paris, Robby and I took home three small vintage black and white prints that we made into a custom focal piece for our living room. Plates, mugs, cups, and other kitchen type utensils can also serve as regular reminders of other places while offering utility in your living space. The same goes for cookware and kitchen gadgets that can be left out on display to enjoy while not in use, like Le Creuset pots, decorative Japanese tea kettles, and Moroccan tagines. In fact, tea cups and small plates can serve double duty as decorative catch-alls for jewelry and other objects. (As an aside, I seem to have developed a penchant for collecting vintage ashtrays and using them as decorative dishes around my house). For unique pieces that can serve as eye catching decorations around your home, try browsing local markets, concept stores, or home good shops when traveling. 

• In Your Meals - I have found it’s surprisingly exciting to adopt practices that aren’t generally followed in the US when it comes to meals, snacks, and other customs that typically bring people together or make us slow down to enjoy the present. While I know most of us have been taking full advantage of wine or cocktail hour these days, weaving other traditions like a morning french pressed coffee, afternoon tea time, and charcuterie board for dinner with your glass of wine can offer additional breaks from the norm throughout the week. With most of us spending more time at home these days, we also have an opportunity to learn new recipes for different cuisines that can quickly transport us back to the places we love most. There is nothing like food to evoke a feeling or sense of place. Having this extra time has finally allowed my husband and I to get back to cooking meals together and exploring new recipes for the types of cuisine we love most (French, Italian, Greek, etc.). For his birthday, I made a full French dinner, complete with homemade mayo and a stunning fig clafoutis. If cooking is not your thing, going out to restaurants that specialize in certain types of cuisine will allow you to get your fix while also supporting local businesses. When you are traveling, don’t overlook bringing transportable foods and goods home to enjoy, like tea, coffee, jarred goods, and fun spices that can’t be easily found in the States. 

• In Your Wardrobe (Obviously) - Who doesn’t love shopping while you’re on vacation? (Isn’t this every woman’s dream scenario?). Easy to bring back from your travels, jewelry is one of the best ways to recreate a look and carry another place with you, quite literally. I try to find a special piece of jewelry from a local jewelry maker, vintage market, or small concept store as a memoir from each place that I visit. For example, Florence is known for their unique filigree gold work and you can find stunning silver and turquoise jewelry in the American southwest. Small accessories such as scarves, pins, sashes/belts, leather goods, and even shoes often have a special connection to local artisans and cultures. I always purchase a scarf from Diwali, one of my favorite stores in Paris (lucky for us, they now have an online store too), made of wool and silk in beautiful patterns that you just can’t find in the US. If you prefer a more sensory experience, another great item to pick up while traveling is perfume. Perfumes made abroad offer unique scents that often provide a familiarity with the locations where they are produced. I love perfumes from Europe because, aside from their generally higher quality, they always smell like the stores and hotels we have frequented and it’s special to revisit those memories when wearing them. Lastly, the most obvious option to amp up your wardrobe is by purchasing a few pieces of clothing from stores in the places you visit. Even mainstream companies like H&M have a completely different selection of styles in the European market, among others. A happy accident I had in France was buying boots on the spot after the flats I had brought with me totally destroyed my feet. Not only were the boots made in Spain, but they were of high quality with wooden soles and suede. These boots quickly became a workhorse in my wardrobe and I have been wearing them for 10 years now! Don’t forget to dip into smaller shops and lesser known brand stores to find special shoes and labels that are only sold outside the US. Acquiring clothing or accessories that are tied to a specific culture, like silk kimonos, Indian paisley patterned tunics, and fist fulls of silver braided bangles from Southeast Asia, are also a great way to make your look more dynamic while making a statement about where you have traveled. Check out my post, “The Way You Make Me Feel” to read more about collecting clothing items that deliver those vacation vibes each time you take them out for a spin. 

Whether in your kitchen or in your closet, collecting special items from your travels will not only bring you joy on a regular basis, but also tell a story about who you are to other people than come into your space. These items will make your home and your look more personal and diverse, setting them apart from the mass produced styles that we often find at West Elm, CB2, Nordstrom, and other mainstream stores. Aside from tangible memoirs, consider adopting practices from the places you’ve visited into your own lifestyle. Use these special items or rituals to build an environment that’s unique, uplifting, and, above all, transports you where you want to go - even when you can’t physically be there. 

Keep scrolling for more inspiration!