Travelling somewhere exotic this holiday? Here’s what you can buy to spruce up your decor
Plates
Create a feature wall with plates you’ve picked up on your travels. To unify the display, stick to a main colour such as blue.
TIP: Countries such as Morocco and Turkey are renowned for affordable ceramic or pottery plates sold at markets, or you can invest in genuine Delft plates when travelling to the Netherlands.
Wallpaper
David and Hannah Little gave the guest bathroom of their Durban home an overhaul with Orla Kiely wallpaper bought during a trip to London. These walls now serve as reminder of the time spent there.
TIP: When buying wallpaper overseas, be sure to take careful measurements before you leave home, as you won’t be able to buy more if you run out.
Silverware or metalwork
Monique Nel is in love with all things Moroccan, and used her collection of Moroccan metalwork and lanterns as inspiration for her bedroom scheme.
TIP: Buy fragile and bulky pieces towards the end of your trip to avoid potential damage when travelling. Keep in mind how much weight it will add to your luggage.
Throws and blankets
Interior designer Lei Lester introduced pattern to her guest bedroom by using a vintage sari from India as a throw.
TIP: Blankets and throws are easy to put in your luggage. Get creative with how you can incorporate scarves and fabric offcuts into your scheme if you’re on a budget – like framing swatches or combining them into a quilt.
Cushion covers
These suzani cushions from Arabesque have pride of place in a Cape Town kitchen designed by Kimberley Richmond of Beautiful Spaces. Suzani is a type of embroidered fabric produced mostly in Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
TIP: Buy cushion covers without the inners for ease of packing. Also look out for beautiful fabrics that can easily be made into covers once you’re home.