Bring your world of travel – into your home – by decorating with beautiful ceramics from your visits around the world. Maybe each piece tells a story, whether it’s a hand-painted plate from Portugal, a vibrant vase from Mexico, or rustic pottery from the Mediterranean. These treasures not only add charm and color to any space but also serve as timeless reminders of your adventures.
Our ideas help you reuse and/or disply your ceramic souvenirs in a practical and decorative way, giving them new life while preserving the memories of your travels!
From functional items like mugs and bowls to decorative pieces like mosaic lamps and tiles, ceramics offer endless possibilities for creating a space that’s truly your own. Especially if it include your travel memories…
Protect delicate or precious ceramic pieces from dust by displaying them under a beautiful glass cloche.
It gives each piece its own little spotlight, almost like a miniature gallery exhibit, while allowing you to enjoy it every day.
Plates or shallow bowls can be repurposed as trinket dishes to hold jewelry, keys, or other small items on your bedside table or entryway.
Group ceramics and trinkets by color scheme, material, or region on open wall floating shelves.
Staggering heights and overlapping items slightly creates a cohesive gallery look rather than cluttered counter space.
Create a little Christmas mug cubby
Turn an empty section of wall into a display of your favourite ceramic Christmas mugs. Build a simple cubby-style shelf with individual spaces for the mugs, then actually use them throughout the festive season. Fill them with hot chocolate, serve coffee to family and friends, or bring them out for a Christmas breakfast.
It becomes part of your Christmas décor, but it isn’t just decoration — every mug gets used and enjoyed.
Small ceramic vases or cups can be turned into candle holders. Add a candle in the center, and you’ve got a stylish and personal addition to your decor.
Use ceramic bowls for storing fruit, snacks, or even as a catch-all for loose items like pens or paper clips on your desk. Or use it as a pretty potpourri dish.
Desk & Office Supplies Container Small ceramic cups, mini pitchers, or painted tumblers work as holders for pens, paperclips, pushpins, or binder clips on a workspace.
Jewelry & Trinket Dish Shallow ceramic saucers, painted tiles, or small dip bowls placed on a dresser or nightstand create an elegant catch-all for rings, earrings, necklaces, and watches.
Bathroom & Vanity Organizer Glazed ceramic pots or geometric cups keep cotton swabs, cotton pads, hair ties, or toothbrushes neatly arranged on a bathroom counter.
What to do with all your travel souvenirs? Why not decorate your walls with these items to bring that holiday-in-faraway-countries vibe into your home?
Hanging plates on the wall is a great way to achieve that Greek-inspired look. Or how about those little tiles you bought on the Amalfi Coast… (Group 3 together for a special little display.)
Another idea is to frame the maps you’ve collected during your travels. They make a perfect addition to your study, entertainment area (they’re fantastic conversation starters), or even as part of a memory wall alongside your photos.
Bright idea: If you think about it, travelling to different countries and bringing home a simple plate from each one could create a pretty spectacular wall — with every plate carrying its own story.
But here’s the fun part: you don’t have to keep those plates purely as decoration. Take them down when family comes over and use them as serving platters, place them on the table for a special meal, or let your guests choose one and tell them the story behind it.
Suddenly, your travel collection becomes part of everyday life. And every family gathering gets a little taste of somewhere you’ve been.
Worried about it breaking? No worries — you’ll just have to go back and get another one! LOL
Everyone needs a cozy corner in their home. By adding a rug, cushions, a throw or two, and carefully chosen mosaic pieces that capture the spirit of places like Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Italy, or India, you can bring those destinations into your space.
Take that Turkish mosaic lamp (a gift from an old friend) gathering dust in the corner – why not create a whole room around it?
While you probably can’t fit a whole bunch into your suitcase, LOL – we thought we’d share this idea for a fun project once you get back home:
Beautiful handmade tiles (often from countries like Turkey, Italy, or India), is something you definitely would want to display. Perhaps you want to recreate something you saw on a trip to one of these countries… Here’s a few ideas:
You can create the same look at home. The steps leading to your garden or front door could be the perfect spot to recreate an Italian-style stairway. Take inspiration from these stunning steps in Italy, and transform your entryway into a conversation starter at your next family gathering. However, you might need to order them online to be delivered once you’re home…
Pre-Cut Tiles: Consider using tiles that are pre-cut or designed for easy installation. Some tiles are made with patterns or borders that are easier to align.
Tile Adhesive and Grout: Using the right products for outdoor conditions (waterproof adhesives and grout) can simplify the process.
Another wonderful idea is to decorate an outdoor table with mosaic for your braai or barbeque area. Creating a bit of French flair or Amalfi splendor. Also, the perfect opportunity for you to try mosaic as a new craft. (Check out this video – Easy Mosaic tutorial in 5 min.)
TRAVEL TIP FOR BROKEN SOUVENIRS: We know you don’t want to smash the gifts you brought home. However, this is ideal for those plates or tiles that got chipped or cracked during travel. Don’t through them away, reuse them in a different way. One that makes a statement.
…or you can just buy one. LOL
We love the ones on Amazon – easy delivery:
…and if you don’t have your own travel souvenirs yet, you can always cheat a bit and buy them online. Nothing can stop you from creating a beautiful home just as the ones you saw on social media or here in our article.
Explore the world. Bring it’s beauty home. ♡
