Make your home reflect your travels

TRAVEL appeals to many as a means of expanding your knowledge base, broadening your horizons and developing new interests.

Your overseas adventures may have inspired you in many different ways; from the food you like to cook to the books you display on your coffee tables and the furniture you choose to adorn your home.

Travelling is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in different cultures and discover a different world to the one you are used to; it's also an incredible chance to see diverse colours and vistas and be inspired by myriad prints, patterns, styles and influences. Exotic adventures can also open your eyes to a new world of interior design which, upon your return, can inspire you to create spaces in your home which reflect the different cultures and styles you have experienced along the way.

Different countries introduce people to new design concepts and you may feel inspired by an infusion of styles, especially if you have travelled extensively. You may find that you are equally enthused by the rustic charm of French interior design as the seductive mystique of Morocco, or the exotic vibrancy of Asia, and as a result you can use inspiration from each to create the perfect home. If done correctly, your new look home will continuously bring back happy memories, as well as embodying a unique, personalised design concept.

Decorating is a great way to put your stamp on your home and there are many different ways you can reflect the positive experiences you had on your travels in your home; from simple touches such as displaying ornaments, books and souvenirs in sideboards and on shelves, to draping exotic textiles over walls and adorning sofas with indulgent fabrics and brightly coloured cushions.

The furniture you choose can also play a very important role in creating the overall style and ambience of your home. The living room is often the hub of the home and you may decide to use this to showcase the infusion of inspirations. Your living room furniture is key to creating the look you want, so choose styles that are in keeping with your theme and present them in a suitable manner; if you have been inspired by trips to Asia, you may wish to embrace the low-level seating trend, while a trip to the Dordogne may have encouraged you to rediscover rustic charms and opt for antique-style, pastoral furniture.

Once you have arranged your furniture, adding a few personal touches will help to make your home unique; embrace the retro trend and display old travel tickets and pin your travel destinations on a vintage world map, or personalise your space with photographs of places you have visited.

Your garden is also an ideal space for exhibiting your travel memories; create a Moroccan feel by covering decking in sumptuous beanbags and cushions, use jewel colours and set the mood by lighting lanterns, or swap the best of British for a crisp, clean Alpine garden by getting back to basics and using stripped wood, pristine, glacial colours and lavish indoor spaces with faux fur.

Whatever your inspiration, it's simple to give your home an exotic feel. Using different textiles, focusing on colour and style and choosing key pieces of furniture will help to create an amazing space that takes you back to sandy shores and azure waters, hectic bizarres and bustling streets or vast plains and clear skies, as soon as you set foot through the door. Feel free to let your escapades inspire you to create the home that reflects the colours, textures and styles you love and the happy times you have experienced.