I want to redecorate a guest bedroom with a vintage travel theme and I’m looking for some ideas.
We’ll have steamer wardrobe (something like this) and a couple of old travel posters (you can get free ones from the US Library of Congress). And a globe, of course.
Do you have any suggestions for other items? Some lamps–floor or table–would be great (there is no ceiling fixture). I also need to get a double-sized bed, a chair or two, nightstands, and hopefully something like a love seat.
Hit a second hand book store and score a few old travel journals, stories of daring adventurers from around the turn of the century. Half a dozen would go well with your decor. Maybe a giant atlas, (love mine!), and a stack of old maps?
A couple of vintage souvenirs, like from Niagra Falls, the Eiffel Tower, etc?
Perhaps you could decorate the steamer trunk with those old luggage stickers people used to have? Googling, you can buy books of them (or at least modern reproductions) from Amazon for not too much.
If you have room and funds, add in a nice writing desk. Stock it with period writing implements and some nice stationary with a faux letterhead “Deeg’s Continental Palace” or some such.
Framed wall maps are key.
Replicas of vintage, or frame some antique maps.
Which can be 100 + years old, but readily available.
Try a British map of India, if you can buy one.
I read this as a travel themed BATHROOM and I came in to suggest a squat toilet.
Definitely consider that if you’re making over an entire master suite in the future.
Instead of a loveseat, how about some plane seats?
OK, those are more gimmicky than you are probably looking for, so I’ll shut up now.
Better yet, just add legs to an old suitcase. I did this in my guest bedroom. I have received many compliments and it’s also a great place to stash stuff out of sight.
Thanks all! A lot of really good suggestions; I especially like the suitcase night-stand. That’s exactly the type of thing I’m looking for: quirky and functional that fits with the overall theme.
No, this is the kind of thing I want. I really want the plane seats to work but sadly they are just too darn ugly (and probably not that comfy).
An antique globe that depicts countries that no longer exist would be cool. An old camera would be neat too. Also, if you have some family photos of trips, you could get black and white or sepia toned prints and frame those.
ETA: and for your frames:
Concepts Resin Porthole Style Picture Frame Nautical Décor Cruise Ship Window Vintage Metallic 5"x5" Amazon.com
^ Those porthole frames are SNAZZ-AY! How cool would it be to hang three of 'em on the wall in a line about 2 feet apart, then get a long poster (like maybe Rio from out at sea) and cut out the parts of the poster that would line up with the frames (I could be explaining this better)? Panoramic view from your (guest) stateroom.
Based on Bosda’s idea: big, old-timey map on the wall–preferably sepia colored–with a large red dot where your guests came from, another dot where you live, and a red line connecting the two, with an airplane on the line (if they flew) or a car (if they drove) or a submarine (if they crossed mountains or the desert). Sorta like the Indiana Jones movies.
Still another crazy idea: Dewey Finn’s luggage stickers need to be Harry Potter destinations.
I don’t know if it’s the right sort of travel, but the London Transport Museum website has some lovely cushions, footstools etc in the distinctive moquette they traditionally cover tube seats in - they’re really gorgeous designs. I have four cushions and get compliments on them every time I put up a photo they’re in - forget the cute cat or baby, people like the cushions.
There’s lots of other interesting stuff on there too.
A couple of vintage car/train toys would make a nice, cheap addition to the decoration too, I think.
Sorta like the Indiana Jones movies.