Travel by Design
I’ve spent the vast majority of my life working as an interior designer. But my passion for design doesn’t come close to my one true love: (no, not my wife!) – traveling! The best thing about my job is that it took me on the road, allowing me to see (almost) every continent on the planet – damn you, Antarctica!
I love traveling so much that since retiring, my wife and I have travelled as far as our Volkwagen Crusader will allow. Throughout my career and retirement, I’ve been fortunate enough to see the weird, the wacky and the wonderful when it comes to design. Here are four of my favorite countries to influence your home, whether a sticks and bricks or on wheels.
Greece
The Greek islands are a very on-trend, vacation destination at the moment. Their deep blue seas and golden sandy beaches appeal to anyone who is tired of the cold or lives far inland. Greek interiors and Mediterranean design offer you a way to decorate that makes you always feel on vacation. The question is, how do you give your home a Greek interior design?
Giving Your Home A Greek Flair
There are many aspects of Greek interior design that are easy to incorporate. First, start with the colors. These tend to be very light – white, cream, and very soft/light blues. Some interiors include earthy colors to recreate the hills of Greece and nearby countries.
With Greek interior design, you will expect to see natural materials such as marble and stone. Marble is something that will often be used for kitchen worktops and flooring in Greek buildings. Of course, marble is heavy so look for alternative countertops in a faux marble or small marble objects to decorate your RV. Or create your own collection of sea glass, shells and white stones to give you a beach vibe reminiscent of Greece.
The design of a Greek home is also very minimalistic, simple and easy on the eye. All aspects that are perfect for an RV where clutter easily becomes a mess. The Greek may have the occasional piece of furniture with have a pattern or design, but nothing too extravagant. Furthermore, you will also see very little clutter or extra knick knacks. Those clean lines and simple decor make Greece a great palette to inspire your RV design.
Japan
Japan is another wonderful country to explore – although it certainly isn’t the cheapest holiday available. Nevertheless, Japanese culture and architectural design is something that everybody should witness. Japanese design usually consists of natural colors, textures and materials. Let’s take a look at how you can follow the Japanese design trend.
Adding a Japanese Aesthetic
Japanese exteriors tend to be very dark consisting of thatched or tiled roofs. However, the interiors are very different. The color scheme is very natural. Shades of beige are often adopted by Japanese culture. They use a variety of beiges and white in their design. Additional colors are inspired by nature for interior design.
Japanese design will also include a mixture of interior and exterior, usually consisting of floor-to-ceiling windows with sliding doors to easily access the outside. This makes it a great aesthetic for RVers who often go from inside to outside often through the day. This also makes it a style you can use to decorate your exterior living space as well.
As with everything in a RV, your furniture must be extremely functional. This means furniture that doubles as seating and storage. This could be a rollup Japanese futon that doubles as a cushion for watching tv and sleeping space for guests. It might mean adding paper lanterns which easily fold up to add color and whimsy.
Regarding your ornaments, it is very similar to a Greek interior: minimal clutter. If you do wish to include some form of ornament then it must be very subtle and not something that becomes the statement piece of the room. Add a small water feature or foldable tray table
Consider nature and simple minimal features to give your space elements of Japan.
Morocco
Up next is a Moroccan interior and this is also one I’d recommend, especially for those who wish to have a lavish home. Furthermore, it is very on-trend, both for visiting in person and to offer your home a design inspiration.
Styling With A Moroccan Flavor
The Moroccan style is a much more eccentric design than the other two countries. It creates a more premium look and feel to your home with its rich colors and textures.. Usually, Moroccan interior designs consist of burnt orange, terracotta, baby pink and peach colors. Occasionally, they will include other bold colors.
The materials and fabrics used on furnishings such as rugs, cushions and throws are usually soft and luxurious. Silk is also a very common material used. With the typical RV being brown or tan, you can easily add a Moroccan flair with color and texture. You might add in a shag rug, silk pillows or a luxurious throw blanket.
Another great addition is the use of woven baskets often found in Moroccan’ interior designs. This is easy to do and gives you additional storage space whether on the counter or in your bins.
Also, there are a lot of ornaments and accessories involved with Moroccan interior design. Add in metallic finishes like brass, copper, or gold to your counters or make a bold statement by changing our your bathroom fixtures. Or change out your backsplash with a cool peel and stick that adds color and a tile look. It should make you feel like you are walking through a Marrakech market!
Have fun with Your Design
Whether you are inspired by a foreign land or somewhere closer to. home, it is important to make your home cozy and yours. Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to find the style that fits you best and to make your home, rolling or not, your own.
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