Travel is one of my favorite ways to recharge. It fills me up in every way—new sights, flavors, ideas, and conversations. It’s not just about the destination—it’s about how I feel when I get there: free, light, open, ready for anything.
A bit of family travel featured above.*
When I travel, I become a softer version of myself—the curious explorer, the playful mom, the relaxed partner. I remember how good it feels to wake up excited, to live in intention, and to let beauty lead the way.
And while I can't live in a hotel (although, I wouldn’t mind never making another bed), I can bring those feelings home. Through Feng Shui and intentional design, I shape my space to carry the energy of travel—without ever leaving my front door.
Here’s how to bring that travel-inspired joy into your home:
1. Freedom in Simplicity
Clear space = clear mind.
One of my favorite things about travel is living with less. A carry-on suitcase, a few favorite outfits, and suddenly—clarity. What if Home can feel that light too?!
At Home:
Create space by decluttering areas that feel heavy or stagnant. In Feng Shui, clutter blocks Chi (life energy) clearing makes room for inspiration.
Simplify and let go in other parts of your life— your emails, contacts, calendar. Where can you become more liberated?
Tip: Declutter one small area that feels stuck. A nightstand, a junk drawer, a closet.
2. A Sense of Wonder
Let Home feel like a discovery.
Waking up in a new place, every corner brings interest, every detail feels intentional. Even the doorknobs seem charming. That wide-eyed energy doesn’t require a plane ticket.
At Home:
Change your perspective—rearrange a room, switch up your artwork, or move your bed. Simple shifts bring big change.
Refresh your entryway (Feng Shui says it’s the mouth of Chi!). Invite in new energy.
Bonus: check out my mentor’s book Simple Shui for Everyday to get daily Shui ideas.
Entryway items: Rug; Wreath; Door Mat; Planter
3. The Power of Choice
You get to decide how your home feels.
On vacation, we choose our vibe—beach bungalow or chic city loft? At home, get curious about your own space. What energy do you want to bring in? Use design to invite that in. Set an intention for your space.
At Home:
What do you want more of? Peace? Passion? Creativity?
Place a meaningful object in each zone to anchor your intention.
4. Place as Inspiration
Let your favorite destinations guide your design.
Each place we visit has a personality. Parisian elegance, island ease, desert mystique… we often fall in love with how a place makes us feel. Through color, texture, lighting, and layout, you can bring those feelings into your home.
At Home:
Pick a place that moved you—Greece, Tokyo, Oaxaca—and create a mood board. Stay tuned here for inspo on places I’ve visited.
Use colors, textiles, or materials from that region to tell the story.
Paint a wall, hang a textile, or swap pillows to shift the feel. Remember it doesn’t have to look exactly like a place to have the same vibe.
5. Playfulness & Exploration
Make room for fun and curiosity.
When we travel, we say “yes” more. We try new things. We get lost on purpose. Tap into that spirit by making space for creativity at home.
At Home:
Add a “joy corner”—maybe it’s a game table, a reading nook, a painting station, or anything that immediately brings a smile to your face.
Cook something unfamiliar. Invite family or friends to help, even if its a flop the experience will be memorable.
Hang a travel photo that makes you smile every time you see it (Adding this to the Travel and Helpful People Gua - right front area of Bagua can be even more potent).
Ojai, Santa Barbara, Kyoto
6. Sensory Memory
Smells. Sounds. Textures. They take us back instantly.
Sometimes what we miss most is how a place felt. That lavender field. That market buzz. That salty breeze. Your senses know the way to your heart.
At Home:
Use scent as a portal: candles, incense, or essential oils from favorite places.
Play music from your travels—yes, even that street performer’s playlist.
Add natural textures: linen, rattan, clay, or stone. Let your fingertips remember.
Bonus: Items that evoke scent memory make wonderful souvenirs their scent will forever remind you of a specific time and place…
7. Home as a Sacred Souvenir
Let your home tell your story.
The memories we bring back are the most important souvenir. But I also love sprinkling in small physical reminders—a tile from Lisbon, a bowl from Mexico, a photograph from the coast. These become pieces of ourselves connecting us to the experiences we never want to forget.
At Home:
Frame a travel photo that still makes your heart jump.
Display an object that holds a story.
Bonus: In Feng Shui, the center of your home ties all parts of our life together. Keep it open, grounded, and sacred. Place special objects here that signify when and where you’ve felt the most balanced.
Yin Yang Art; Diffuser; Essential Oils; Plant Stands
8. Living Lightly
More space doesn’t mean more stuff.
Traveling reminds us how little we really need. That lightness? It’s freedom. A thoughtfully designed home doesn’t need to be filled to the brim—good energy moves more freely when it's not blocked.
At Home:
Leave space on shelves. Let furniture “breathe.”
Less is more— always think twice before bringing anything into your home and assess the total cost of the item— what will you have to do to maintain it (I’m looking and you boucle furniture and fast fashion).
“Enough is more than a feast.” Mary Poppins
9. Embrace Shifts as Life Changes
Design for the season of life you’re in.
We travel differently in different seasons of the year and different season of life. A solo trip, a family adventure, a romantic getaway—they each call for a different rhythm. Our homes reflect the season we’re in and can transform with us as we grow.
At Home:
Make small changes to your decor throughout the year—what feels good now may not in six months. Give your home permission to evolve.
Ask yourself what kind of “trip” your life feels like right now—and design for that.
If you’re in a slower season, lean into soft lighting, cozy textures, and deeper colors for more Yin vibes. Craving momentum? Add art with movement, plants, or brighter hues to Yang up the energy.
Florence, Costa Brava Spain, Alaska
Home as a Continuation of the Journey
Travel opens us. It stretches our ideas of what life—and Home—can be. But the journey doesn’t have to end when you unpack your suitcase.
Home can be a reflection of every magical place you’ve ever loved. A collection of memories, colors, and energies that make you feel most like You.
Let your home be a living postcard—a place that whispers tales of adventure, freedom, and beauty.
Because Home isn’t the opposite of travel.
It’s a journey of it’s own.
xo,
Abby
Stay tuned for many more of my favorite travels and the design that is inspired by them!
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*my girls rowing on Plitvice Lakes, Croatia; Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo; a quiet beach on Kauai; a rainy evening in Paris; a family photo in Split, Croatia; the gorgeous colors of Milos, Greece; my daughter bringing the bougie vibes in Venice, Italy; sunset on Flathead Lake Montana; and a tiny daughter hiking around Lake Louise in Alberta.
Adore this ! Travel is one of my favorite things in the world - I truly believe that the world would be a far better place if more people got the chance to experience it. You always have the best posts 😻
This really resonates with me Abby. That lovely, light and airy feeling when you’re away vs. that bogged down, responsibility laden feeling at home. Time to declutter and simplify …in small steps of course. 🌸