Before you roll you luggage bags out the door, don’t forget to take a glance around the house to check what items you can bring back to add a decorative accent to your home. See if the kitchen walls could do with a bright painting to add a pop of colour or a cute planter would work well in the extra space at the balcony. This will help to you narrow down to what you can bring back from your travels and prevent unnecessary clutter at home.

The colours of a foreign place often inspire our own decorating. Take pictures of everything that catches your eye, even close-up details. It could be the hues of a sunset, colours of the fruit and veg at a market or the subtle tones in the brick of some ancient ruins that influences your bedroom or kitchen makeover.

You can buy some spectacular—and sometimes more affordable — lighting overseas, designs that you may not find here. But remember, whatever you buy will need to be rewired by a qualified electrician to meet Singapore’s safety standards. This could add extra cost which could make your bargain seem a little less so.

If you fall in love with a piece of furniture while travelling overseas, ask the retailer if they offer an international shipping service. Sometimes the larger stores do, so you don’t have to organise your own (a total nightmare). Be aware, though, that there is usually a months-long wait for your buys to arrive.

Paintings, illustrations and prints are fairly easy to transport—wrap them flat or roll them up and secure in sturdy packaging. Take them as carry-on or pack in your suitcase if you are able to wrap them up well and only if they will be able to withstand rough handling.

Don’t bother with frames as you can get that done back home. If the item’s oversized, best to ask about shipping.

Text: Bauersyndication.com.au  / Additional text: Seah Pei Jun
Gifs from GIPHY

READ MORE
The One Decor Item You Need For A Stylish Living Room
5 Sleek & Stylish Contemporary HDB Homes
11 Clever And Chic Bay Window Design Ideas To Maximise Space