Home Design Ideas
What is Global Style? The Travel-Inspired Decor Trend to Try
Maybe you’re a globetrotter fueled by traversing bustling night markets or expanding your palate with new cuisine. Or maybe you wish you had the time and budget for far-flung adventures, but instead find yourself exploring the globe through your TikTok feed from the comfort of your couch. Either way, you can’t deny the rising popularity of global-inspired interior design, a decor movement that honors the textiles, customs, and design styles known to cultures from around the globe. At Ruggable, we can’t get enough of the provocative global trend, thanks to its inspired blend of pattern, texture, artistry and culture. So we sat down with interior designer of the stars, Martyn Lawrence Bullard, to help break it down for you.
Celebrate Diverse Perspectives
When spotting global interior design, look first at the texture, tones, and craft of the items in a space. Global decor is marked by rich color palettes inspired by earth tones and natural topography, handcrafted textiles with ancient roots, and layered artistry that celebrates cultural traditions and honors heritage traditions from all over the world. By mixing these elements from different origins, a room will feel equal parts surprising and balanced, never homogeneous or bland. It also spurs conversation and discussion, which Bullard argues is key. “It's all about starting conversations in life. That's how we become more interesting.”
Curate a Well-Traveled Room
For an authentically global feel, a room should be well-traveled. That means mixing patterns, found items, genuine textiles, and art from all over the world. When designing a global style space, Bullard explains that he draws “inspiration from everywhere. My travels to India, the English countryside with the arts and crafts movement, even a tattoo from Cher’s hand.” Not every piece within a room must be sourced from across the globe, however. Simply pulling inspiration from sights, sounds, tastes, and feelings from your favorite travels can push your decor from bland and basic to expressive and vitalizing.
Remember that Less is More
You may be wondering how to keep a global space from feeling outdated or out of place. Bullard assures that how you style your global finds makes all the difference, sharing that “even though the inspiration may come from something ancient, the vibe of it now is utterly modern and deeply personal.” Curating a tailored mix of items, instead of flooding an entire room with patterned textiles from floor to ceiling, will ensure you and your guests don’t feel overwhelmed, but instead inspired and grounded. Pare back your travel mementos to ensure each has their time in the spotlight, sparking conversation and memory recall with ease.
Start Small
As you set out to incorporate more of this awe-inspiring and conversation-starting aesthetic in your own home, start small. Updating pillows, throw blankets, area rugs, or accent lighting can make a world of difference. Think about your favorite place to visit or the destination at the top of your travel list—then, add just one nod to that special sanctuary somewhere in your room, and relish in the immediate impact.
Sumaya Soft Black Flatwoven Rug
by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Nomad Blue Flatwoven Rug
by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
Mitra Multicolor Flatwoven Rug
by Martyn Lawrence Bullard
You don’t have to redesign an entire room to bring a bit of your travels home. Simply accent your existing style with your favorite travel memento, a framed art piece from a flea market, or a globally inspired rug to breathe new life into your home. So if you’re ready to do just that, check out our collection of globally inspired rugs designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard himself.
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Meredith Cantwell | Creative Director
Meredith Cantwell is a seasoned editorial and creative leader. She currently serves as Creative Director at Ruggable, where she drives visual storytelling and content strategy.
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