By Bailey

Globe bowl, pinned by Amie Butler from Belle Maison

Is it me, or are there millions more map-inspired decorations for the home than there were three years ago?

Who you are is largely based on where you come from and where you’ve been in life. Which is why I really like this trend as I’m all about making sure you decorate your home in a way that represents you.

I am certainly an ambassador of this trend. A little while ago, I stumbled across a vintage map of Sussex at an Antiques Fair. Bought for a small price, I had it professionally framed and it now hangs in my office/craft room. I don’t usually get pictures professionally framed but as Sussex is where I’m from, this map was close to my heart, so I gave it the VIP treatment. (You can see it in my How-To: Add the Personal Touch post).

Something I’ve spotted recently in shops, are maps cut into a heart shape and framed, like these ones…

 Map heart art, pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home from Not on the High Street
Map hearts, pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home
from Not on the High Street

Although this idea makes a lovely decoration for the home (if the map is of an area that’s important to you), I can’t get over the extortionate price of them, when you could so easily make it yourself. Simply download and print out a map of an area you love, cut it into a heart shape and frame it. Seriously easy and a lot cheaper! (I always buy my frames from IKEA – amazing value for money). You don’t need to be an amazing crafter to make this – it’s extremely easy and by making them by hand, they’ll be even more personal to you. (They also make FAB Valentine’s Day presents).

More creative cartography ideas for your home:

Map heart cards – ideal for Valentine’s Day if there’s a place that’s important to the two of you. Pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home, from Not on the High Street

If you don’t like hearts, try your skills at cutting our a star shape. Pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home from Not on the High Street

Map garland – great decoration idea if you’re throwing a bon voyage party! Pinned by Laura Marsh from Etsy

Map wallpaper, pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home from Not on the High Street

Scratch map – put it on your wall and scratch off the places you’ve been, to reveal a colour. Great way to remember your travels, while planning new ones! Pinned by Cassandra Michelitch from Fred Flare

Use a coin to scratch off where you’ve been. Looks amazing on a blank wall – very inspirational! Pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home from Stanfords

Map coffee table, pinned by Smith & Bailey’s How-To Home
from Not on the High Street

Magnetic map – so you can pin your travel memories (helping them to last longer!). Pinned by Jon’Kayla Brown from Row House Nest

Do you have any maps around your house? We’d love to see them, please tweet us a picture @how_to_home