Nate Berkus Loves Getting This Gorgeous Home Decor Item As A Travel Souvenir

With the advent of the Bookshelf Wealth interior design trend, there's never been a better time to bring things from your life — like travel souvenirs — into your home decor. However, that doesn't necessarily mean cluttering up your space with cheesy tourist trap knick-knacks. As celebrity interior designer, Nate Berkus explained in an Instagram video, opting for unique pottery finds is a chic way to pay homage to your travels in your home, while keeping your decor tasteful. 

In his Instagram post, Berkus explained that finding new pottery pieces for his home was always a highlight of his trips. Naturally, a big part of the reason for that was the sentimentality of the objects. As he wrote in the caption, "I love filling my home with pieces that have meaning, especially when they remind me of places I've traveled." We get it — nothing says home quite like being surrounded by the things that bring back great memories. And, with the curios in question primarily pottery, it's certainly a lot easier to stick with a specific palette or aesthetic.

That said, Berkus' decision to zone in on pottery was based only partly on sentimentality. A big part of it came down to practicality, too. As he explained in the video, "It's easy to wrap in your dirty clothes and bring it back from vacation, and it's super unique and special." Easily transported decor is always a major plus! 

When it came to the specific pottery Nate Berkus spoke of in his Instagram video, he brought up an engraved plate sourced from Portugal, which he had found in the famed interiors store, Stork Club, based in Carvalhal. The plate being from the store co-owned by interior design legends Pierre Passebon and Jacques Grange meant it was already tastefully curated. For that reason, if you're happy to splurge, heading to something similar the next time you travel isn't a bad idea. That said, there are ways of getting around that if you're willing to look around. 

The next time you travel — whether abroad or locally — search up the local artisans and check out their pottery. Things might not be curated in quite the same way as an interior designer would, but at the end of the day, you'll know what suits your aesthetic (and what makes you the happiest to look at), better than anyone else. Plus, you'll have a memento made by someone in the specific place you've traveled to. Just like that, you've got yourself a piece packed with meaning. 

Once you've picked your pottery, take a leaf from Berkus' book and wrap it carefully in your clothing. It'll be safe throughout the journey, and ready to decorate your home as soon as you walk through your front door. How's that for a charming reminder of your travels?