tuesday tip: decorate with maps

I love vintage maps, nautical charts, road maps, all maps! Decorating with them is a fabulous, inexpensive way to add a dash or more of character, color, and interest to walls, doors, and almost any surface. If you already own the maps, even better. Dig them out from under your car seats and pull them down from the attic. Because although this trend has been around a while, I for one think it's not going anywhere.


This is the image that got me started, one of the most beautiful uses of maps I've seen, from the 2009 Charleston Idea House. Beautiful soft colors. These are real nautical charts bought at a bargain from a South Carolina Habitat for Humanity ReStore. My point? This designer look is totally diy- and budget-friendly. 

 

Steven Gambrel's boy's bedroom with map walls, via House Beautiful. Maps make a perfect match for the fun and casual styles of kids' rooms.


They're not just for kids though. Love this relaxed office papered with city maps.

pointclickhome.com

Ideal in an entryway.

Pottery Barn

Or a hall. Love the soft colors here.


This hall, and the bedroom wall below, covered with old maps feel like they could be in a cabin on a lake somewhere. Or maybe the maps show the region your lake house is in, and you bring the maps home to remind you of vacation!

domino

And maps need not cover the entire wall to do the trick.

Southern Living

Hang antique rolled maps as shades. Brilliant!


I would give this gorgeous map pride of place above a bed as a headboard.


And my favorite idea: paper the panels of a door. I so want to try this!

{all uncredited photos courtesy nibs and fric and frac}

3 comments

Unknown said...

This is great! I have a nautical map- of the San Francisco bay... and it's been on my 'To do' list to find a suitable frame to hang it. Thanks for the lovely inspiration!!! xoxo, Richelle

casey at loft and cottage said...

Or just paste it to the wall as shown in some of these images! Whatever you do, I'd love to see--send a pic or post on your blog about it!

PhotoPuddle said...

Some fabulous map idea here! I love maps!