Do you dream of new places but want to feel the wanderlust every day? With maps, charts and geographical motifs you can create a subtle travel feeling at home – without letting the interior become a themed hotel. The secret lies in how you combine motifs, colours, materials and placement so that the wall art speaks the same language as the rest of the room.
Choose motifs according to space and rhythm
Hallways and entrances benefit from the sense of overview in a world map or a stylized city plan. In the living room, a large canvas with a geographical expression – a coastline, a topographical pattern or an architectural icon – acts as a calm backdrop. In the kitchen, nautical charts or old trade routes create conversation topics, while the bedroom thrives with softer, muted maps in beige, gray and misty blue to promote rest.
A practical guideline: hang the center point at about 145 cm above the floor. Do you have a sofa? Let the painting be 2/3 of the width of the furniture and leave 15–25 cm between the sofa back and the frame. This will make the wall art feel integrated into the room, not like a standalone object.
Color palette and materials that enhance the journey
The choice of colors dictates the travel feel. Sepia tones and warm beiges add patina and history (think antique maps), while steel gray, navy blue, and white evoke nautical charts and Nordic coastlines. In Scandinavian homes, oak frames work for warmth, black aluminum for modernity, and brass when you want to add an elegant hotel feel. Canvas with a light linen feel provides a texture reminiscent of classic map paper.
Build a picture wall that tells a story
Mix maps with travel details: a small coordinate poster of your favorite café, a black and white aerial photograph, an old train ticket in a passepartout. Vary the scale – a larger central map surrounded by smaller frames adds dynamism. Try a casual salon hanging with 6–8 pieces and keep an even row at the top for structure. We often see clients become more confident when they first lay everything out on the floor and photograph the arrangement before drilling.
Iconic landmarks as counterpoint
Maps benefit from the company of city skylines and landmarks – it creates a visual journey between overview and moment. A good example is Steel Symmetry , an abstract interpretation of the Eiffel Tower in beige and dark tones. Place it next to a minimalist Paris map: the map adds structure, the Eiffel Tower adds feeling. Together, they create depth and direction in the space.
Lighting that highlights details
Geographical motifs benefit from directed, soft lighting. Use adjustable spotlights 2700–3000 K for warm maps, and slightly cooler 3000–3500 K for marine motifs. Avoid direct sunlight to protect pigments and paper. Do you have glazed frames? Choose anti-reflective or place the light at a 30–45 degree angle to minimize reflections.
Deepen expression with shape and texture
Topographic lines and nautical charts have an inherent graphic language. Reinforce this by repeating lines in the interior: ribbed paneling, striped textiles or a carpet border in the same color as the map outlines. We often work with two tricks: double passepartout (a narrow inner border in an accent color) and narrow frame profile (7–12 mm) to let the motif dominate without feeling heavy.
When abstract paintings meet maps
A well-chosen abstract painting can be the link between different geographical motifs. Structures, color fields and rhythm reflect the same ideas as in cartography: layers, hierarchy, direction. Please read our guidePaintings with Abstract Motifs: How to Create a Modern Expression to understand how abstraction can balance the factual basis of maps and give the room a modern pulse.
Our experiences from customers' homes
In many homes, the overall look is best when maps are placed not as the main role but as part of a room's story: a coastal map in the dining room combined with natural materials, a world map in the hall next to family travel photos, and an iconic landmark in the living room as an emotional point. We recommend that you start with the room's function and light, choose 2–3 colors from the room and let the motifs connect to them. Then the travel feeling feels authentic – like an extension of your everyday life.
Quick pro tips
- Scale: large paintings over larger furniture, smaller maps in groups to add weight.
- Coordinates: add a small coordinate poster over the location that matters most.
- Frames: oak for warm maps, black metal for marine motifs, brass for elegant contrast.
- Location: 145 cm in the center and 4–6 cm between frames in a picture wall.
- Material mix: canvas + glazed map provides both soft texture and sharp detail.
Do you want to feel Paris, Rome or the archipelago at home? Start with a geographical motif that speaks to you, add an iconic silhouette as a counterpoint and let color and material guide the journey.