The Golden Age of Wanderlust: Styling Art Deco Travel Posters for a Sophisticated Home
Art Deco travel posters turn the promise of a journey into striking graphic design. Bold lettering, simplified forms and confident colour make a destination feel memorable before you have even arrived. On a wall at home, those same qualities can bring structure, warmth and a little wanderlust to an everyday space.
You do not need an entirely period-styled room to enjoy them. A vintage poster can sit comfortably beside contemporary furniture, provided its scale and palette suit the setting. This guide explores three different looks, with practical advice on choosing and displaying a print.
Start by browsing our vintage travel posters collection, or use the examples below to find a direction that appeals to you.
What gives Art Deco travel posters their appeal?
Many travel advertisements of the 1920s and 1930s used the visual language associated with Art Deco: strong geometry, stylised figures, bold typography and an emphasis on modern life. Railway journeys, seaside holidays and aviation became subjects for distinctive compositions.
Not every vintage travel poster is Art Deco, and not every Art Deco design is symmetrical. What often connects these works is their ability to simplify a scene into a memorable arrangement of colour and shape.
For interiors, that graphic clarity is useful. A strong diagonal can add energy to a room; a large area of colour can introduce an accent; and a distinctive destination can give the artwork personal meaning.
For a lively entrance: Brightest London by Horace Taylor
Brightest London by Horace Taylor (1924) captures the city through a procession of well-dressed passengers. Orange escalators create strong lines through the image, while coats, hats and faces supply small details to discover.
It is an inviting choice for an entrance or hallway: a picture about movement in a space people move through. The orange and deep-blue elements could connect with a cushion, ceramic or other small accent elsewhere in your home.
Keep the surroundings relatively simple. The poster already contains plenty of activity, so it does not need a crowded shelf directly beneath it to make an impression.
For a graphic home office: New York Municipal Airports
The New York Municipal Airports poster by Harry Herzog (1930s) uses aircraft, strong diagonals and large lettering to create a sense of momentum. Cream forms stand out against a red sky, above a blue-grey text panel.
This restrained but forceful palette suits a workspace where you want one clear focal point. Pair it with simple furniture and let the red act as the room's main colour accent, rather than surrounding it with several equally bright pieces.
A dark frame could echo the lettering, while a lighter finish could pick up the aircraft. Treat those as styling possibilities, then check the product's actual frame and size options before choosing.
For a warm living room: Ostende, Belgium
The Ostende travel poster (1920s) offers a more leisurely mood. A large yellow parasol, red clothing and purple sky turn the beach scene into a colourful composition, framed by prominent destination lettering.
For a living room, pick up one of its warmer tones in a small accessory and allow the remaining colours to provide contrast. Neutral walls and natural textures can give the poster space to stand out without making the room feel like a period set.
This is also a good reminder to choose a destination because it means something to you. A remembered holiday, a family connection or simply a place you hope to visit can make travel art more rewarding to live with.
How to style a travel-poster gallery wall
Choose a shared thread
Connect your prints through an artist, region, subject or palette. Aviation posters could form one group; coastal destinations another. A shared idea makes the arrangement feel considered without requiring every image to look alike.
Plan the layout before hanging
Use paper templates to represent the complete framed dimensions. Check the gaps between prints and the relationship to nearby furniture. A tidy row works well when the frames have similar proportions; mixed sizes may suit a looser arrangement.
Let the typography breathe
Lettering is often central to the design. Avoid cropping the artwork to fit a frame or hiding destination names behind an unsuitable mount. Check how the full image will be presented before ordering.
Choosing a print and frame: what to check
Vintage poster reproductions and original historical posters are different purchases. Check the product description so you know which you are buying, along with the print dimensions, paper information and any framing options.
Terms such as giclée describe a printing method, not an unconditional promise that colours can never fade. Materials, display conditions and care all matter. Keep artwork away from prolonged direct sunlight, damp conditions and sources of heat.
Glazing also varies. Standard acrylic or glass should not automatically be assumed to offer specialist UV protection or an anti-reflective finish. If those features matter for your chosen spot, look for explicit specifications.
Finally, judge scale in the room rather than on a screen. Mark the intended dimensions on your wall, including the frame, and view them from the doorway and nearby seating. One well-proportioned poster can have more impact than a larger print squeezed into an awkward space.
Bring a little wanderlust home
The most successful travel-poster display balances a design you love with a place you care about. Choose the artwork first, then use its colour, proportions and subject to guide the styling around it.
Explore our vintage travel posters collection for more city, coastal and transport-inspired designs. For a different regional focus, discover the vintage Australian travel posters collection.