Skip to Content
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Danny Lehman//Getty Images

Forget Where You Think You’re Going—These Are the 8 Travel Destinations Designers Are Gatekeeping for Inspiration

Add these spots to your travel bucket list.

By

Certain cities—like Paris, Rome, New York, and London—have long inspired designers for their beautiful architecture and vibrant design communities. But while these iconic destinations remain beloved for good reason, creative inspiration isn’t limited to just these locales. New destinations are constantly climbing to the top of designers’ travel itineraries, offering fresh sources of inspiration through striking architecture, vibrant color palettes, and unforgettable decor.

From palatial temples in India and tile-lined streets in Morocco to UNESCO World Heritage sites in Mexico, these are the destinations shaping the next wave of creative-focused travel. As you’re planning your next vacation, here are the eight places designers are flocking to now.

1

Rajasthan, India

Chittorgarh Fort
anand purohit//Getty Images

There’s plenty of beautiful architecture all around India, but the state of Rajasthan might be best known for the country’s stunning buildings, historic forts, and intricate interiors. For Next Wave designer Blair Moore, the luxury safari camp Suján Sher Bagh is particularly inspirational.

“The interiors were developed alongside local artisans, which is something I try to bring into each of our projects,” the founder of Moore House Design explains. “They feel deeply authentic, celebrating process, irregularity, and the human hand rather than perfection.” She uses this idea in her work, making her clients’ homes feel more instinctive rather than overly composed and inauthentic.

Popular cities to visit in Rajasthan are Jaipur, Udaipur, and Jodhpur—you won’t leave uninspired.

2

New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA architecture, brick wall building with balconies and intricate ironwork columns in a street of the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana
Delpixart//Getty Images

New Orleans is possibly one of the most soulful cities in the United States, with a storied history that starts well before European colonization and still impacts American culture today. Designer Sarah Stacey, part of the 2026 Next Wave class, grew up in southern Louisiana and credits the exciting city for her eclectic and fearless design style, still considering it one of the most inspiring destinations today.

She explains that New Orleans “doesn’t perform for anyone,” it’s excessive and indulgent for no other reason besides it simply can be. Stacey calls it gritty, layered, a little witchy, and unapologetic, and anyone with an eye for design can see that’s the same energy the designer brings to her work.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Kyoto, Japan

Tranquil Sunset Over Kyoto Traditional Street
Francesco Riccardo Iacomino//Getty Images

Modern luxuries and traditional design meet in Kyoto, Japan, and that’s exactly what designer Ashley Wilkins of Islyn Studio loves about it.

“Every day unfolds slowly, revealing some new form of beauty through quiet moments and small details,” she explains. Japan is known for its more minimalist design style, and while Kyoto reflects that sentiment, it does so through exquisite craftsmanship.

“Some of my favorite memories there are impossible to separate from the feeling of the city itself,” Wilkins adds. “Eating fresh fish beside an open hearth while drinking sake brewed from melted snow in the northern mountains, then being led to hidden bars invisible from the street, filled with antique glassware and shelves of impossibly old spirits.” The city shows restraint through its aesthetics, something that lingers long after one leaves.

4

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Danny Lehman//Getty Images

It’s no surprise that the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende is so inspiring to designer Emily Janak—it is a UNESCO World Heritage site, after all. Located in the central region of the country, this almost 500-year-old city boasts architecture of various styles and covering multiple eras, such as neo-Gothic, Baroque, neoclassical, and Spanish colonial.

That architecture and thoughtful craftsmanship are what draws Janak to the destination. “I already source from several makers there, and there’s a consistent thread in their work that translates beautifully to the American West—both visually and functionally,” the Next Wave designer says.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

Marrakech, Morocco

sunset landscape with reflection in the water in Marrakech
Eduardo R//Getty Images

“Untouched” is how Next Wave designer Abigail Marcelo describes Marrakech, Morocco.

“The culture and architecture exist in a kind of beautiful suspension, and that sense of timelessness is instantly transportive,” the founder of Casa Marcelo explains.

Marrakech, known for its vibrant buildings, intricate tilework, and blended architecture, charmed Marcelo, making it one of her go-to spots for increasing her creativity. It’s the attention to detail found throughout the city that really strikes the designer. No matter what hotel she stays in, every single one features some elaborate detailing with the architecture and decor.

“And then there's the iconic Marrakchi pink color,” Marcelo adds. “Warm, dusty, and utterly effortless, it saturates the walls and light in a way that somehow becomes its own kind of neutral.”

6

Bangkok, Thailand

The Marble Temple in Bankgok Thailand. Locally known as Wat Benchamabophit.
kundoy//Getty Images

One of the most vibrant and inspiring cities you can visit is Bangkok, Thailand, according to designer Samah Nawar. The founder of Nawar Designs is from South Asia but is based in Virginia, and she credits this capital city for reintroducing her to how color can exist in everyday living.

“I love to play with color, and I believe the spaces I create should spark joy in the people who move through them. Bangkok understood this before I walked in,” Nawar explains.

Bangkok beautifully integrates traditional architecture into a modern concrete jungle, pulling hues from the land to give the destination life. “Bangkok is where I go to remember that a room can be joyful without apology, and that the most inspiring spaces are built by people who know exactly where their colors came from,” she adds.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Venice, Italy

Wide angle view of an empty double arch bridge over a canal in Venice, in the Castello Quarter during the day, with colorful red residential buildings reflecting in calm water, UNESCO World Heritage Site - Venice - Veneto - Italy.
Clement LEONARD//Getty Images

Venice, also called the Floating City, is beloved for its many charming canals, elite boutique hotels, and shopping destinations. It’s also essentially a living museum, showing off myriad architectural eras, from Byzantine to Baroque to Gothic. However, designer Géraldine Dohogne loves it most for the Venice Biennale, a cultural exhibition where art, architecture, interiors, and atmosphere “are in constant dialogue, creating environments that feel alive, evolving, and culturally engaged.”

It’s here, during this event which only happens every two years, that London-based Dohogne feels deeply inspired, crediting the way the historic grandeur “becomes a stage for contemporary expression,” she explains. “The old world meets today’s creativity in a way that feels entirely relevant to our current way of living.”

8

Mexico City, Mexico

Metropolitan Cathedral Rear View, Plaza de la Constitucion, Mex
Thom Lang//Getty Images

Though Marie Cloud hasn’t yet been to Mexico City, the Next Wave designer finds that its architecture and design constantly pull her in. The capital city has recently become well-known to the American masses for its rich cultural scene surrounding interiors and home decor, but it has long been an influential spot for design.

Designer Coco Greenblum, who has visited this storied city, echoes this idea and calls out the way old and new seamlessly coexist. “There’s such a strong sense of history, yet the contemporary design scene feels incredibly new and forward-thinking,” she adds.

The spaces that most often catch Cloud’s attention are the hotels and restaurants, even though the designer specializes in the residential space at Indigo Pruitt Design Studio. “Those spaces do something most interiors don't: they make you feel the culture before anyone says a word,” Cloud says. “The materials, the color, the way a room is composed—it's all intentional in a way that feels ancient and completely current at the same time.” She likes to chase this same tension in her work for her clients.


Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

Watch Next
Video poster
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Stay Ahead with Expert Tips

Join 50,000+ homeowners getting weekly expert advice on interior design and lifestyle tips.

✓ No spam ✓ Unsubscribe anytime ✓ Expert content only