Calendars are, arguably, one of the more underrated home decor pieces. Hanging a calendar on the wall or working a desk calendar into your home office is often regarded as a decor choice of utility. But if you chose a 2020 calendar by a local artist depicting travel scenes from around the world, you might find that a calendar unexpectedly elevates your home decor. For the traveler looking to bring more international imagery into their home, these calendars are a perfect mid-year purchase:
United States Cities, Ruff House Art
Aptly named, this 9” x 12” calendar brings the culture and energy of 12 U.S. cities—from Austin to NYC to Seattle—into your home. The designs, printed on ivory cardstock, are all by Ruff House Art founder Jill Shephard. Her shop is well-regarded on Etsy, and this calendar is a fan-favorite, each city illustration featuring landmarks and cultural elements for which the city is known (like bikes and coffee in Portland, and yellow cabs and the Empire State Building in NYC).
To buy: $22, Etsy.com
World Traveler, Rifle Paper Co.
This spiral-bound 2020 calendar is the perfect desk addition for anyone looking to satiate their travel craving. The calendar, by Rifle Paper Co., features global cities like Copenhagen and Sydney, as well as a few tropical illustrations of Haiti and other island destinations. Rifle Paper Co. is known for their artfully designed planners, calendars, and stationary. Founded by artists Anna and Nathan, an illustrator and musician respectively, the couple runs Rifle Paper Co. out of their studio in Winter Park, Florida.
To buy: $19, Amazon.com
Wanderlust 2020, 527Photo
This wire-bound calendar is 8” x 10”, making it an ideal hanging calendar, though small enough to place on your desk to brighten a home office. The calendar features 13 original images of Paris, Prague, Bruges, New York City, Positano, London, and Amsterdam. All photography is done by Heather of 527Photo. She specializes in fine art photography and specifically plays with pastels and light shades of pink to enhance her travel prints.
To buy: $29.95, Etsy.com
Italy Vintage Travel Posters, Pomegranate
The most iconic settings in Italy, from the beaches of Amalfi and the bluffs of Capri to the effervescence of the capital city, are captured in this calendar. Produced by small-scale publisher Pomegranate, the Italy Vintage Travel Posters calendar is “printed with soy-based inks on FSC® certified paper, which means the paper has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.” While an independent publisher produces this calendar, rather than showcasing independent artists, this captivating calendar is populated with vintage (primarily 1920s) posters pulled from tourism advertising campaigns.
To buy: $9.74, Calendars.com
Vintage International Travel Posters, YesterdayCafe
YesterdayCafe does vintage illustrations of luxurious international landmarks, and while they no longer have a selection of 2020 calendars, their 2021 calendar features Casablanca’s Hotel Excelsior, Grand Hotel de la Paix in Madrid, and several other Wes Anderson-chic properties. YesterdayCafe, based out of California, utilizes public domain images and their personal vintage-adjacent aesthetic tendencies to produce enthralling scenes from around the globe.
To buy: $21.95, Zazzle.com
Romantic Travel, Kai Carpenter
The compilation of 12 Kai Carpenter prints, each incorporating seasonal elements, showcases the artist’s “vintage Americana” aesthetic. With scenes from Rome, New Orleans, Cuba, India, and other exotic, romantic destinations, this calendar is an artistic celebration of the world’s most iconic landmarks and cities. The calendar is 10” x 13” and printed on “premium gallery-grade paper.”
To buy: $29.99, Anderson Design Group
Iceland Wall Calendar, Megan Miller
Megan Miller is responsible for the photography and design behind this calendar featuring stunning Icelandic scenery. The photos were all taken on her honeymoon and capture the natural beauty and timeless appeal of Iceland as a destination. As with all of Miller’s art and photography sold on Etsy, this 6” x 9” calendar is printed in Austin, Texas.
To buy: $24, Etsy.com
Flower Boxes of Charleston, Texture Design Company
This is one of Texture Design Company’s best-selling calendars, for good reason. The picturesque windows of Charleston really come to life in every illustration. Each page features a hand-drawn illustration by Texture Design Company’s founder Emily Kirby. The deliberate lines of the windows, symmetrical shutters, and beautifully colored flower boxes exude Charleston charm. A percentage of the proceeds generated by each calendar go to One80 Place, a homeless shelter in Charleston.
To buy: $19, Etsy.com
