Photos instead of fruit: You've never used your bowl like this before
2.7.2026
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Pia Seidel
Found in a furniture store in Tulum: a decor trick so simple I almost overlooked it.
During my last trip to Mexico, I was in a small furniture store called Terreo Interiorismo in Tulum when I noticed a bowl of photos on a side table. No frame, no album – just loose pictures stacked on top of each other, as if someone had carelessly tossed them there. That's exactly what makes it so appealing.
Back in Zurich, a little later, I stumbled upon the same principle on Pinterest, under the title "Polaroid Bowl." User Kelly Jo shows how to replicate the trick – and it made me smile. Because effectively, all you're doing is putting a few Polaroids in a bowl. Since I almost overlooked this hack, I want to share it today.
Why this hack works so well
You can use Polaroids, but also printed photos, postcards, or small travel souvenirs.
Hardly anyone takes the time to print photos anymore, let alone meticulously glue them into an album. The bowl elegantly bypasses these last hurdles.
The top photo can be changed at any time, unlike a coffee-table book, which always shows the same cover. Bowls that would otherwise gather dust in the kitchen cupboard finally get a purpose.
Because the object of desire lies there, like a fruit or serving bowl, you and your visitors will automatically reach into it more often and browse through the souvenirs.
How to implement this trick in your home
The easiest way to achieve the Polaroid Bowl look is with a vessel you already own: a ceramic bowl from the dining room or a tray with a rim. The only important thing is that it attracts attention, for example, on the coffee table, sideboard, or a bookshelf.
Fill your chosen vessel with a mix that means something to you: vacation photos, snapshots with your loved ones, a few postcards from previous trips. The more personal the mix, the more likely the Polaroid Bowl will become a conversation starter when guests come over. The top photo can be swapped out at any time – depending on the season, mood, or visitors. This keeps the decor lively without having to refill the entire bowl.
And if you're still missing the right piece: these are my favorites.
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
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