Can’t travel? Try these interior design tips to holiday at home
With vacation plans currently on hold for so many of us, invoking a holiday vibe at home with simple decor tweaks will help keep the wanderlust at bay.
The world’s greatest vacation rentals all have three things in common; great design, myriad creature comforts and elements which encourage us to simply ‘switch off’.
But with a few styling and interior design tweaks, it’s possible to bring a sense of escapism without even opening the front door.
Sarah Parry-Okeden, whose design company Wild Orchid Spaces specialises in luxury vacation home design, suggests incorporating rich textures and travel-inspired decor to bring a vacation-like feel to a home. And with travel restrictions in place and so many of us in lockdown, it’s a simple way to temporarily scratch those itchy feet.
“With all of us unable to travel at the moment, simple fixes in the home to de-clutter and freshen up our spaces can help to get us at least halfway to feeling those holiday vibes,” Parry-Okeden says. “People are investing in their homes more than ever – upgrading their beds, investing in art, adding a splash of fresh paint, extending their living areas or adding a fire pit to maximise the outdoor usage in winter. These are all little ways we can transport ourselves.”
Here, Parry-Okeden shares her top interior design and decorating tips to give our homes the holiday feeling so many of us are craving right now.
Bring the outside in
“Adding a plant, or even better, a cluster of plants to a front entrance, main living and even sleeping areas creates a synergy between the outdoors and in,” she says. This helps encourage a feeling of peace as well as helping to purify the air, which is important for maintaining a healthy home environment. For a bright option, Parry-Okeden suggests mass cane, or the Ficus elastica (rubber plant) for a darker, more refined look.
Creature comforts
There’s no need to invest in a mini bar, but a well-displayed tea and coffee station will bring a hotel feeling to any kitchen.
“Creating a space in the kitchen to accommodate and enhance an everyday pleasure such as making a tea or coffee for yourself brings on all the relaxing vibes and encourages you to start the day or night off right,” Parry-Okeden explains.
Consider displaying glass jars of loose herbal tisanes and a pair of handcrafted coffee mugs, and don’t forget the Italian coffee machine.
It’s all in the details
Finishing touches are really important in any holiday home, so consider incorporating elements such as travel-inspired coffee table books, plush throws and blankets and favourite pieces collected over the course of previous travels.
“Don’t be shy to add a few (throws and blankets) to each room on beds, couches and chairs,” Parry-Okeden suggests.
“This adds layers and texture to a space and evokes a sense of comfort.”
Invoke the senses
Sometimes just a whiff of a signature candle or soap is enough to whisk you back to the room or lobby of your favourite hotel, such is the power of scent. Adding a good-quality hand wash to your bathroom and a room candle or diffuser to your living space is a simple yet powerful way to give your home a resort vibe.
“Our go to soap for all our mountain and country homes is Australian born Hunter Lab hand and body wash followed by their nourishing lotion, and a Lumira candle for a beautiful aroma,” Parry-Okeden says.
Create a sleep sanctuary
With no alarms to set and the comfort of plush hotel linens, the best sleep happens on holidays. Recreate the ultimate dream space by investing in good quality sheets, warm lighting and a new pillow. “There is nothing better than going to bed and sleeping between beautiful sheets,” says Parry-Okeden.
Consider a fresh coat of paint
“Whether you feel like a change on the interior or exterior of your home, paint is the quickest way to achieve this,” she says. “A colourful accent wall inside provides visual interest without overwhelming the room with a strong colour.
The Sydney-based designer also recommends wallpaper as an interesting way to dress up a space. “Using wallpaper never fails to elevate your style and add visual interest to any space,” she adds. “Even choosing just one feature wall to dress with a paper adds a big impact.”
Switch things up
Simple changes can make a huge impact to a home without too much hassle. Add some drama to a room by swapping functional down lights or fans for a decorative pendant.
“A well placed pendant can do wonders for a space, taking it from boring to brilliant,” says Parry-Okeden, “(and) for a quick and easy upgrade to your kitchen cabinets and home furnishings, swap out the existing hardware with a new style to completely overhaul the whole look and feel of a room.”
Create a backyard or balcony oasis
Even the smallest outdoor spaces can be transformed into a lush retreat.
For a tropical or coastal feel, consider incorporating Colocasia gigantea (elephant ears), and try red banksia or kangaroo paw to add some colour. For a country retreat feel, look at olive trees and cherry blossoms.