With the short days and frosty temperatures, winter can be a difficult time for many. Once the excitement of Christmas is all over, there are still several weeks left to endure until spring rears its head. You may find yourself desperately wishing for the sun to come out and the flowers to bloom, so you can put all this cold and darkness behind you.
Perhaps you wish you could be on vacation right now, sitting in a deckchair on the beach, sipping a fruity cocktail and gazing out over the ocean. Although there are many travel destinations that are warm this time of year, it will most likely involve flying halfway round the world and spending a great deal of money to get there. Not always achievable, especially when finances are tight before and after the festive period.
Unfortunately, you may just have to wait until summer before enjoying your next vacation. However, there is still a way you can experience the benefits of travel without even leaving your home. By making some changes to the decor and layout of your house, you can feel as though you’re on vacation at any time.
If you’re not sure how to achieve this effect, here are a few tips for making your home feel like a holiday.
Declutter
One of the amazing things about going on vacation is the ability to leave behind all the stress of home. You get to spend several days in a brand new location, exploring the sights and sounds by day, and relaxing in the comfort and cleanliness of your accommodation at night. Whether it’s a hotel, a villa, or an AirBnb, you’re not going to be staying in a place that is messy or untidy. So why should you allow your standards to slip when at home? If your living space is cluttered and chaotic, you’re never going to enjoy the same level of tranquility you would on vacation.
Make an effort to declutter your home, in order to make your space more inviting and calming. Start off by clearing out anything you don’t want to keep. This means old clothes you never wear, old DVDs and CDs that don’t get used anymore, and anything else that doesn’t bring joy or function into your life. Systematically go through each room and get rid of as much as possible. You can always sell it or donate to charity if you don’t want to be wasteful.
Now you need to keep your home clean and tidy. Make sure every single item has its own dedicated place, as this will keep mess off the floors and surfaces. If something doesn’t have a suitable spot to live, consider investing in some more storage solutions. Once your home is tidy, it’s essential you adopt good habits to ensure it doesn’t become messy again. This means washing dishes immediately after meals and clearing floors and surfaces before bed each night.
Let the sun in
Now that you have more room in which to work, it’s time to make your home feel brighter and warmer. Even if it is the middle of winter, there are still a good few hours of sunlight to enjoy each day. Letting as much daylight in as possible will help your mental health and make you feel happier and more positive. Keep curtains and blinds open as long as possible, and move any large items like wardrobes away from the windows. You could even consider rearranging your furniture so areas of high use are positioned to receive the most sun throughout the day. If there are any large bushes or trees outside that are blocking sunlight from entering, you could also give them a trim to let in the light.
Display travel souvenirs
If you are the type of person who collects mementos and souvenirs from your travels, they should not be locked up in a box or a cupboard somewhere. Travel is one of the most valuable and enjoyable experiences you can have in life, and the memories should be savored and celebrated.
Whether it’s seashells, ornaments, or locally-made embroidery, these items should take pride of place in your home. Display them on walls, shelves, and mantelpieces so you and your family can enjoy them at any time and reminisce about your experiences together. No matter how dark and depressing it may get outside, you’ll always be able to remember the amazing trips you have been on, and the reminder will get you excited for the next one.
Put up framed photos
Most of us take plenty of photos when we go on holiday, but do you actually do anything with these pictures? If you’re like the vast majority of travelers, you probably post them on special media then forget about them. But these are some of the best memories of your life. Why would you not want to be reminded about them all the time? Pick a selection of your absolute favorite vacation snaps and have them professionally printed and framed. Hang them on walls or prop them up on shelves all around your home.
Appeal to all five senses
Home decor is not just about aesthetics. There are so many methods for making your home feel like a holiday, and appealing to your other four senses is a fantastic way to achieve this. Scent is possibly the most powerful of the senses, as it is closely linked with memory and can be used to summon up memories of beautiful trips you have taken in the past. Buying candles and incense with smells from exotic locations will create a pleasant aroma in your home at all times, while cooking your favorite foreign dishes will have the same effect. Play music and films from different countries and fill your home with a myriad of colors, textures, patterns, and designs from around the world.
Add exotic decor
Winter is a good time to work on your home. You spend more time indoors and you can make the most of this by completing any repairs and renovation work you’ve been putting off. Use this opportunity to add some new exotic decor that reminds you of your favorite travel destinations and whisks you away from home. Laying some terracotta tile can give your house a Mediterranean feel, while natural materials and sleek curves will give your home a more Scandinavian hygge feel.
Patterns are very important when incorporating global decor techniques. Depending on the vibe you want to go for, you may wish to adopt Asian floral designs, Indian mandalas, or African batiks. Put down Aztec rugs and Spanish-style mosaics, or add colors to your walls and furnishings to create the desired effect. You may wish to create a calming, placid effect using light pastel shades. Alternatively, you may wish to choose bolder, more vibrant colors to simulate Middle Eastern bazaars or European palaces. The options are endless.
Spend time outdoors
The idea of spending time outdoors during the coldest time of year may sound counterintuitive, but it’s the best way to recreate the feel of being on holiday. If you have a garden or other outdoor space, why not make this a comfortable place to hang out even in winter? Add a fire pit so the whole family can gather round and warm up while toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate. If you have the time and inclination, you could even build your own pizza oven.
If temperatures are really low, you may need to also invest in some patio heaters as well as some comfortable furniture and soft blankets your family can drape themselves in. If you have the right equipment, everyone will have a great time and forget about the cold and darkness.
Add some greenery
No home is complete with a selection of houseplants. Spreading some greenery around your house is a great way to create a tropical feel that will remind of warmer climates and good times had with family and friends. You don’t have to turn your home into a jungle, but a plant or two in each room can really change the whole aesthetic and feel of a living space. Not to mention the fact that plants have a proven benefit to mental health and can actually purify the air in a confined space.
Head to your local garden center and browse the aisles for some plants that create the exotic vibe you’re going for. Cacti are a great option, as there are so many different varieties and they are all incredibly easy to look after. Even the least green-fingered homeowner will have no trouble keeping a cactus alive. Other great options include yucca, bonsai trees, and bird of paradise.
By following these home decor tips, hopefully you will be able to keep the winter blues away and feel as though you are on vacation without even leaving the house. Although it’s no substitute for a proper holiday, these tricks and techniques will keep you going until summer rolls around and you’re finally able to enjoy your travels.
