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Inspiring interior design ideas for your holiday home

UK Home Improvement

Inspiring Interior Design Ideas For Your Holiday Home

Buying a holiday property offers a wonderful opportunity to create a home away from home. From charming cottages to cosy caravans and lodges for sale around the UK, your new digs should be a haven of relaxation. But with a different purpose to your full-time home and often limited space to work with, designing your ideal retreat can be a challenge.

Still, with a little creativity and careful consideration, it’s one you can confidently overcome! Plus, with the number of second homes in England increasing in the past decade, there are plenty of helpful resources available. Here are five ways to create a space you can’t wait to visit.

Embrace Local Charm

One of the most effective ways to make a space feel like a holiday home is by incorporating elements that reflect the charm and character of its surroundings.

You might embrace a rustic aesthetic for a mountain lodge, for example, and highlight exposed beams and stone. Or you could embrace the beach with neutral colour palettes with blue and grey hints in the furnishings for a coastal property.

Alternatively, you might want to make more subtle nods to your location. Using locally sourced materials such as slate from Cornwall or wool from the Lake District is one way to achieve this. 

Prioritise Comfort

While aesthetic touches go a long way, the last thing you want to be on holiday is uncomfortable. Invest in plush seating, bedding and soft furnishings, and opt for durable materials if you plan to rent yours out when you’re not using it. Hard flooring is a good option in downstairs living areas as it makes for easy cleaning and can be made cosy by adding washable rugs.

If you’re tight on space in a lodge or static caravan, multi-purpose furniture can make your life much easier. Consider what extras you might need to find space for, such as bike or beach gear. Hanging shelves and built-in benches, beds and ottomans are all great space-saving solutions. 

Inject Your Personality

Personal touches and amenities can help your holiday bolthole feel extra special. 

Make things homely with souvenirs and family photos from your travels, including adventures in the surrounding area. Then include a range of entertainment options for relaxed evenings or rainy days, like your favourite board games, books and films.  

However, if you plan to welcome guests, try and keep the artwork generic, perhaps buy paintings or photographs from a local artist of the area, and in keeping with the interior design theme you have chosen. Strangers don’t necessarily want to feel like they are encroaching on someone’s private home with family photos on the mantel. Providing a welcome basket and local guidebooks is also a nice touch to help them settle in right away.  

Change With The Seasons

The British weather can’t be trusted, with a cold, wet spring putting a dampener on the staycation boom. Still, you can make various efforts to keep your place inviting all year round. 

If you have the option to add a log burner into the lounge this is a great way to add cosiness on a cold day. Position armchairs as well as a sofa for the ultimate cosy retreat. Adding an area near the door for muddy shoes and wet coats will stop any dirt from making it into the rest of the living areas. 

Choose versatile furnishings and décor that you can easily update to reflect the time of year, such as fresh flowers and cosy throws. 

Don’t Forget the Outdoor Space

If your holiday home has an outdoor area, it’s essential that you make it an extension of your indoor living space. Create a patio area and add seating or an outdoor dining table, for those long summer evenings that lend themselves to alfresco dining. Add outdoor cushions, fairy lights and lanterns for extra atmosphere and provide a BBQ for those who like to cook outdoors.

Add colourful plants and features to attractive wildlife. Screening the outdoor space off will create privacy too and a safe space for any children to play. If the garden is a south-facing sun trap, provide areas of shade with an umbrella. A fire pit can be a good choice if you are looking to use the garden long into Autumn. 

Are you feeling inspired? Keep these in mind to create a welcoming, memorable home for you and your guests. 

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