Restricted travel and cancelled trips away means we’ll all be staying closer to home this year. Here’s how you can create a vacation vibe at home so you can holiday without leaving the house.

Use a summery colour palette

What’s your favourite place to holiday and what colours are on display there? Do you love the chalky pastels of Morocco? The crisp blues and whites of Santorini? Or the festival brights of Mexico? Let your favourite destinations inspire a colour palette at your place that makes you feel like you’re on holiday all year round. Some colours that will help you channel summertime are coral, yellow, blue, flamingo pink, seafoam blue, turquoise or sage green (don’t team all these colours together unless you want to make a real statement!). If coloured walls are not your style start with a neutral base like fresh white and bring one or two of these accent colours by way of layered homewares such as cushions, bedlinen, homewares and art.

The colour palette in this home is inspired by Palm Springs and features white, sandy tones and pastel blue to pop against the blue sky.

Create a relaxation zone outdoors

No summer holiday is complete without some time relaxing on a lounger. Choose a sunny spot to set up an outdoor living zone with loungers or chairs and a side table. Make your favourite cocktail or mocktail, put on some escapist music, grab a magazine or book and settle in for a few hours in the sun.

I positioned two white sunloungers close to the garden for a view of palm trees every day of the week.

Manicure your gardens

Resorts often feature gardens that create a restful atmosphere and help you relax on holiday. Layering is used as a technique to achieve a green wall effect with taller plants positioned at the rear, mid-size in the centre layer and smaller at front. Fragrant flowers and creepers add a sensory element, paths add an element of discovering around every turn, and lighting on garden beds and mounted on walls creates yet another atmosphere in the evening. Spend some time in your own garden considering how to make it more experiential – even if it’s just a balcony garden!

These gardens feature white limestone chip, succulents, cacti and palms to evoke a holiday vibe.

Create a hotel-style bedroom

Treat yourself to high threadcount sheets, good quality bedlinen, and stacked cushions for reading and relaxing. Add a comforter that can be folded back for temperature control and comfort and have bedside table lamps and candles for evening atmosphere. Create another zone in the room by adding chair, side table and lamp next to the window for reading, relaxing and enjoying a different viewpoint. I’m not sure calling room service will work, but you can always add a bottle of water and some mints next to the bed for a truly realistic hotel experience!

I replaced the windows in this bedroom with sliders to achieve a closer connection with the outdoors.

Explore your neighbourhood

Wandering around holiday destinations and exploring all the secret spots they have to offer is part of the joy of a vacation. Act like a tourist in your own town. Try out new coffee spots, find different viewpoints, visit the markets and dine out locally. Taking a guided tour in your own city or town may not sound that exciting, but you’ll be surprised what you learn!

Champion the details

Great holiday homes have that extra attention to detail. Try adding a console table at your entranceway with a bowl for keys and basket for shoes. Put bespoke soap in your bathroom and scented candles in the living spaces. Have a basket of blankets on hand for guests and interesting coffee table books to browse. Install a fire pit outside where you can wrap up in blankets, toast marshmallows and watch the stars. Adding features that inspire different experiences than your usual make you feel like you’re discovering new experiences without having to leave the house.Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Rolled up blankets in a brass planter box can be moved around to keep guests warm all year round.

Use breezy curtains

Seeing floor to ceiling sheer curtains dance in the breeze evokes a holiday feel. Sheers are a great option in rooms you don’t need blockout such as over living room sliders, as they create privacy but still let in natural light.

The sheers in this home puddle on the ground to achieve a dreamy look.

Use natural materials

Many of us enjoy holidays where we can get close to nature. Take inspiration from resorts you like and develop a palette of natural materials that create one cohesive look and feel. If you like the Balinese look include bamboo poles, teak, thatching and stone. If Europe is more your style then bricks, ceramic tiles, plastered concrete and wooden shutters will help achieve this aesthetic.