Doing it in style: Decorating that vacation home
If you’re fortunate enough to own a vacation home, it’s likely you’re very excited to begin decorating it. Although a vacation home can be very enjoyable, making it a comfortable and relaxing place to be can present with a few challenges. Laurie Herzog proprietor of Home Xpressions in Minocqua, WI has some time and money saving advice that will help to make your second home feel cozy, comfortable and easy to manage.
Many people purchase vacation homes several hours away from their permanent home. Knowing where to go for decorating solutions and finding the time to put it all together can be troublesome. A home designer can help you furnish your home from top to bottom in less time than it may take you; especially if you are traveling a fair distance between your two homes.
Look at your second home as a great opportunity to start over again and be creative. It’s a chance to add design elements that might have been missed when you bought or built your first home. Since this home is all about having a fun and relaxing time with family and friends, you can toss out the rulebook and create a special place that you’ll enjoy visiting year after year.
Remember that the location should have a great impact on how you design your home. An interior designer can help you find a way to balance your personal style and comfort so you love spending time there.
When decorating a vacation home, you want it to be comfortable and stylish yet you also want flooring and furniture that is high quality and durable so it can withstand punishment from guests tracking in the outdoor elements.
Select a hard working floor that can stand up to sandy feet, lake water or snowy boots. Materials like tile, stone and hardwood flooring are highly durable, resistant to spills and accidents and easy to clean and maintain. Recycled woods make for great rustic flooring. There are so many styles and design choices available that it is easy to create a warm and inviting design while being practical. Avoid carpet (area rugs and door mats make a nice touch), laminates and soft woods that don’t wear well against high traffic and water.
Keep your design casual and cozy. While on vacation you will be less likely to use formal living spaces. Look for soft leathers and warm woods that convey relaxation. This is not the home for fine china and delicate furnishings, especially if you have lots of guests.
Keep the clutter to a minimum. Accessorizing with larger items rather than small glass nick-knacks helps with the upkeep of dusting and makes it less likely items will be broken.
Many people buy new furniture for their permanent home and put old pieces in their vacation home. This sounds efficient, but if it looked old and tired at home, will you look forward to seeing it on vacation? Choose sofas that are deep for curling up in with a good book, fabrics in warm colors or soft leather chairs for that afternoon nap.
Choose beds and bedding that are comfortable and long lasting. Quality mattresses and cotton bedding is vital for comfort, ease in washing and helps ensure a good night’s sleep.
Bring the things you love about the outdoor setting around your vacation home into the interior of your home. The décor should reflect your surroundings but also be personal, so ask your interior designer to help you define your style. Then, enjoy choosing art and other decorative pieces that reflect who you are, that feel special and that you can look at fondly on your next visit.
The best advice I can give is to hire a professional interior designer who will know what works best in your environment. He/she will help define your exact needs, develop a budget you want to work within, and help you achieve a place of relaxation and beauty in a timely fashion.
Remember why you have a vacation home: to relax and renew. Enjoy!
This article appeared in the August 12, 2011 Issue of The Lakeland Times.
