My idea of a winter holiday usually means getting on a plane and escaping to warmer climates, but this year with my sister finally being able to visit after three long years (thank you global pandemic), we’re staying put and upping our winter staycation vibes.
There is also something to be said for taking time out and enjoying the comfort and sanctuary of your own home, as well as exploring your own city. Adopting a few self-care rituals can also turn your staycation into a spa and wellness retreat. The fact that many self-care rituals are low cost and happen right at home make them even more appealing.
These easy design updates can help up your winter staycation vibes and turn your home into a tranquil retreat, full of positivity – a place where you can relax and recharge in the comfort of your holiday home!
Separate Work and Play
Even if you live in a small spaces, you can still keep your work life and home life separate. Visual cues are a great way to delineate the different spaces form each other, so you mentally register when you are in one space or the other.
It’s as easy as using using different rugs to visually separate the two spaces. Painting your home office different to the rest of your home is also a great way to separate the two areas, as they will have different personality.
Since both the housemate and I work from home full time, I used this trick to create a different feeling in our office – which is painted black with lots of wood – to our living spaces – which are all white. This way when we move from the darkness of our office into the light of our living spaces, it definitely feels like we have left the working day behind us. Similarly you can use wallpaper or artwork to create a different feeling between the two spaces.
While I know there is a very real temptation to work from home in your track pants, try to make sure you dress in your work clothes for work. I’m not sure about you, but if I dress the part for the working day, then I feel more focussed and ready. If I’m in my lounge clothes, it reflects in my attitude for the day, and I found myself being easily distracted and lazy. Then change out of your work clothes at the end of the day. This is also a good signal to yourself that the working day has ended.
Image Source: The Stables
Declutter
There is something about walking into your clean and tidy hotel suite that is instantly relaxing. To re-create this feeling at home, you’re going to need to spend a little time tidying up your house and removing unnecessary clutter from surfaces. It’s been scientifically proven that a clean, clear space translates into a clear mind – and what is more relaxing than that?!
A streamlined approach is essential to achieving a peaceful space, so start by removing any furniture or décor that isn’t useful or doesn’t truly bring you joy. Even if you put it all in a box in the cupboard with a To Do sign for later, start your staycation right by keeping things tidy on the surface.
If the process of organisation brings you a sense of accomplishment, use this extra time to corral smaller items like loose odds and ends into chic containers, trays and baskets, and recycling or throwing away what’s of no use.
After your purge, walk through each room making sure your eye doesn’t fixate on any one area. If it does, that area may need another edit. If you can’t think why right now, write down your thoughts and you can return to it at another time with a new perspective.
Image Source: Vogue
Bring In Blooms
Holidays are a luxury and a treat, and so are big bouquets of flowers. To make yourself feel spoilt at home, buy yourself a beautiful bunch of your favourite blooms, or greenery, bring out your biggest vase and put them on full display to enjoy throughout the day.
If you’ve been looking to bring a new houseplant into your home, now is the time. While just looking at plants can make us happy, caring for them can boost our sense of wellbeing too. Spending “time in nature” includes benefits such as stress reduction, improved focus and will even boost your mood. All the more reason to get your greenhouse up and running and achieve your holiday happiness.
Image Source: Cool Chic Style Fashion
Carve Out a Workout or Meditation Area
Exercise, stillness and meditation are all an important part of your self-care routine, however finding the right space in your home can be a challenge.
We like setting up a workout area next to the most scenic windows in your house. However if space is tight, consider doubling up with other areas of your home. Take the car out of the garage, push the bed to one side of the room or use the floor of your office. A floor mat and headphones will get you through your morning sessions, and then you can spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Practicing morning meditation or some afternoon yoga stretches while soaking in a little scenery and natural light is an instant mood booster. Even a little spot on the floor, behind the sofa, soaking up the morning sun for just a few minutes a day will help lower stress levels and make you feel rejuvenated. All the magic is happening on the inside.
Image Source: My Scandinavian Home
Upgrade Your Bedding
High-end hotel linens, combined with super soft pillows are arguably one of the best parts of a hotel stay. Bedding can make a huge difference not only in the look of your bedroom, but also in the quality of your sleep.
Start your holiday right by by trading your worn sheets and towels for a beautiful new set. This is a bonus buy, because it’s a practical and often necessary upgrade for your home, but also a luxury and treat. Don’t forget plush pillows and cozy throw blankets when you crave those quiet moments to decompress and feel effortlessly zen.
Image Source: My Scandinavian Home
Add Fragrance
Did you know that most high-end hotels invest in having their own signature scent? Smells and fragrances are highly emotive, so bringing scents into your home that remind you of certain destinations will literally transport your mind to another place. Burning candles and adding fragrances is an easy and affordable way to transform your home into a staycation destination.
Create An Inviting Cooking Space
When it stops being an end-of-day rush and hassle, the kitchen is a great place to escape the stressors of life. Cooking and baking at your leisure can be very therapeutic, allowing you to change your focus and let you mind wander. Planning a dinner with friends and going about about the task of creating something delicious to share and enjoy becomes a rewarding holiday experience.
Start by keeping your work surfaces spotless, your counters clutter-free, and invest in a few essentials that are practical and beautiful. Keeping a large bowl of beautiful seasonal produce on your counter creates the warm feeling of being connected to the garden and earth, and fragrant potted herbs like rosemary and basil will make the kitchen the happiest place in the house.
So turn off your devices, stream in a little music and grab a willing sous chef for some good, yummy, healthy fun.
Image Source: Decorotation
Stock Up The Bar
It’s just not a holiday without your favourite cocktail or mocktail in hand. Consider upgrading your bar cart items with new glassware, or treat yourself to that cocktail maker you’ve been eyeing up.
Image Source: Stylizmo
Change the Lighting
To create your winter staycation cosiness, spend some time focussing on the ambient lighting in your home. At the end of the day, turn off all the ceiling lights and use only lamps and ambient lights to create a relaxed mood in the evenings.
And don’t forget to light the fire. There is nothing quite like unwinding and relaxing in front of a crackling fire at the end of the day. No fire? Group several large candles together to create a similar glow and cosy effect in your home.
Image Source: Vogue
Happy Staycation!
