By Karen Sprinkles
A vacation home serves as a home away from home, so it shouldn't be sparsely outfitted with just the bare minimums. Decorative ideas for your vacation home can be simple and affordable, while also being aesthetically pleasing and practical.
Add a Locking Cupboard or Closet
Most vacation homes double as a summer getaway and a source of income through rentals. If you are renting out your vacation home, then it's important to keep your personal belongings in a secure place when you're away. You can do this by converting a cabinet or closet into a locked space. A simple fixture and padlock may be all you need or you can take it a step further and hire a cabinet maker or locksmith to create a more secure, decorative solution.
Purchase Gently Used Furnishings
Outfitting a vacation home with fine furnishings can be expensive, but the resourceful homeowner can create a luxury setting by opting for gently used furniture purchased from hotels, consignment shops, estate sales and through classified ads. Upholstery experts can transform a bland sofa or chair for a quarter of the cost of a new piece.
More Beds for Visitors
A tropical punee doubles as a bed. Photo by Karen Anderson
Since you never know how many family members or friends might want to pay a visit during your vacation, extra sleeping accommodations will come in handy. To create a tropical "punee" (settee) that doubles as a bed, outfit a queen-size mattress with a customized platform paneled in bamboo.
Build an Outdoor Shower Off the Bathroom
beach sand always seems to get tracked into the house, so an outdoor shower can really save on the wear and tear of the flooring in the home, particularly in the bathroom. An outdoor shower may be as simple as a spigot on the wall, or more creative, such as a lava rock shower with orchids growing inside the cracks. If you want to create the look of an outdoor shower in your bathroom, while keeping it enclosed, skylights and large screened windows will brighten up a shower space.
Resources
About the Author:
Karen Sprinkles has been a freelance writer since 1988. She's currently the managing editor of a luxury home magazine and has written for regional newspapers and magazines. Sprinkles received the Award of Excellence from the Hawaii Book Publishers Association for "The Hawaii Home Book," which reached No. 1 on the Hawaii bestsellers list. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California.
