There’s nothing quite like a holiday to feel connected to the world and yourself. Vacations are a time-tested way to tie the family together and have experiences the brain stores as loving long-term memories.
Last year, Deloitte found that almost 50% of Americans value their summer travels and plan to take trips that require paid lodging. However, the survey also noted that high airfares and fees affect these decisions considerably.
Many of us may feel desperate to take time out for travel but hold back due to a lack of vacation time and the general pressures of living. This scenario has spurred interest in staycations – relaxing holidays that don’t require travel.
We have three recommendations on preparing your house for more staycations this year. These home additions can elevate your place into a coveted holiday spot for family get-togethers and solo introspection.
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1- Breakfast Spaces and Bar Seating
Let’s be honest: isn’t the complimentary breakfast buffet one of the highlights of a relaxing holiday? You can relax in a sunlit breakfast space, gorging on a selection of foods, with no cleanup necessary after the meal.
Recently, McKinsey & Company reported how “sun and beach travelers” are a prominent vacation archetype, with many American travelers seeking to escape their daily routines. Setting up a comforting breakfast area in your house can be an excellent way to get that feeling at home. It works even if you don’t have the views or concierge services to match.
Consider setting up a bench against a wall and placing a small table to display your household’s favorite breakfast foods. You can add a few bistro chairs and some inviting wall art to lend the space more vacation vibes.
Startling prints and colors can set the area apart from the remaining kitchen or hall. Arrange the set up to face a window – bayside seating, if you will – if you’re fortunate enough to get early morning sunlight.
Likewise, bar seating can elevate the charm of your kitchen and turn it into a preferred place to unwind and have family conversations. A few bar stools and some bold overhead lighting are all you need to have an instant hangout space in the house. It can work for everything, from morning juices and smoothies to a sundowner on Fridays.
2- A Fiberglass Swimming Pool
In what universe is installing a swimming pool affordable? Thanks to advancing research in durable construction materials, pools are now cheaper for regular homes.
The concrete pools of the good old days remain popular due to their customization in design and form. However, fiberglass has emerged as a solid alternative, letting you enjoy a poolside holiday right at home within weeks. This composite material may have slightly higher upfront costs, but a fiberglass pool install minimizes maintenance tremendously.
A backyard swimming pool can be one of the most tangible and rewarding ways to spruce up your place. Moreover, large regions of the US are getting hotter due to climate change. For cities like Massachusetts, 2024 was among the hottest years – a worrisome statistic since heat is a prime cause of weather-related death in America.
Installing a low-maintenance home pool lets you splash around in the hot, humid summers of areas like the North Shore, minus the hassles of rentals. The latter can have liability and hygiene concerns besides incurring continuing extra expenses.
Stefano’s Landscaping finds that fiberglass pools don’t have rough edges, which inhibits algae growth and lowers the need for cleanup and chemical treatment. So, with the help of a professional landscaper, you can experience holiday bliss minus the vexing upkeep.
3- A Cozy Reading Nook
Might we add: preferably, with a cat.
A prime draw of holiday resorts is their comfort and coziness. For book lovers, a dedicated nook can transform a regular living space into a relaxing haven.
Reading is closely associated with relaxation through stress management and sleep quality improvement – benefits we often seek from vacations. The best part is that this addition is the cheapest to implement but can still create visible improvements.
To create a reading nook, you will need extra comfortable chairs, mood lighting, and rugs or foot mats to add the softness that only fabrics can bring. Armchairs or ergonomic seating with lumbar support and armrests are ideal. However, bean bags and floor seating have become popular and distinctive options.
If you don’t have a specific room or a living room area to repurpose into a nook, you can consider building it in your bedroom. Verywell Health notes that reading before bed can help you sleep longer without disruption.
Some task lighting, a side table, and a houseplant can do the trick. You can also rope in the services of an interior designer for more insightful placements of bookshelves and reading accessories.
How Justified Are the Costs of Home Remodel Projects?
Allowing yourself to feel good about home decor expenses is challenging in these tough times. The interesting thing is that projects like these often have long-term economic advantages.
For example, installing a backyard pool can reduce the money you spend on public rentals or special events. Redoing the kitchen can bring to light foundational/structural issues in your property that may have gone unnoticed and blown up into a mega expense later.
Moreover, a little investment in making your home closer to a holiday haven can also work wonders for mental wellness. It has become particularly crucial with the rise of remote working styles, with people struggling to find solace in their houses. Creative additions help make staying in less dreary when you cannot get away as much as you like.
Now that the severe bite of winter is receding, you can look forward to warmer, more creative days. The time is ideal for inspiring DIY projects and more intense endeavors like professional landscaping and remodeling.
For the latter, we recommend scouting for contractors with local expertise. They have a closer understanding of the weather and a deeper network of suppliers/vendors in your region. Moreover, you can check with others in the community to learn more about the contractor’s quality and timeliness of work.
So, are you feeling inspired to make some home decor changes this year?
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