27 summer staycation ideas to enjoy at home
Ingenious ideas for a happy holistay
If your upcoming break has been put on the back burner, there's no need to let your dreams of a relaxing holiday float away. With a little creative thinking, there's plenty of fun to be had by all the family – and you don't even need to leave the house! From alfresco home cinemas to garden glamping and backyard water parks, you won't wish you were anywhere else with these genius home staycation ideas.
Pitch up a plush pergola
Transform a corner of your garden into a peaceful resort-style oasis by pitching up a stylish pergola. A great alternative to a more permanent garden room, fill an elegant outdoor tent with your most indulgent furnishings, from sumptuous sofas and tactile rugs to scented candles and fragrant flowers. Pop in a luxurious, gold-plated trolley to keep snacks and drinks close to hand for a five-star all-inclusive feel.
Channel tropical climes with a tiki bar
Bring the sun-soaked shores of Polynesia to your back garden with your very own tiki bar. There's an array of ready-made designs on sale or you could make your own by upcycling a unit with bamboo canes and straw fringing. Up the tropical flavour with vibrant cushions, festoon lighting and plenty of large-leaf plants. Mai tai anyone?
Relax and unwind in a hot tub
A luxurious hot tub is high on our list of holiday amenities, so why not bring a touch of indulgence to your home instead? An inflatable spa pool is a great short-term alternative and the perfect way to unwind. Then, when your relaxing staycation is over, you can simply pack it away to free up your outdoor space once more.
Stage your own festival
If you missed out on the summer's biggest festivals, it doesn't have to be over for the year. Bring the party to your back garden by filling a colourful tent with cushions and blankets and decorating the garden with plenty of bunting and paper decorations. Then all you need to do is set up wireless speakers and rock out to a playlist of this year's headliners.
Dine alfresco
Nothing says holiday more than dining alfresco on balmy evenings. Elevate mealtimes in the garden with pretty table settings, fragrant flowers and plenty of fairy lights. You may not be abroad but you can take your taste buds on a trip around the globe by cooking dishes from your favourite holiday destinations each night.
Hole up in a five-star hotel
Check into your own high-end escape by giving your bedroom a five-star makeover with plenty of fabulous hotel-style homewares. Choose a subtle colour scheme and make sure the layout is symmetrical with matching nightstands and bedside lamps. Frame luxurious white cotton sheets with a soft upholstered headboard. For the ultimate hotel experience, recreate the classic turndown service and pop chocolates on the pillows before bedtime.
Escape to the spa
Spa breaks are the perfect way to relax so why not create a tranquil sanctuary in your bathroom to escape to? Light candles, add essential oils and invest in soft, fluffy towels, a luxurious bathrobe and cotton slippers. Then simply pop on a face mask and kick back in a hot, bubble-filled bath. You never know, the home spa might become a new weekly tradition...
The Garden Furniture Centre
Put up a pool table
Keep the whole family entertained with plenty of resort-style staycation games. A patio pool table will look the part next to an outdoor bar, lawn games or a trampoline and will provide endless hours of entertainment. You could even keep the fun flowing into the evening by hosting a quiz night.
Find your zen at a yoga retreat
Make your staycation as relaxing as possible by creating a dedicated zone for gentle exercise and calm. A garden room is the ideal place for your yoga retreat, otherwise, choose a room with plenty of light and clear it of furniture. Then, lay outdoor rugs and add bolster cushions and indoor plants for the ultimate peaceful escape.
Bring in beach house vibes
If you can't head to the beach, bring the rush of the ocean into your home with a calming coastal decorating scheme. Create a light and airy backdrop with fresh white walls and wood furniture, then add soft blues, driftwood accessories and seascape artwork. We can almost feel the waves lapping at our toes...
Add an outdoor kitchen
Nothing says vacation quite like a feast outdoors. Whether you're lunching on the terrace in the sunshine or hosting a celebration under the stars, cooking in an outdoor kitchen will make food prep feel like a novelty rather than a chore. As well as a grill, you'll need work surfaces, storage and ideally a sink with running water.
Slide in a sun lounger
A sun lounger is a holiday staple, but with a staycation, there's no need to get up early to reserve yours. Create a space in the garden to set up the perfect sun terrace; choose a site that receives the most light, make sure it's not overlooked and (if you can) surround yourself with tropical foliage. Add a cushion, beach towel, refreshments and reading material and you're ready to soak up the sunshine.
Hang out with family
Make the most of your staycation by winding right down. Switch off phones and hang up a hammock or swing chair to laze away the days. A macramé seat like this has room for two, plus it adds a boho vibe that evokes rolling desert landscapes. Add fairy lights and blankets to cosy up the spot when evening draws in.
Visit botanical gardens
Give your bathroom an au naturel makeover by filling it with gorgeous greenery and hardy houseplants to create your own botanical garden. Use the curtain rod to securely fix and hang plants above the bath. Not only will the lush foliage love the humid environment, but you'll feel like you're bathing in your very own tropical lagoon.
Cosy up around the campfire
There's nothing like a chiminea or firepit to keep the holiday vibes going into the night. After a sizzling barbecue, toast sticks of marshmallows over the fire and kick back amongst cushions and throws beneath the stars. If you really want to embrace the great outdoors, you could even pitch a tent and sleep alfresco.
Evoke distant landscapes
Transport your outdoor living area to faraway climes with atmospheric garden lighting and plenty of tactile furnishings. Layer low-level furniture with cushions and blankets and fill a coffee table with battery-powered lanterns and holiday mementos to bring distant landscapes closer to home.
Set up a hotel bar
You've spent the day by the pool, headed back to the hotel room to freshen up and now fancy a pre-dinner cocktail. If this is your usual holiday routine there's no need to change it during your staycation. Instead, turn your kitchen island or peninsula into the hotel bar. Clear the surface of clutter, add plush velvet bar stools and turn on ambient music to create the perfect lounge atmosphere. Why not print out a cocktail menu too?
Lay on a celebratory spread
Add a little joy to your summer staycation by evoking the spirit of a classic street party. Whether you choose to host your celebration inside or in your back garden, this special spread is sure to lift spirits. Set the scene with themed decorations, from bunting to paper plates and napkins, and bake an array of cakes and treats for the whole family to share.
Make a splash in a water park
Transform the garden into a splash zone with an array of colourful inflatables. Whether it's a super-sized blow-up pool to recreate the real thing or a novelty giant rainbow tunnel that sprays water, you can't go wrong with whimsical, water-filled activities to get you in the holiday mood on a hot, sunny day.
Decorate a garden room
A gorgeous garden room will make a fun staycation addition and offer a welcome change of scenery from the main house. Increase the sense of adventure by giving your outdoor space a holiday theme. Bright colours will evoke a seaside beach hut, a crisp white palette will offer a Hamptons vibe, while festoon lights and rustic accessories can whisk you away to a country escape.
Arrange an outdoor cinema
Fake your very own film festival by setting up a private cinema screen in your garden. Whether you go for a portable projector screen and folding chairs or a white sheet and cosy floor cushions, an outdoor cinema is certainly a holiday treat to remember. Cue the movie marathons...
Bring in a buffet
Give yourself a break from the normal mealtime routine with a staycation filled with relaxed dining. Order an array of takeaways or create buffet-style meals in front of the TV. You could even store dry snacks in glass containers at the bottom of your coffee table and keep plates and cutlery on a handy trolley nearby.
Perfect a patch of paradise
You don't need a garden to enjoy a staycation when you can give a beautiful balcony a holiday makeover. Pop in foldaway furniture and then personalise your outdoor oasis with tropical prints, colourful paper lanterns and plenty of lush, fragrant plants in seagrass planters.
Pack a picnic basket
Love spending downtime in the great outdoors? Lay down a blanket in your garden and imagine you're sitting in a country meadow amongst the wildflowers. Pack sandwiches and refreshments in an authentic picnic basket and enjoy a lazy afternoon in the sunshine. Add deck chairs and floor cushions to cosy up the setup.
Transform your garage into a pool house
If you don't have a swimming pool for your staycation, convert your garage into a plush pool house and imagine you do! Interior decorator Ashley Redmond transformed this bright space with palm leaf wallpaper, bamboo furniture and retro, poolside artwork. A natural jute rug completes the Miami beach vibe.
Host a bed and breakfast
Jazz up the usual morning routine by laying on a breakfast spread that's fit for a boutique B&B. Include pretty table settings with patterned tableware and offer both continental and cooked options – the perfect start to your staycation holiday.
Create a glamping getaway
Forgoing a communal campsite doesn't mean you have to wave goodbye to that long-awaited camping trip. Recreate your plans for a great outdoors escape by setting up camp in your back garden. For the ultimate glamping experience, pitch up a classic bell tent and pop in a double airbed and plenty of cosy cushions. Most of us can only dream of having two tiny homes for extra accommodation, but we can all stretch to a string of bunting to tie a makeshift campground together.