27 summer staycation ideas to enjoy at home
Ingenious ideas for a happy holistay
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Pitch up a plush pergola
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Channel tropical climes with a tiki bar
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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
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Stage your own festival
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Dine alfresco
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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
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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
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Put up a pool table
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Find your zen at a yoga retreat
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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
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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
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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
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Hang out with family
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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
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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
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Evoke distant landscapes
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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
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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
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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
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Decorate a garden room
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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
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Bring in a buffet
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Perfect a patch of paradise
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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
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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
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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
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Create a glamping getaway
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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.
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