Could you use some time to get away, unwind, and reconnect with the ones you love? It’s a silly question, really. We could ALL use it! Vacations are one of the best things in life. They whisk us away from the daily grind–reviving our spirits and our relationships. They’re chock full of laughter, relaxation, and adventures that make the greatest memories. What if we told you that your home has the potential to be your everyday getaway place? By using elements of home design, you can fashion staycation spaces within your walls that encourage the best of vacation life: kicking back, connecting, and having some serious fun. Here’s how…
Staycation Spot #1: The Living Room
Vacations bring us closer to the ones we love. Have you ever wondered why? Oftentimes it’s because we spend quality time together. Leaving our daily stressors and distractions behind, we tune-in and focus on one another. We share new experiences, laugh, listen, and just enjoy being with our loved ones. It’s vastly different than what happens on a regular weeknight. But, it doesn’t have to be! Making time to connect with your friends and family is a wonderful way to add a little vacation life into your everyday. Whether you love the idea of spirited competition over gameboards, munching popcorn together on movie night, or just sitting back and talking about life, your living room is the prime place to do it.
Key Home Design Elements: The first thing you need to consider is seating. Is there enough? Is it comfortable? Have you arranged it to promote gathering and conversation? Once you have your seating in order, take a look at your windows. How does the light that enters affect the environment? Do you have the right window covering solutions in place? If your living room experiences irritating glare or heats up because of direct sunlight, it isn’t going to be a welcoming place for fun and bonding. And, since the activity is ever-changing in this space, having a range of adjustable light control options is ideal. Motorized shadings are a huge benefit here. Scheduled, automatic adjustments give you more time for the ones you love, and, at the touch of a button, you have instant access to the perfect atmosphere. Finally, think about having a basket or special spot designated for stashing phones and devices. You’ll be surprised at how eliminating the distractions and interruptions of the digital world affects the quality of your time with the people you love most.
Staycation Spot #2: The Bedroom
There’s nothing quite like pulling the blackout curtains closed in your hotel room and collapsing into plush bedding after a long day of vacation fun and adventure. Waking up the next day is equally amazing. Surrounded by darkness, you glance at the clock and see it’s 9:00! The sun has been up for hours while you’ve been enjoying the bliss of restorative sleep. Vacation Zzzs are some of the best, aren’t they? Now imagine waking up each day feeling as refreshed and revived as you do when you’re out of town. It’s possible with the right elements of home design.
Key Home Design Elements: Light control is the first priority when crafting a staycation-style sleep sanctuary. Having multiple sources of light in a space is always preferable. In a bedroom, a bedside lamp is perfect for unwinding before you drift off to dreamland because you can switch it off easily without having to get out of bed. As for natural light, adjustable control is an absolute must. Room-darkening and blackout features create the perfect environment for sleep–no matter the time of day. Top-down shades, layered drapery panels, and dual shades are bedroom favorites. They offer glorious darkness when you need it and beautiful daylighting too. They also give you a range of privacy options–which plays a big role in your comfort level. Speaking of comfort, you can never go wrong with luxurious bedding. For a real vacation feel, grab a new set of high-quality sheets, upgrade your pillows, or snag a custom duvet. Sinking into softness at the end of the day will definitely help sleep come easy!
Staycation Spot #3: The Dining Room
Think about vacation meals. Chances are your mind conjures up images and tastes of delectable food and drink along with memories of sharing them with the people you care about most in the world. Instead of the day-to-day rush of grabbing breakfast on the go and scarfing down dinner between your kids’ practices, eating on vacation is laid-back and full of meaningful conversation and hearty laughter. Wouldn’t it be nice for it to be this way on a regular basis? There’s no question that life gets busy, but with a little planning, family dinners, dinner parties, and small gatherings over cocktails and desserts can infuse some vacation pleasure into your normal schedule. And the first step? Having your dining room ready.
Key Home Design Elements: Since your dining room is a gathering spot, like the living room, seating matters. Again, you want it to be plentiful and comfortable. You want everyone to be focused on enjoying the delicious spread and the wonderful company…not on how hard their chair is or how agonizing it is to still be sitting down. Lighting is a huge factor in comfort as well. No one’s going to enjoy anything in a space that’s overly bright, too dark, or where glare and sunshine blast them in the eyes. Dimmable lighting and the right window coverings will help you create a glowing atmosphere. Silhouette and Pirouette shadings do just that, and they allow a filtered view-through, so you and your family or guests can enjoy sunsets and the beautiful panoramas that surround your home. Plantation shutters are another classic choice for light control in a dining room that’s simply stunning and staycation ready.
Ready to Vacation in Your Own Home Design?
You deserve a vacation—everyday! Fashioning staycation spots throughout your home design will help you to completely relax, refresh, and connect with the ones you love. Our team at Timan Window Treatments would love to offer inspiration, advice, and a look at window coverings that will transform your home into your personal paradise! Stop into one of our three Cleveland-area showrooms. Or, invite us over for a free, in-home consultation. You’ll be so glad you did!