How to Get Away Without Going Anywhere This Summer
Are you feeling it? Sunshine bursts through the clouds reminding us that summer is just around the corner. Kids are making summer plans and parents are coveting their last few days before the chaos. Warm breezes blow through windows and you can't help but want to get out there! The road is calling. Till you get to the gas pump and remember the epic gas prices, crowds and squabbles in the car. Ahhh. Summer.
Wanting to get away, get a change of scenery, and get outside is an undeniable urge at the cusp of summer. But not all of us can get away, or want to brave what it takes to get there.
My husband and I have been on a mission over the last 8 years. We found ourselves taking many "hotel vacations" less than 10 minutes from home just so the kids could spend all day in the pool, and we could gaze about a room with absolutely zero "visual to-do list" items screaming out for attention. No laundry. No dishes. No cleaning. No fixing. Just sunshine and a good book.
But at some point we decided we would rather invest the money we were spending into creating our own "hotel" at home. Curating spaces full of our favorite things. The kind of space that makes you want to take a nap the second you see the fluffy bed, pick up that guitar, look out the windows, or get lost in a scenic photo.
Sounds lovely, right? Want one too? Here are my top 7 tips for creating your own oasis this summer:
1. Visualize
If you don't know where you want to go, you may end up where you don't want to be. So think back on your favorite vacations and getaways and jot down:
-What the rooms looked like?
-What color palettes were used?
-What did the walls, floors, windows, and bed look like?
-What kind of art was on the walls?
-Did any of these favorite trips have something visually in common?
-What scents and sounds did you experience there?
Use this information as you move through creating your oasis.
2. Clear the Clutter
The one thing hotels do not have, is clutter. So do your best to clear your spaces of all visual clutter. Start with the rooms you spend most of your time in, like your bedroom and the family/great room.
If what you loved about your favorite vacations was empty tables and counters, find hidden storage. Keep those inspiration rooms in mind and select storage and solutions that reflect the essence of the spaces you enjoyed.
3. Curate What You Love
When you surround yourself with what you love, it revitalizes you and sets the tone for your day. Take inventory of your spaces, letting go of what doesn't make you feel great, and bringing in what does! If you have been hanging on to grandma's chair or your kid's kindergarten art project out of guilt, it's ok to let it go and find art and furnishings that enrich your life. Really, they would want that for you too. It's time to let it go and find the true you.
4. Focus on the Focal Points
Spaces feel better when there is a distinct focal point that sets the vibe for the room and makes you feel the way you want to feel being there. This is the thing you see first when you walk into a room and most often is wall art, rugs or the largest piece of furniture.
An energetic vibrant and bold piece in the living space is great. In the bedroom, maybe not so great. Do you really love orange enough to have it an entire sofa? Maybe orange accent pillows will be just right? Are clown paintings really your thing? (My childhood bedroom had one. It was not my thing.)
Pay close attention to what these pieces say and make sure it's what you want them to be saying!
5. Stimulate the Senses
The best way to feel like you are in a new place is to evoke the senses. One of our favorite hotels smelled like vanilla and sandalwood. So this is a scent I have incorporated into our home with diffusers. You can make it a daily experience or mix things up with scents that transport you. What are your "scent stories"?
What about the textiles? What did the bedding feel like, the sofa, the surfaces on your bare feet?
Bring in the music, sounds, flavors, colors and textures to mimic the body experiences of your favorite places.
6. Bring the Outside In
Great hotels have carefully planned botanicals. A foyer table with giant white blooms greet you, lush landscaping to meander through, water features that delight with sound and visual display, artwork of blossoms, beaches, trees and palm fronds to be mesmerized by, indoor potted trees and planters to soften the corners.
This reminder of life outside transports us and brings life to our spaces.
7. Bedroom Escape
The bedroom is the place you connect and recharge. So set yourself up for success:
-Keep it a "no distractions" zone. Leave the laundry, bills, kid stuff, and clutter outside that door!
-Block the light with blackout curtains and turn off lighting. Even night lights and clock lights will disturb your circadian rhythm unless they are a soft orange glow.
-Make sure your linens are fresh and a texture your body likes! Everyone is different. Secret tip: Hotels always use white linens. It magically makes the room feel bright and clean.
-Create a cozy corner where you can escape from the rest of the house and reboot. I love having my favorite chocolates, books, journal and mementos tucked away in a box nearby.
-Make sure your decor puts you at ease. This space should feel uniquely yours!
I firmly believe that we live our best lives by creating spaces that surround us with what we love, every single moment. When you do this, you don't need an escape from your daily life because every day is a beautiful expression of you.
The oasis you are looking for is already inside you. It is time to create it around you.
If you need help selecting just the right artwork for your spaces, reach out to the art stylists at Latitudes Gallery. We can help you find just what you are looking for.
