Put on your shell necklace? Set up your artificial palm? Go deeper. There is more you can do to give yourself some holiday feeling.
Depending on the season where you are, some may wish they were travelling to an exotic location, possibly involving a seaside.
"From a psychological point of view, for many people, a holiday is above all a state of inner relief,” says interior psychology specialist Inka Aniol.
A holiday feeling for many is made up of fewer obligations, fewer distractions and more light-heartedness.
If you are staying home, you cannot just generate that through decorations. You need a change in your daily routine, says interior design consultant Angelika Hinz.
But for starters, to create a holiday feeling even if you’re not going away, make sure your home feels distinctly different from usual.
"Hotel rooms or holiday flats are usually deliberately minimalist in their décor,” says Hinz. "Clean colours, less furniture, hardly any personal items. It is precisely this visual tranquillity that we find restful.”
To create that holiday feeling at home, start by having a clear-out.
It depends on the season but if it is warm where you are, you could start by getting rid of heavy blankets, dark cushions, cluttered shelves, piles of laundry or magazines.
The main thing is to let light in. "Light-coloured curtains, mirrors or small focal points of light help to make the room feel softer and more welcoming,” says Aniol.
Plants also bring a sense of lightness to the living space, reduce stress and create a feeling of vitality. "Just a few herbs on the windowsill can make a big difference,” she says.
Mint, basil or rosemary also bring a lovely scent into your home - also key to generate a holiday atmosphere within your own four walls.
"We often associate a holiday mood with smells, sounds and rituals,” says Hinz. Scents affect your limbic system and can evoke memories of past holidays.
You can also use sound to create a sense of being away, such as the sound of the sea in the background or summer hits a beach bar might play that you can dance along to. These can completely transform a room emotionally.
Texture, too, helps. If it is warm, fabrics such as linen, wood or raffia feel natural and soothing, says Aniol. "They create a sense of grounding and lightness.”
And they work wonderfully in the bedroom too - a room that most people tend to overlook, says Hinz.
If you seek a visual change, let your creativity run wild with table decorations. "I particularly love it when colour comes from food such as peaches, tomatoes, lemons or herbs,” says Hinz. In summer, a basket full of fruit often looks more beautiful than any shop-bought decoration, she adds.
Many are decorating with lemons, whether as ceramics, a tablecloth or simply as the real fruit. "This year, the tomato is joining the trend as a new eye-catcher,” says Hinz.
Handmade ceramics, wide stripes, colourful glasses and the colour butter yellow are also setting the tone for décor this summer. "If you have the chance, you could even put up a parasol in the living room or hang up a hammock.”
Go beyond creating a holiday atmosphere. "A holiday isn’t just a place, but above all a state of mind - and we can actively create that,” says Aniol.
Break up your usual routine. Perhaps by having your morning coffee at a newly discovered spot by the window, walking barefoot through the flat or lighting a flickering candle in the evening.
"Rituals like these signal to the body that a different quality of time is now beginning,” she says.
Make this time special. "On holiday, we do things a bit differently: we spend more time together, listen to different music, perhaps drink from prettier glasses,” says Hinz.
It’s about discovering these special moments for yourself, whether that is a picnic in the living room or cocktail party with a mobile bar trolley. "The key is whether you manage to switch off from everyday life. You don’t always have to go away to do that,” says Hinz.
By clearly defining living zones such as a small reading corner, a mini-spa in the bathroom or a newly discovered dining area in the evening light, you create emotional spaces, says home psychologist Aniol. These are what take us to a new place, beyond our everyday activities. – dpa
