With people enjoying more relaxed lifestyles, vacation homes are wonderful for getting away from it all, but you still want a home that is comfortable and inviting. To create a truly casual vacation or beach home, learn the basic elements.

For a casual look go for simple details, textured elements in fabrics and accessories, restful horizontal lines, soft upholstery, low-luster surfaces, and arrangements that avoid perfect symmetry.



Furniture in a casual interior is soft and comfortable. Upholstered pieces are usually oversized and slip covered or wood pieces that have been whitewashed. Fabrics include neutral colours, such as tan, gray, beige, or off-white and bold, contrasting stripes or checks. Soft pastels give a peaceful feeling. Or try darker tones such as navy, rust, olive or forest green, wine, and cranberry for punch.

Fabrics are textured, rather than shiny. Interesting weaves of natural fibres like cotton, linen, wool are typical whilst new synthetic weaves give a natural look and add durability.

To achieve a casual look, pieces are often long, large, and horizontal, rather than vertical and tall and petite. Tables are chunky and of a large scale, which gives a comfortable feeling, while providing space for storage and spreading out. This helps to create a restful look. And matched pieces are not required, as the focus is on easy.

Flooring of light tile, stone, hardwood or laminate in oak or beech is essential for comfort and easy cleaning. If carpet is used, it should not be too plush. Rather chose sisal, berber, or styles with subtle geometric woven patterns. Painted wooden floors add a touch of whimsy and an element of fun, especially on porches or in a kitchens. Paint floors solid, stripe them, or create a seaside mural underfoot, with faux sand, shells, and coral.

Decorating Tips:
• Paint walls white to create a calm, relaxing atmosphere. If you prefer colour on the walls add lots of white and light coloured accessories to brighten up the space. Add colour to walls with a wash of the palest pastels, contrasting stripes or brightly coloured fabrics. For even more contrast, you can also paint windows, doors, and mouldings in bold colours.

• To accessorise just look through your items and find a common theme such as country, coastal, fishing, shabby chic, a colour, all metal or all wood, etc. Accessories are what will pull your whole look together. It will make it or break it so choose carefully. Use them to fill in bare walls, empty table tops and shelves, but remember less is more.

• Keep window treatments simple. Add a simple swag of fabric or fabric tie-backs if you must. Replace formal sheers with woven, bamboo, or linen shades to lend an informal feel to a room.

Decorate your vacation home to reflect your lifestyle and the activities you enjoy there.