So you just bought the perfect vacation or weekend home. While the rush of excitement is great, for many, the task of furnishing it can be a little stressful. More often than not, a weekend home becomes a dumping ground for a jumble of excess furniture or anything that might gather dust in the pantries.
Instead, here are some tips to help make this vacation home a masterpiece—without having to break the bank.
start
The first aspect to think about when furnishing a weekend or vacation home is how you will use the space. Will you and your family enjoy alone, or will you partially rent it out as an investment property?
Rental homes will receive more wear and tear than a home just for you and your family. As a result, consider materials such as hospitality or trade fabrics, along with leather or Naugahyde, rather than lighter or more fragile fabrics. Hospitality fabrics and commercial fabrics are also great solutions for everyday residential use, especially for those with pets and children.
furniture
Vacation and weekend homes are often places people like to bring and invite guests. How you plan to entertain may also play a role in your furniture choices. Investing in a good quality sofa should top your list.
When looking for a sofa, here are some aspects to keep in mind:
• Choose a sofa made of kiln-dried hardwood rather than softwood such as pine.
• Learn how to create the foundation of the sofa, as the durability of the structure will affect its longevity. In general, the more springs, straps, and reinforcement, the better.
• Choose seat cushions filled with foam or down, as opposed to those filled with pure feathers. While the bottom is warm and soft, there is a point where it starts to flatten and won’t look as plump as it once did.
flooring
Besides choosing the sofa, the next important choice should be the flooring material or floor covering.
The flooring for an investment property needs to be durable, so be sure to choose a low-maintenance flooring solution such as porcelain tiles or well-protected hardwood. In general, carpeting may not be the ideal solution due to the potential for staining and odor.
Colors
When it comes to your holiday home colors, think soft, soothing hues. Since this is a home where you like to get away from it all, creating an inviting oasis will help increase your enjoyment.
Some colors to consider include:
Charcoal grey. Charcoal gray pairs well with light and bright colors, and it will also hide potential stains.
blue. In general, blue is a calming, calming, and cool color that helps a space feel more relaxed.
yellow. Yellow is a bright, happy color that can help liven up dark spaces.
Green color. Green is a color that can add a lot of interest to a space and works as a great accent color.
How much should you expect to spend?
Furniture, lighting, and accessories can be small or expensive items depending on your budget and taste. Expect to pay more for your larger items such as sofas and beds. When making your purchasing decisions, consider how long you plan to keep the home. Buying long-term furniture has its advantages; However, if you only plan to keep your home for a short term, you may want to consider furnishing your home using a mix of high and low pieces.
However, keep in mind that just because an item isn’t expensive doesn’t mean it isn’t well designed, so be sure to pay attention to the build quality.
Don’t forget to include artwork and accessories, as these can really help the space feel airy, while artificial flowers and succulents can be the icing on the cake.