If you own a holiday home, then you will no doubt have acquired it for one reason and one reason only – because you bought into a dream. Perhaps you fell in love with a particular country, a certain lifestyle, or fantasies of long summers spent in your dream home.
Whatever the case, no one buys a holiday home purely for practical or financial purposes – there has to be an emotional attachment to it at some stage of the purchase process. Unfortunately, as many holiday homeowners will tell you, the reality of owning a second home is rather different from the vision you initially had in your head.
Why?
Because your second home rarely feels like your actual home. You may have fitted fixtures, fittings, and furniture that is slightly cheap, in the hope that potential holidaymakers you rent the place out to don’t damage anything, or you simply don’t bother giving it a personal touch.
This can result in a weird feeling whenever you use the house. Part of you will feel like it’s not fully at home, even if you technically own the place. Well, fear not, because there are certain ways to make your holiday home feel like just that – your home:
Make sure you have the right mattresses
One of the best ways to improve your experience of your holiday home is to invest in fantastic mattresses. You will no doubt relate to the frustration of staying in a hotel or Airbnb where the beds are uncomfortable, which completely undoes any relaxation or sense of bliss you may have been experiencing.
When you are on holiday, everything has to be perfect, and that starts with your sleeping experience. If your bed doesn’t feel like home, then nothing will. Therefore, start with fitting, comfortable mattresses – even if it means mattress shipping one from home. If you need help with mattress moving, then just use a specialist shipping service that can help.
Move in some of your existing furniture
When you think of what makes your house a home, you will no doubt think first of your furniture. There is no explicable reason why you suddenly feel relaxed when you have your own furniture around you. Still, there is something in the comfort of familiarity that can relax your mind and help you feel comfortable in your holiday home.
While you may not be able to literally move your existing furniture from home, you should fit items that match those back at home, and suit your particular tastes – rather than what you think is cheap or what potential guests might like.
Keep it lived in as much as possible
It might sound obvious, but an easy way to make your holiday house feel more homely is to live in it more – or at least have it lived in by somebody most weeks of the year.
The reason for this is that houses can quickly become cold, dusty, and somewhat eerie when they lay dormant for months or years on end. When you use it, it will take the best part of a week before you can warm it up and get it clean, by which time your holiday might be over. Whether you rent it out to family, friends, or strangers, keep your house lived in as much as possible.