Can’t get away but in need of a getaway? It’s time for a staycation. The best part is you don’t have to travel far. Just a few creative touches will get your home ready to become the cozy oasis of your dreams.
Maybe you’re in the mood for a spa vibe or you want a fun indoor adventure, these simple yet beautiful ideas are the perfect place to start.
1. Summer-Scented Candles
Candles are an affordable way to get the vacation feels started. Set the mood with candles that smell like coconut, citrus, or fresh linen so no matter what room you walk into, you are instantly transported into vacation mode.
Bonus: Scents like lavender naturally tell your brain to relax and unwind.
2. Diffuse Essential Oils
Close your eyes and imagine walking into a spa. What’s the first thing you notice?
The scent!
Similar to lighting a candle, essential oils entice your senses, helping your mind and body ease into a sense of relaxation.
Try essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, or lavender.
3. Roll Fresh Towels
Rolled towels are a chef’s kiss for simple added luxury.
Make your bathroom feel like a spa by rolling and stacking towels. You can even have rolled towels ready on your bed after a shower.
Spritzing them with lavender or other essential oils can add to the “resort at home” feel.
4. DIY Spa Station
One of the key features of many vacations is the spa experience. Bring the spa to you by treating yourself to a full spa day at home on one of your staycation days.
Create a spa station to easily access items to make a face mask, body scrub, manicure, and pedicure.
Play some soothing music and sip homemade cucumber water throughout the day.
5. Have a Theme Night
If there’s a destination you love or have always wanted to try, choose it as a theme for a night of your staycation. Destinations like Italy or Hawaii offer relatively easy-to-find decor.
Dress up, try a themed recipe, and play music from the region.
6. Create a Pillow Lounge
A cozy nook to read, nap, craft, or create art is perfect for your staycation. If you don’t already have a space like this, set up blankets and throw pillows near a window for natural light and calming energy.
Fairy lights or candles offer an extra magical glow in the evening.
7. Try a Travel-Inspired Cookbook
Trying a new recipe, such as Thai curry, French crêpes, or Spanish paella, is a fun staycation activity. Consider decorating your dining area with the theme of the country.
8. Make a Mocktail or Cocktail Bar
Whether for indoor relaxation or outdoor vibes, a mocktail or cocktail bar makes your favorite drinks easily accessible.
Stock your bar with fresh herbs, fruit, umbrellas, and decorative straws. Infuse drinks with fruits like pineapple, mango, or passionfruit to add a twist.
9. Build a Backyard Cabana
Use a pop-up canopy or a sheet-draped structure to create a cozy and inviting backyard cabana. This staycation addition makes your backyard feel like a resort.
Add string lights, comfy seating, and a portable speaker to complete the experience.
10. Set Up an Outdoor Movie Night
There are several ways you can make an outdoor movie night a key feature of your staycation. You only need a projector and a blank surface, like a shed wall or a hanging sheet.
Just don’t forget the popcorn, candy, and cozy blankets!
11. Host a Living Room Picnic
Grab your charcuterie board! This staycation idea involves picnicking right from your home. Have blankets and pillows handy and a wicker basket filled with foodie favorites.
12. Meditate or Do Yoga in the Sun
Create the feeling of a luxury wellness retreat right from your backyard (patio or balcony) by rolling out your yoga mat each staycation day.
Just a few moments of mindfulness can balance your mood and really set a calming tone.
Incense, sage, or essential oils are great to use as aromatherapy during your practice.
13. Create an Indoor Hammock Space
Hang around and read, journal, or just relax in an indoor hammock. Installation may require some help and prep before your staycation, but once added, you’ll be able to use it to reconnect and give yourself a go-to area during your time.
14. Build a Fort
Remember building forts as a kid? Grabbing a ton of sheets and putting them over the dining room table or covering chairs. Tap into some nostalgia by creating a fort with sheets, blankets, throw pillows, and fairy lights.
15. Update Your Balcony
If you live in a smaller space and have a balcony, use it for your staycation!
Create a chill ambiance with a few comfy cushions, citronella candles, fairy lights, and summer decor of your choice (and don’t forget a Bluetooth speaker).
16. Ice Cream Station
Nothing says summer vacation like cold treats, and an ice cream station is an easy way to stay cool. Include toppings like candy, fruit, and yummy syrups (think chocolate or strawberry).
Be sure to feature special flavors to match the theme of your staycation – lavender honey, anyone?
17. Have a Sunset Happy Hour
Turn your backyard into the resort beach party of your dreams. Play music, mix your favorite mocktail or cocktail, and bask in the summer night sky.
18. Pooltime Fun
No matter the size of your pool (even a kiddie pool works), you can spruce it up for your staycation. Lay out a beach towel, wear your swimsuit, and fill the pool with noodles or other fun toys. Add a speaker to play your favorite island music to complete the vibes.
19. Backyard Campout
Pull out your camping tent and set it up in the yard for a beautiful space to sleep under the stars. Use sleeping bags, flashlights, or string lights, and keep snacks nearby for the full experience.
20. Boost up Bathtime
Treat yourself to spa-style baths during your staycation by adding essential oils, bath salts, fruit, bath bombs, and candles.
Playing music and turning off the lights during this time will add to the tranquility. Cozy up with a book and let the warm water wash away any stress.
21. Go Phone-free
Last on our list is an easy (and free) staycation staple – doing a digital detox. Find a place in your home where you can put your phone away for the day or during different periods throughout the day, like while cooking or enjoying the sunset.
Staycation Tip:
Treat your staycation like a real vacation, because that’s exactly what it is. Turn off your phone notifications, turn on out-of-office replies, and let yourself fully unwind.
Even if it’s just for the weekend, staycations are a great way to recharge without breaking the budget or needing to travel too far. You can turn your home into the perfect retreat with just a few creative touches. Bon voyage!
