Sometimes a change is as good as a holiday.
Reluctant homebody?
Not all years are created equally and if, this time round, a getaway is not on the cards for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of your time at home.
Here are some uplifting home “changes” that can make even the dullest of staycations feel like a bit of a holiday.
Welcome yourself home with a holiday wreath.
If you are going to walk through your own front door all December long, make it pretty at least. Something as simple as hanging a wreath, festive or otherwise, on your door, to brighten the mood whenever you come home can go far towards making the most of your time off. You can make your own wreath or simply buy one of the many beautiful ones available at home décor stores.
Ask Martha Stewart for some inspiration, or simply hop on Pinterest and see what the rest of the world are doing.
Stock the fridge and fill the cookie jars!
You’ll be saving money on all the road trip food and eating out you would have done, so spend some cash on yourself and get the good snacks you never buy. Better yet, make and bake some of your favourites and keep them in the house for movie nights, midnight feasts and whenever you feel like it. Buy the good chocolate, get the nice rusks and splurge on the biltong.
Our favourite no-fuss home-made snacks include:
Fairy lights
The right lighting can make a world of difference to your home…it’s called mood lighting for a reason. Even if you are not a fan of brightly coloured Christmas lights, there is still an alure to the soft twinkle and glow of a dainty fairy light installation. Whether you wrap strings of lights around your trees, or decorate indoors, the options are infinite and the joy endless. Our favourites include these rechargeable copper string lights or this 50m string of electric twinkle lights that you can wrap around just about anything.
Family photos
If your staycation means that you are missing out on quality time with loved ones, why not invest in a small instant photo printer? Having happy snaps of your family and friends up around the house this festive season might just take the sting out of missing them! You can make a photo-wall by sticking cork tiles to your wall and then pinning up as many pictures as you want, or you can string up photos on bright wool with clothes pegs. You can order a photo printer online, and your budget will be the only limit to your photo dreams
Countdown calendar
Whether it is just a sticker-chart counting down to the last day of school or work, a delicious chocolaty advent calendar or any other count down to something fun this December – build the anticipation by having it on the fridge or up in your bedroom – wherever you can see it and feel the excitement grow. You can make a DIY countdown calendar, or you can treat yourself to a ready made one. You can even get advent style calendars with anything from perfume and cosmetics to jewellery!
Takealot has a great selection of advent calendars that fit any budget so find one that works for you and countdown to happiness!
For some inspiration on the DIY front, Good Housekeeping has a gallery with more than 50 DIY advent calendars.
Comfort on the home front
A good fan/aircon unit, great towels, or luxurious bedding can really up your quality of life. In preparation for your staycation, but also into the new year – treat yourself, you deserve it!
Move it around.
Once you have all your staycation home upgrades, don’t forget the final part. Moving and changing things. Use your time at home to change and reimagine your home. Your bed doesn’t have to stay against the same wall year in and year out, your sofas and couches aren’t nailed to the floor and you can create new spaces and dedicated relaxation zones by moving your favourite reading chair, updating your patio dining area, making a plan to have seating in the garden and simply “moving in” to your home, one room at a time. Look online for inspiration and unspoken rules about what makes a room work and start your staycation off with a big shift.
Whether it’s by choice or by necessity, it doesn’t matter – the fact is you are home this December so you might as well make the most of it.
