Decorating Tricks to Bring a Breezy Resort Vibe Indoors
Resort living isn't all about indoor-outdoor spaces; in an urban home where you can't always have an outdoor space, it's all about styling
One of my personal favourite decorating styles is resort living, which essentially means your home is kitted out to feel like you’re on perpetual holiday. A large part of why this style is so suited to our region is because of the tropical climate we’re so lucky to have: year-round sunshine and fairly consistent temperatures. Achieving that resort look can be done in so many ways, and the best part is that these styling tricks can be adapted to where you live, whether it’s a perpetually hot and humid island like Singapore or in a less-sunny part of the world.
Here I’ve outlined seven simple ways to bring the outdoors in, which is a key component of resort style living. Sure you can bring in some greenery indoors and call it a day, but there are plenty more methods to adding a tropical touch to a living space. These are some of my tips and tricks:
Here I’ve outlined seven simple ways to bring the outdoors in, which is a key component of resort style living. Sure you can bring in some greenery indoors and call it a day, but there are plenty more methods to adding a tropical touch to a living space. These are some of my tips and tricks:
Break down boundaries
Rather, blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. This is the easiest trick in the book when leaning towards the resort living look. If you’re fortunate enough to have a sprawling yard space, think about extending your indoor living area into your outdoor space.
More indoor-outdoor schemes
Rather, blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. This is the easiest trick in the book when leaning towards the resort living look. If you’re fortunate enough to have a sprawling yard space, think about extending your indoor living area into your outdoor space.
More indoor-outdoor schemes
Look underfoot
Decorating in the tropics means practical floor choices: hardwood panelling and concrete tiles are some of my favourites. An easy way to bring the outdoors inside is by using the same flooring indoors and out. This offers the illusion of a seamless, unified area when the dividers are open. Obviously, this may not be the most practical choice if you’re using parquet flooring at home, so consider the inexpensive fix of cheery indoor/outdoor fabrics and use the same pattern both indoors and outdoors.
Decorating in the tropics means practical floor choices: hardwood panelling and concrete tiles are some of my favourites. An easy way to bring the outdoors inside is by using the same flooring indoors and out. This offers the illusion of a seamless, unified area when the dividers are open. Obviously, this may not be the most practical choice if you’re using parquet flooring at home, so consider the inexpensive fix of cheery indoor/outdoor fabrics and use the same pattern both indoors and outdoors.
Incorporate natural textures
To bring in the outdoors in an understated way, consider using natural fibres and textures in your decor. Think greenery, botanical patterns, sisal or jute rugs, and natural wood pieces. Always use natural elements where possible, so instead of opting for cushions printed with palm trees, get the actual plant. This also adds textural contrast to a room, which gives the space more visual depth and helps to create a real “lived in” look.
To bring in the outdoors in an understated way, consider using natural fibres and textures in your decor. Think greenery, botanical patterns, sisal or jute rugs, and natural wood pieces. Always use natural elements where possible, so instead of opting for cushions printed with palm trees, get the actual plant. This also adds textural contrast to a room, which gives the space more visual depth and helps to create a real “lived in” look.
Incorporate natural elements
An inexpensive way of personalising your home is to use natural elements that you like. Often these can be travel mementos or objects that hold sentimental value, e.g. rocks and seashells. Tropical decorating is also about creating a “freshness” in the decor: fresh plants, flowers, and even fruit work well. And you can also put these natural elements to practical use – a large clam shell in the bathroom makes for a perfect soap dish, or add a few stones or seashells to functional trays used to corral electronic devices such as remote controls on the coffee table.
An inexpensive way of personalising your home is to use natural elements that you like. Often these can be travel mementos or objects that hold sentimental value, e.g. rocks and seashells. Tropical decorating is also about creating a “freshness” in the decor: fresh plants, flowers, and even fruit work well. And you can also put these natural elements to practical use – a large clam shell in the bathroom makes for a perfect soap dish, or add a few stones or seashells to functional trays used to corral electronic devices such as remote controls on the coffee table.
Use natural light to your advantage
Wherever possible, use natural and ambient lighting; artificial, overhead lighting can quickly ruin a room. A quick and easy way of bringing the outdoors in is to maximise that light through reflective surfaces. Look for metallic or pearlescent finishes, for example, or add mirrors to the space to really “open it up”.
Wherever possible, use natural and ambient lighting; artificial, overhead lighting can quickly ruin a room. A quick and easy way of bringing the outdoors in is to maximise that light through reflective surfaces. Look for metallic or pearlescent finishes, for example, or add mirrors to the space to really “open it up”.
Demonstrate restraint
Decorating with a clear design vision is key to creating a coherent and cohesive look throughout your home. Remember that little things add up, so add on with restraint. A rattan chair on its own will clearly not convey the reference to outdoors, but combine that with a nature-inspired colour palette and other textural elements and your space will be resort-inspired in no time. Take your time to decorate and introduce design elements to any space and make sure your choice looks intentional.
TELL US
Are you a fan of resort living? What’s your favourite way of channelling the outdoors inside your home?
MORE
10 Ways to Bring the Great Outdoors Into Your Apartment
6 Ideas for Creating a Cohesive and Cosy Living-Dining Space
12 Ways to Make Your Space Resemble a Design Hotel
Decorating with a clear design vision is key to creating a coherent and cohesive look throughout your home. Remember that little things add up, so add on with restraint. A rattan chair on its own will clearly not convey the reference to outdoors, but combine that with a nature-inspired colour palette and other textural elements and your space will be resort-inspired in no time. Take your time to decorate and introduce design elements to any space and make sure your choice looks intentional.
TELL US
Are you a fan of resort living? What’s your favourite way of channelling the outdoors inside your home?
MORE
10 Ways to Bring the Great Outdoors Into Your Apartment
6 Ideas for Creating a Cohesive and Cosy Living-Dining Space
12 Ways to Make Your Space Resemble a Design Hotel
One simple way of doing this is to give your windows a good clean and keep them open. The latter allows for wind tunnels and gentle breezes throughout the house – remember that decorating is about engaging all your senses, and a mid-afternoon breeze is far more evocative of a tropical holiday than the hum of the air-conditioning.
Scent the air with soy candles, scented reeds or diffusers. Engage your senses with fresh, citrus scents and other similar ones to evoke the feeling of the great outdoors.