With Australian borders closed for the time being, a European summer escape has never seemed further away. But this doesn’t mean we have to completely miss out on the holiday magic! Sydney interior designer Justine Wilson, shares four simple steps to bring some holiday magic into the comfort of your own home.
Travel books
Having lovely open pages on your coffee table or some beautiful travel photography on your kitchen bench, can bring that touch of European summer you’ve been missing. It might tease your tastebuds into creating a European dish or take you back in time to dreams of past getaways.
European scents
Create a holiday ambience through some beautifully lit candles. A delicate arrangement of mismatched candleholders can uplift your mood and remind you of a lovely holiday from the past. You could try some floral scents for a French vibe, a musky spice for a Moroccan feel or waves of ocean scents that take you back to the Greek Islands!
Gallery walls
Many European homes like to feature large gallery walls, with a variety of old and new decor. Due to their smaller spaces, Europeans have developed a charming cluttered art style along their walls.
This could be a great time to decorate your own walls with travel memories and mementos, breathing some new life into your home. It’s as simple as framing travel photos, posters, tickets from previous holidays, or even inspiring quotes from European musicians or poets. Your new collection could become a beautiful talking point within your home that grows with your travelling dreams.
Eclectic interiors
European homes are often an interweaving of styles; trinkets from antique markets and inherited treasures mixed in with modern styles of furniture. Parisian interiors and English country houses are both well known for this assorted aesthetic. Think of it as mixing a Persian rug with a rustic coffee table, plus a modern slip covered sofa. Another European home feature is the display of mismatched cushions and textures. For example, you could display a tartan throw with a rich, velvet cushion whilst adding a floral and patterned feature cushion as well.
Although the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder, we can adopt the European style of layering to bring a cosy ambience into our homes whilst creating some vacation vibes and inspo for the future!
– Justine Wilson is the founder of Vault Interiors.
