Take a Staycation: 7 Ways to Make the Most of the Weekend
Freshen up your decor, kick back with a good book or a binge-worthy TV show and relax into a vacation state of mind
Laura Gaskill
July 3, 2018
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
It’s a good weekend to go barefoot, make a batch of fancy water, snip some blooms in the garden, read a good book and binge-watch a favorite show (Queer Eye, anyone?). Seven could-dos for a summery weekend are ahead.
1. Take a Mini Staycation
If you wish you were jetting off to a tropical beach but reality has you hanging at home, make the most of your downtime and act like a tourist in your own town. Check out a museum or attraction you usually skip, take a bike ride along a scenic path, make a batch of fancy water (just add lemon or cucumber slices) to keep in the fridge and play music that gets you in a vacation mood.
Simple Pleasures: Make the Most of Your Staycation
If you wish you were jetting off to a tropical beach but reality has you hanging at home, make the most of your downtime and act like a tourist in your own town. Check out a museum or attraction you usually skip, take a bike ride along a scenic path, make a batch of fancy water (just add lemon or cucumber slices) to keep in the fridge and play music that gets you in a vacation mood.
Simple Pleasures: Make the Most of Your Staycation
2. Roll Up Your Rugs and Go Barefoot
Putting away the area rugs for summer makes cleaning quicker and floors feel cooler underfoot — who doesn’t want that? Vacuum rugs before storing, or drop them off to be professionally cleaned if needed. If you’re looking for other laid-back touches to get your house in the summer mood, consider putting up a hammock or hanging chair, swapping art for a big beach photo and making the beds with crisp white sheets.
How to Create the Mood of a Laid-Back Beach House
Putting away the area rugs for summer makes cleaning quicker and floors feel cooler underfoot — who doesn’t want that? Vacuum rugs before storing, or drop them off to be professionally cleaned if needed. If you’re looking for other laid-back touches to get your house in the summer mood, consider putting up a hammock or hanging chair, swapping art for a big beach photo and making the beds with crisp white sheets.
How to Create the Mood of a Laid-Back Beach House
3. Stay In and Catch Up on Binge-Worthy TV
Just too hot to deal? Stay in where it’s cool and catch up on one of your favorite TV shows. If you haven’t watched it yet, try Season 2 of the Queer Eye reboot — it’s available now on Netflix and is just as fun and encouraging as ever. Maybe you’ll gather some design inspiration while you’re at it!
‘Queer Eye’ Designer Bobby Berk on Meaningful Makeovers
Just too hot to deal? Stay in where it’s cool and catch up on one of your favorite TV shows. If you haven’t watched it yet, try Season 2 of the Queer Eye reboot — it’s available now on Netflix and is just as fun and encouraging as ever. Maybe you’ll gather some design inspiration while you’re at it!
‘Queer Eye’ Designer Bobby Berk on Meaningful Makeovers
4. Treat Yourself to New Bath Essentials
A cluttered bathroom sink and messy medicine cabinet can make for a less than relaxing morning. Revamp your routine by tossing out expired products, then treat yourself to something new — like a good-smelling bar of soap, a fresh stack of washcloths or a pretty basket for stashing the extra TP.
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Bathroom
A cluttered bathroom sink and messy medicine cabinet can make for a less than relaxing morning. Revamp your routine by tossing out expired products, then treat yourself to something new — like a good-smelling bar of soap, a fresh stack of washcloths or a pretty basket for stashing the extra TP.
7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Bathroom
5. Encourage Summer Reading With a Cozy Nook
Whether you have kids at home or you want to read more books yourself, having a comfy place to settle in with a new title is key. And it doesn’t have to be a chair — a window seat, daybed, sofa or even a porch swing can make wonderful a reading nook. Plump up the seat with plenty of pillows and be sure there’s a quilt or throw within reach. If your preferred spot isn’t near a bookshelf, pile up some favorite books in a basket for portable reading options.
Inspiring Book Nooks Welcome Young Readers | Browse pillows and throws
Whether you have kids at home or you want to read more books yourself, having a comfy place to settle in with a new title is key. And it doesn’t have to be a chair — a window seat, daybed, sofa or even a porch swing can make wonderful a reading nook. Plump up the seat with plenty of pillows and be sure there’s a quilt or throw within reach. If your preferred spot isn’t near a bookshelf, pile up some favorite books in a basket for portable reading options.
Inspiring Book Nooks Welcome Young Readers | Browse pillows and throws
Brian W. Ferry Photography
6. Protect Your Veggie Garden From Furry Intruders
If you garden and live in an area with deer, bunnies, birds and other wild critters who like to munch on your fruits and veggies, you know what a challenge it can be to make it to harvest time with anything left for your own family. Protect your careful cultivation by planting a dense, deer-resistant screen or draping bird netting over berry bushes. For a more permanent fix, consider hiring a pro to construct a fence or enclosure for your kitchen garden, like the one shown here.
A Deer Fence Can Be Decorative as Well as Protective | Find landscape contractors
If you garden and live in an area with deer, bunnies, birds and other wild critters who like to munch on your fruits and veggies, you know what a challenge it can be to make it to harvest time with anything left for your own family. Protect your careful cultivation by planting a dense, deer-resistant screen or draping bird netting over berry bushes. For a more permanent fix, consider hiring a pro to construct a fence or enclosure for your kitchen garden, like the one shown here.
A Deer Fence Can Be Decorative as Well as Protective | Find landscape contractors
7. Deadhead Blooms to Keep the Flowers Coming All Summer
Prune spent blossoms and snip leafy herbs to encourage production throughout the summer. While you’re in the garden, cut flowers for a bouquet to bring indoors — carry a container of water with you into the garden so you can plunge the cut stems right away.
Your turn: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Enjoy Your Summer Garden — Here’s What to Do in July
How to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer
How to Simplify Life This Summer
Prune spent blossoms and snip leafy herbs to encourage production throughout the summer. While you’re in the garden, cut flowers for a bouquet to bring indoors — carry a container of water with you into the garden so you can plunge the cut stems right away.
Your turn: What are you looking forward to this weekend? Let us know in the Comments.
More
Enjoy Your Summer Garden — Here’s What to Do in July
How to Make Cut Flowers Last Longer
How to Simplify Life This Summer
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mccrackenmk wow, I didn't know that! I usually though leave them in the pots :D
As an "Official Lazy Gardener" (Habitat Network), I don't deadhead, but let the flowers and plants form seeds and seedpods, and leave them throughout the Fall and Winter for the birds.
One year, we could not afford a vacation, so we did a staycation. For years, I wanted to visit a mini zoo that was a few blocks away from our house, but never got around to it. As part of the staycation, we planned to go see it. It was one of the best zoos I have ever visited. You could see many animals in just a few hours instead of feeling exhausted from walking all day, and the animals were up close and more personal than at a regular zoo. I was so glad we went! (Phillips Park Zoo in Aurora, IL). Sometimes you don't have to go far away to find a gem!