One of the best things about jetting off to far-flung destinations, aside from the holiday itself, is immersing ourselves in the sights and sounds that are so different from those on our home turf.

Whether you like the chilled vibes of a beach break or the colourful buzz of a bustling town, there is a whole heap of design inspiration to be found on our annual vacation that will have you plotting a home makeover from the comfort of your sunlounger.

“Drawing inspiration from serene holiday destinations, desti-core is one of the most stand-out trends for 2024,” explains Richard Eaton, design director at Denby. “It seems we’re all dreaming of a coastal summer to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life. Google searches for ‘coastal home décor‘ have increased by more than 5000% in just the last month, making it a breakout trend for the season.” 

But why exactly is travel so good for interior design inspiration?

To put it simply, it’s all to do with the memories holidays evoke.

“When we visit and subsequently fall in love with a destination, it often means that we will have the urge to bring the memories, both physical and emotional, of our travel experiences back with us and into our homes,” explains Nadine Finnegan, interior designer at Decurate Interiors.

“For those who are design curious, it often leads us down the path of wanting to incorporate elements from our summer travels.”

Introducing some of the design details of our travels into our home decoration also helps elevate a space in a way that’s personal to you.

“It’s also a fun and interesting way to decorate, as our homes should be a constant work in progress, which allows us to add to them through the years,” Nadine adds.

From the quaint décor of the French Riviera to the pared-back luxury of the Balearics and the sunshine zing of the Amalfi Coast, we spoke to the interior experts about how to successfully harness the inspiration from some classic holiday hotspots.

Ibiza, Spain

One of Britain’s most beloved holiday destinations, Ibiza is more than just the party capital of Europe, the Balearic Island off the Eastern coast of Spain, is also known for its beautiful sandy beaches, white-washed villages, and historic charm.

To bring some of this famous island’s vibe back with you, Nicola Wilson, Design Manager at Denby suggests trying to incorporate some of its summery, coastal aesthetic into your home design.

“Pair light, neutral shades like cream and sandy beige with varying shades of blue to evoke Ibiza’s famous beaches,” she recommends.

“You could add pops of colour with vibrant pieces of kitchen and homeware, while textured fabric like crochet for curtains and throws can also give your home a laid-back, Mediterranean feel.”

Lena Gierasinska, head of product and displays at Barker and Stonehouse says the Ibizan aesthetic celebrates simplicity and relaxation.

“Embrace pastel shades, natural textures and warm woods for the perfect combination that evokes a sense of warmth and connection to nature,” she suggests. “Pair soft fabrics with limewashed walls for a beautiful blend of materials and colour that reflect the light, open and refreshing feel of summers spent on the coast.

“The ‘less is more’ approach is key with this trend to foster a relaxed and refreshing environment and to capture the sense of serene comfort enjoyed on holiday within one’s own home,” she adds.

South of France

With more than 375,000 views on TikTok relating to the hashtag #Riviera over the last month in the UK, the coastal region along the south of France that extends into Italy is typically associated with elegance, chic and glamour.

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit the French Riviera in the South of France, you were probably charmed by their delicious food, prestigious wine, and beautiful villas.

While you may not be able to bring the weather (or famous vineyards) back with you, you can take inspiration from Provence’s rustic yet high-end interior design by adding touches of this aesthetic to your home.

“To remind you of sun-drenched rooms in a charming French villa, opt for a light colour palette using plenty of pastel shades against crisp, white walls,” suggests Nicola.

“Think muted, complementary shades like beige, olive, ochre, lavender, and baby blue.”

Nicola recommends aiming for a simple, uncluttered design with a rustic feel from wooden furniture like a vintage dresser or farmhouse table.

“However, you can also add a touch of flair with expressionist wall art or pops of colour from ceramic vases filled with fresh-cut flowers,” she continues. “To really capture the French way of life, lay your table in the morning with a freshly brewed cafetière, a bowl of fresh fruit, and plates of warm pastries. Bon appétit!”

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscan villas are known for their stone walls, terracotta roofs, and rustic wooden furniture.

“While you may not own an ivy-clad farmhouse in the hills back at home, you can still incorporate this famous colour palette to your home through smaller touches,” recommends Nicola.

She suggests trailing hanging plants like ivy or string of hearts across kitchen shelves to add a touch of mother nature to your home, or buying ceramics with botanical patterns like flowers and leaves.

“Add to this farmhouse feel by opting for colours like muted yellows, brown, burnt orange, and olive green throughout your Tuscan-inspired décor,” she adds.

The Maldives

From its clear-blue waters to its paired-back design, the Maldives exudes tranquillity, tropical charm and understated luxury.

“Natural textures feature heavily in the Maldives and basket lights are a must to add contrast to white-washed ceilings,” recommends Samantha Knight, creative director at Samantha Knight Interiors.

“Don’t be put off by the holiday feeling when it comes to basket lights. There are some lovely ones on the market and they can work just as well at home if you find one with a tight weave which has a bit more weight to it. Check out pinch.com for their Anders ceiling light handcrafted in East London from banana leaf.” 

Going barefoot between indoor and outdoor spaces is a must in the Maldives so Samantha suggests taking some inspiration from the interiors and placing soft outdoor rugs throughout the ground floor of your home.

“It allows for easy and stain-free living between the garden and the living room while allowing you to stay barefoot at home during the summer months without the worry of bringing in dirt from the garden,” she explains.

“An outdoor rug is easy to clean and you can even use a hose to clean it down and dry it in the sunshine.” 

Mallorca, Spain

Rooted in centuries of coastal living, the Mallorcan aesthetic combines indoor-outdoor living, natural materials, and a minimalist-chic approach.

Samantha says designing in Mallorca has influenced the way she understands the use of colour.

“The landscape on the island is very vibrant so I am careful not to compete or clash with the natural colour I find outside a property that is visible through the windows,” she explains. “I treat a Mediterranean garden as artwork, I keep the interior palette serene but heavy on texture with hand-crafted furniture commissioned from local materials to ensure a cosy and layered interior that promotes a connection with the landscape.”

Samantha says Mallorca is all about an interior which blends great indoor and outdoor living.

“Therefore, for an easy going interior back home I always recommend looking to a fabric house such as Romo or Designer’s Guild which has a brilliant outdoor fabric range which feels as soft as an indoor linen,” she explains. “Upholstering your sofa in an outdoor fabric resists stains and muddy paws to keep your sofa looking new for longer and leaving you less to worry about if you run a busy family home.” 

The designer says she also encourages clients to grow cutting gardens or olive trees once they return home from holiday so they can cut stems from their gardens or window boxes to fill vases and instantly create a simple and affordable connection between their garden and their home.

“Most houses and hotels in Mallorca have large ceramic vases dotted around the interior filled with simple cuttings from the garden!” 

The Amalfi Coast, Italy

Amalfi Core is an emerging Italian interior design style that has gained traction for its authenticity and attainability, which twins traditional coastal design with authentic and modern Mediterranean features.

Searches on Google for ‘Amalfi Coast’ were up by 22% in the last month, with more than 160,000 monthly searches for the popular destination

“Whilst there aren’t any two exact colours to choose from when designing an Amalfi Core style living space, it is worth noting the broad spectrum of vibrant colours that work well,” explains Melissa Denham, interior design expert at Hammonds Furniture. 

“Bolder and energetic colours such as faded blues to replicate the deep blue hues of the Bay of Salerno, or zesty yellows to match the exteriors of the architecture, can all work superbly well with this particular style – think of bright, warm and playful colours such as terracotta and creams”.

Melissa says deep and earthy tones of natural wooden furniture also look perfect against a clean white wall.

“The natural grain of wood can add softness and soul to a room, and it is easily paired with pale and deep blues to create a coastal vibe.”

Colourful and playful rugs can give you the opportunity to match brighter coloured furniture together, such as your sofa.

“Or perhaps choose an alternative colour as a standalone focal piece for the room. Patterned and ornamented pieces work well too,” Melissa adds.

“Rattan-style rugs are a fantastic accessory option and woven or flat-weave rugs in earthy reds and terracotta tones would also look great.

“You could go one step further and combine this with a more permanent addition – ceramic patterned tiles work brilliantly with this particular style, thanks to their rustic look and are easy to clean.”

Introducing zesty shades of lemon into your home will also help evoke happy memories of long sunny days spent on the Amalfi Coast…

“Reminiscent of the lemon groves found in this beautiful part of Italy, these optimistic hues will transport you to sunnier climates”, says Shelley Cochrane, accessories buyer at Furniture Village.

She suggests creating a focal point within a room by choosing a large piece of furniture, such as a sofa or bed, in a bold yellow shade and pairing it with whitewashed furniture or rattan for a refreshing touch.

“A joyful stripe or a hint of green completes the look – coming home has never felt so much like going away.”

Santorini, Greece

An incredibly popular tourist destination due to its breath-taking scenery, Santorini’s iconic blue and white colour palette is pretty unmistakable.

When trying to recreate the Insta-worthy vistas of this Greek island in your interiors this summer, you know which colours to opt for!

“Incorporating these bright whites and vivid blues in your homeware, artwork, and design accents such as handcrafted ceramics, means that even if you return home to grey skies, you can still enjoy the island’s coastal hues every day,” advises Nicola.

While Greece is full of ‘white interiors’ it doesn’t have to be boring…

“Layer white on white with fabrics in different tones of white and texture,” advises Samantha. “A white boucle and a white linen look fabulous next to each other with timber accent furnishings or an antique find.

“Colourful artwork can add a welcome pop of colour in common areas such as your entering space,” she adds.

To take inspiration from the romantic, elevated dining experiences in Santorini, Nicola suggests keeping things simple yet sophisticated when it comes to your dining table.

“Lay it with a crisp, white tablecloth and add a selection of candles for a touch of ambience,” she says.

“Choose plates and bowls with subtle colours, patterns, and textures inspired by the coast: these might be pastel shades of coral, turquoise sea glass, or the azure ocean itself.

“To create a truly Greek tablescape, you could even incorporate olive branches into a homemade centrepiece or attach them to place settings to lay out at your next dinner party.”

Scandinavia

Not typically a summer holiday destination, but Scandinavian interiors provide endless home decor inspiration for UK homes.

To create relaxing and tranquil rooms, Carly Greening, creative product manager at The Floor Room suggests embracing Scandi colour palettes and incorporating natural materials into your space.

“Give your interiors a breath of fresh air by mixing minimalism, organic lines and mid-century decor to create a neutral modern scheme of comfort for relaxed living,” she advises.

“Suitable for all rooms and home types alike, the trend for organic, modern interiors continues to rise in popularity, thanks to its neutral colour palette and love of natural materials. Bringing these into the home helps to create a polished yet casual look, which adds depth and character to a space. 

“From the walls to floors, furniture to accessories, use a mix of materials including wood, wool or cork as your base, and begin to layer the scheme with textured materials. Marble and fluted wooden tables shouldn’t go amiss and keep the colour palette cohesive, adding small pops of colour through accessories to bring the scheme together.”