5 easy ways to micro-decorate on vacation

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 13 of 13, SS26 * Subscribe free *

One of the perks of being on vacation is getting a break from the familiar – possibly too familiar – details of your home. Whether you're in the more spartan accommodation of a hotel room, or the more personalized one of a private dwelling, the fresh canvas is an opportunity to play with your design instincts in small yet satisfying ways. Here are five avenues to consider:

Rearrange the furniture

Obviously, you're not going to drag sofas and cabinets around, but smaller items are fair game. Even though the Montreal rental I'm staying in is furnished, the living room doesn't have a coffee table. I rigged my own by pulling two stools and a miniature side table together, and they're doing the job perfectly:

Remember where the items were to begin with, so you can reset the environment when it's time to go.

Display your analog media

You may have brought books or magazines along with you, or acquired some once you arrived. They're not just mental escape hatches, they're tangible ways to set the mood of a room:

If you collect vinyl records and nab a must-have discovery, pull it out of its brown paper bag and let it take centre stage. Even though I don't have a record player here, the Burt Bacharach disc I found at Phonopolis is already doing its job in creating ambience.

Build a still life

Your nearest grocery store is more than a source of sustenance. It's where you'll find accoutrements to liven up your temporary kitchen table. Pick items that look as good as they taste and you'll go far in making the space your own. I'm particularly fond of unripe bananas, to appreciate the gradual colour shift before they're ready to eat:

Present your thrift shop finds

Thrifting while on holiday is a great way to invigorate your temporary pad. Take what you've acquired and showcase it immediately. For example, I spotted a porcelain vase by Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala at Magasin Général Lambert Gratton on Duluth for only twenty-three dollars:

It's now housing some dried flowers I picked up at Fleuriste Les Champs Fleuris, alongside to a small poster from Jamais Assez, brightening a previously sparse corner:

No need to wait until you're home to get creative with your new treasures.

Mess with the colour scheme

If you're marinating in a less-than-ideal chromatic environment, don't be afraid to take action. You probably already have your favourite colours inside your luggage, so hook a hanger around a doorknob and show off a favourite shirt, replacing it with another when you need a different atmosphere:

Choose pieces that have a holiday vibe and you'll keep the environment upbeat.

And with that, we're wrapping up the Spring-Summer '26 season of the newsletter. We'll be back in late September with a new 13-week exploration of how to make your home reflect your unique way of seeing. We'll also be launching something brand new to accompany this newsletter – for now, it's hush-hush. Until then, stay stylish my friend!

Thank you for reading.