There's nothing like a holiday to warm the soul. But for some holidaymakers, a trip abroad also means the chance to soak up interiors inspiration, so you can return home full of fresh ideas to try out.
When it comes to seeking out design abroad, there's no shortage of destinations with style. From the bustling spice souks of Marrakech to the skyscraper heights of Tokyo, our humble planet is teaming with towns and cities, each with a unique take on interiors.
So if you're looking to give your home a holiday feel (without leaving on a jet plane) here are 5 places to channel right now…
Ibiza
Ibiza may be famous for its club scene, but that's not all this Spanish island has to offer. Escape to its North East coast and you'll encounter Ibiza's boho alter ego. With its laidback lifestyle, beautiful beaches and flea markets it's full of fab interiors finds.
Ibiza's chilled-out mentality translates into its interiors too. With natural and loose fitting fabrics, together with ethereal white, making up the composite Ibizan home. It's a dream holiday destination.
Get the Ibiza Look:
Ibiza interiors are all about being relaxed, so a sofa fabric like our Washed Cotton fits the theme perfectly. This fabric type has been pre-shrunk, so it has that all-important relaxed look and feel that every Ibizan home has at its core.
Shell, Storm or Carraway are all perfect colours to plump for in our Washed Cotton fabric range. This are ideal for a colour palette of off white and cool hues.
Stick to neutral and natural accessories too with woods and other tactile textures. You could try a hanging planter, or some scaffold board shelves, both of which you can easily make at home.
Tokyo
Japan's capital is a melting pot of old and new where ancient tradition collides with modern tech and high-rise buildings. At night the city is alive with colour thanks to its many neon billboards. Behind closed doors Tokyo's interior style is slick, minimal and functional to a T.
Like Ibiza, Tokyo is big on wood. but the finish is more polished than undone. Combine this with industrial metals and glass, and you have the three key ingredients for a Japanese home from home.
Get the Tokyo look:
Tokyo interiors are all about clean lines, so it's important to channel this through your furniture. Opt for sofa and accent chair styles with square arms as well as beds that feature symmetrical frames.
A sofa bed is the perfect item of functional furniture (something you'll find in every Tokyo home). A one-seater sofa bed like The Appley is a great space saving solution. The Marston Chaise Storage Sofa Bed keeps to the minimal lines that define modern Japanese style.
The Marston chaise storage sofa/sofa bed
Marrakech
The sprawling maze of alleys within Marrakech's medina are like stepping back in time. Bikes weave in and out of crowds, donkeys kart wares through narrow streets, and the call to prayer echoes out from speakers around the city.
But walk through any of Marrakech's Riad doors, and what waits is a sensory delight. A rose water scented haven, rich with traditional Moroccan tiles, pretty pottery and plant life, harking back to ancient Moorish roots.
Get the Marrakech Look:
Marrakech is all about the senses, something that's vital to keep in mind when choosing furniture for a Moroccan-themed space.
Opt for fabrics that feel good against your skin - our matt velvets are ideal for this. Plus, they come in a host of bright colours that perfectly capture Moroccan style.
Accessorise with cushions in tile prints and tassel trims and choose lamps and lights in the hammered metal designs that Marrakech is famed for.
Bali
Elizabeth Gilbert's 2006 memoir Eat, Prey, Love, revived Bali as a must-visit holiday destination. But, it was the 2010 film release starring Juliet Roberts that really put Bali on the interiors map. An Indonesian island, famed for its lush green rice paddies, white sand beaches and temples, Bali is a feast for the eyes.
Balinese interiors are all about connecting the indoors to the outside. With lots of light-enabling glass walls, natural plant life and, not forgetting, lightweight fabric.
Get the Bali Look:
Balinese homes are about creating a feeling of peace and zen, as well as making the outside and inside feel as one. Linen is a great fabric for achieving this. Not only is it naturally breathable, but it regulates body temperature too, making it the ideal furniture fabric for every season.
Colour-wise, green is vital to any Balinese interior, as are natural earthy hues, and materials sourced from land and sea. The Lover Sofa in our Linen Cotton Pistachio fabric is a perfect choice for a Balinese living room theme.
The Lover sofa
While elsewhere, the Balinese are incredibly spiritual by nature. So a Buddha statue is an absolute must-have accessory, as are a cluster of framed photographs of your nearest and dearest friends and family.
Mexico
Known for its ancient ruins, Mayan cities and Spanish colonial influence, Mexico has a lot to offer visiting tourists on holiday. But away from its ancestry, modern Mexico is emerging as a designer's paradise. With Mexico City home to boutique bars and restaurants, upscale shops, as well as museums and galleries, all of which make Mexico one to watch.
In fact Mexico has been under the microscope in recent years with interior influencers hailing its unique style and character, something this House and Garden article perfectly sums up.
Get the Mexico Look:
Mexican interiors are dominated by bold block colours. Typically in primary blue and red colour pops, but also commonly incorporating hot pinks and burnt oranges too. So if it's Mexican style you admire, prepare to pick up a paintbrush and make your walls sing.
The same can be said for your furniture choices. When it comes to furnishing a Mexican living space, colour is the number 1 requirement. The brighter the better. So fabrics such as our Linen Cotton Chilli, Matt Velvet Mallard and Washed Cotton Salmon are all perfect for recreating a modern Mexican look in your home.
The Hunstrete chaise longue (discontinued) in Matt Velvet Mallard
Throw in a few potted cactuses and a Frida Kahlo photograph, together with some colourful cushions and throws, and there'll be no mistaking the Mexican influence in your living spaces.
For more interiors inspiration from afar, check out this House Beautiful gallery of 11 Spectacular Rooms from Around The World. Or for samples of any of our 130+ furniture fabrics visit our Free Samples page.
Kind regards,
The Willow & Hall team