Holiday at home! How to have a real 'staycation'

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Admittedly, you may feel you've spent more than enough time at home of late.

But with ever-changing travel restrictions and desirable destinations around the UK already snapped up, staying put may be the wisest and most economical choice.

And you would't be the only one seeking to tweak your personal space to get in the holiday mood.

The team at Price Your Job have seen interest in creating outdoor kitchens soar ten times from 2015 to 2021, as well as double the number of enquiries for outdoor bars between 2019 and 2020, and a 260% increase in people wanting swimming pools.

Read more: The most picturesque 'secret' beaches in the UK revealed

You may not be constructing that infinity pool just yet, but to help transport you to a more relaxing environment – without going anywhere – we've rounded-up the best ideas for creating a holiday vibe around your house and garden. Enjoy...

Dine outdoors

Get in the Mediterranean mood by eating and drinking alfresco in your back yard.

Sample some homemade Italian cuisine with a pizza oven, and get your hands on an outdoor bar – perfect for whipping up some spritzers.

Try and get a circular outdoor table if possible, since it will make conversations flow better than a rectangular one and make you feel like a family who lives like this all the time.

Buy it: Ooni Koda 12 Gas Fuel Portable Pizza Oven | £299 from John Lewis & Partners

Get sporty

If you've got kids to entertain, but want to encourage them to be more active than sitting in front of the TV, why not kit out your garden?

Set up some goal posts for a game of football, and – for those with a small space – a little light badminton is ideal.

If you want to keep things more contained, pick up a pool table, outdoor table tennis table or even an outdoor table football set.

Buy it: Outdoor Table Tennis Table | £399.99 from Decathlon

Tweak the decor

Tweak your decor to resemble past far-flung getaways.

"A bold outdoor rug in a bright blue colourway and quintessential geometric print forms the perfect foundation for a bold terrace look," says Nadia McCowan Hill, the resident style advisor at Wayfair.

"Channel the sun-kissed colours of far-flung climes with the brightest and boldest tableware.

"Create a relaxed and casual vibe by mixing and matching glassware: a spectrum of pastel tones will twinkle in the evening glow."

Hayley Baddiley, marketing director at Denby, adds: "Some blue and white ceramics, lanterns, and eucalyptus plants will give your al fresco dining area that Greek feeling, while a checked tablecloth, neutral ceramics, and flickering tealights will transform your patio into an Italian trattoria.

"You can also use brightly coloured plates and bowls and eye-catching paper decorations to create a dining area that rivals any Mexican taquería."

Oh, and update your sheets. "It may seem slightly trivial but something that is always such a treat about staying somewhere new is the bed linen," notes Josh Wildeman, Marketing Manager of Perfect Stays.

"You cannot beat crisp, fresh sheets, so why not treat yourself and pretend you’ve woken up in a luxury resort?"

Buy it: Bennet Hand Braided Ivory Rug | 361.99 (Was £83.99) from Wayfair

Warm up

While the heatwave temperatures looks set to continue, there's no doubt that the British weather can be rather unpredictable at times.

Stave off the evening chill with a portable fire – and stay dry with Aldi's gazebo.

And don't forget to keep a box of blankets close by!

Buy it: Gardenline Decorative Gazebo | £99.99 from Aldi

Cool off

But there's no doubt a holiday isn't a holiday without an ice-cream.

If you've got little ones to impress – or Instagram followers to wow – you could do worse than treat yourself to a DIY ice roll kit, for a dessert with a difference.

And neither is it a proper break without a drink.

"Get yourself a blender so you can make frozen drinks," suggests Sophie Beckett Smith, head of trading at AO.com.

"All you need to do is pop all the ingredients – whether it's a mocktail or cocktail – along with ice, so you can stay cool."

Buy it: NINJA Nutri Ninja QB3001UKS Blender | £59.99 from Currys

Have a movie night

"Throw yourself a film festival. Pick a theme, from beach movies to French thrillers and get ready for a laid-back weekend of nothing but movies," suggests Wildeman.

You can even get your hands on a pop-up projector for a truly cinematic experience.

Buy it: ELEPHAS Projector | £67.99 (Was £79.99) from Amazon

Indulge with a spa

"Although you may not be able to book an at-home masseuse, load up on as many sheet masks as possible, light your favourite scented candles, scatter some rose petals, run a hot bubble bath and voila! You’re indulging in holiday-like extravagance," says Wilderman.

If you want to really push the boat out, of course, get a hot tub!

Buy it: Lay-Z-Spa Vegas Hot Tub | £698 from Amazon

Make fun

Recreate the beach experience with a sandpit, some easy recliners and perhaps a slip & slide for the kids.

You can also, recommends Wilderman, do some home camping.

"If you have a garden, pitch a tent and turn it into your own personal campsite," he says.

"Create a back-garden camp by setting up some camp chairs around a fire or an outdoor log burner and make some s’mores and hot chocolate.

"You could even string some simple lights around your garden to add a little magic to your campsite."

Buy it: Amazon BasicsTent | £59.99 (Was £64.74) from Amazon

Snap it

And you can't forget about the holiday pictures.

The experts at Inkifi, which has a 'golden hour' tool telling you the perfect time for a photo, have a number of tips for getting the perfect shot.

They recommend being prepared as you may have just an hour at most for the best lighting, and checking ahead for the weather. But at least if you're holidaying at home and it rains, you can just head indoors and relax...

Buy it: CANON EOS 4000D DSLR Camera | £329 from Currys

Buy it: Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 camera | £69.99 from Boots