How to Bring Resort-Style Decor into Your Home

How to Bring Resort-Style Decor into Your Home

There’s a quiet kind of luxury that lives in well-designed vacation homes. It is all about how the space makes you feel. Slower mornings, windows open to the breeze, a room that invites rest without demanding attention.

At bee designe, we often look to New England's quintessential coastal retreats, Cape Cod, Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard, for inspiration. These places embody simplicity without sacrificing elegance, and they remind us that thoughtful interiors can bring a sense of place into everyday life. Whether you’re renovating a full-time residence or looking to recapture the rhythm of a favorite getaway, here are a few ideas to bring resort-style home decor into your space in a way that feels personal and timeless.

Start with the Atmosphere

True resort-style design is built from a foundation of feeling at ease. Consider how natural light moves through your space. Think about textures that invite touch, colors that breathe rather than shout, and materials that hold character over time. Use this as a lens when selecting pieces. Linen bedding washed to softness, unlacquered brass that gently patinas, and wide-plank oak floors that show the grain.

This is also the perfect opportunity to play with wallpaper. Grasscloth and other natural fibers add dimension in a way that paint can’t replicate. We love using them in libraries, powder rooms, and entryways, where the visible seams and subtle texture feel tactile and grounding. When it comes to lighting, we always like to add dimmers.. Lighting is emotional. Having control of intensity, especially when layering pendants, sconces, and ambient sources, is one of the most impactful decisions you can make in shaping atmosphere.

A Bedroom That Doesn’t Rush You

In New England vacation homes, bedrooms feel serene and airy, minimal yet inviting. To create an effortless haven, embrace restraint and let the space breathe. Choose furnishings with clean lines and natural materials. Let your palette rest in muted tones: foggy gray, cream, bone, and the faintest sea-glass green. Instead of bright whites, opt for warmer shades that feel lived in.

If space allows, a reading chair or low bench adds a moment of pause. Use layered lighting options so the room adapts to your needs, from soft-glow bedside sconces to a pendant light that adds subtle architectural interest to the ceiling.

This is a space to indulge in textiles that bring depth and richness. Some of our favorite fabric houses for understated, high-quality materials include Rogers & Goffigon, known for their unbelievable natural linens, wool blends, and textured solids. Their muted palettes are perfect for creating spaces that feel bespoke and serene. We also often source from Holly Hunt’s Great Plains line, especially for bedrooms and outdoor spaces. These fabrics have real hand and quiet depth, exactly the kind of richness you feel more than you see.

Bathrooms That Feel Like Retreats

Stone, marble, and unlacquered fixtures feel timeless here. Walls painted in soft, mineral tones or covered in vertical shiplap can add texture without clutter. Consider the ritual of use, where towels are placed, how light filters in during the day, and where your hand naturally reaches for soap or lotion.

Add details that encourage slowing down: a small stool near the bath, a linen robe on a hook, and a candle with a subtle, grounding scent. These are the kinds of choices that quietly elevate daily life.

Outdoor Spaces Meant for Living

The beauty of New England coastal homes lies in how they blur the line between inside and outside. Even a small patio or terrace can feel expansive with the right approach.

Teak or woven outdoor pieces wear beautifully over time, aging with grace. Cushions in washed canvas or sailcloth tones offer comfort without pretense. Choose pieces that invite you to stay, a table for drawn-out dinners, a pair of chairs angled for conversation, a hammock tucked into the quietest corner of the yard.

Texture plays a role here, too. Planters in raw ceramic, lanterns in aged metal, and throws for cooler evenings bring the outdoors into alignment with the interior mood. If you're sourcing outdoor fabrics, Holly Hunt’s Outdoor line is a favorite. Refined, neutral, and durable, it’s designed for projects where even the casual moments deserve a thoughtful touch.

Subtle Coastal Accents

New England vacation home design creates a space that feels tied to place in more elemental ways. Use materials that echo the dreamy landscapes: driftwood, soft linen, and hand-thrown pottery. Let artwork reference the coast without stating it outright, a tonal abstract that recalls the tide, a vintage photograph of a harbor, or a well-worn topographical map framed in oak.

It’s these quieter nods that create emotional resonance and carry the spirit of your favorite destinations.

Final Notes

The rooms that feel like a retreat give you room to breathe. They allow for morning coffee without rushing, for natural pauses in the day, for small rituals that become meaningful. When we design with intention, we consider how a home evokes rest, connection, and calm. Shaping the way we experience daily life.

At bee designe, we don’t believe in design for design’s sake. We believe in homes that hold memory and possibility, comfort and elegance. With the right blend of materials, light, and thoughtful choices, it’s possible to bring the feeling of a summer retreat into every season.