Those with an eye for interiors will understand the importance of selecting a holiday destination with a sense of style.
Whether you’re going to be trawling through boutique stores for local wares, gathering interior inspiration for your own home or simply soaking up the unique character of a location, interior design can give us an insight into the history, culture and soul of a place.
Read on to find out where you should travel next, based on your favourite interior design style.
Modern tropical — Sri Lanka’s south coast
Certain locations have a sense of interior design that’s so strong that not even the most luxurious hotels can polish out the character — and Sri Lanka is one of these places. The country’s stylish interiors are heavily influenced by Geoffrey Bawa — the forefather of the tropical modernism movement — and his reclaiming of the island’s colonial aesthetic.
Journey along the laidback south coast to see how Bawa’s love of clean lines, airy spaces and contemporary design has lifted island’s colonial architecture into a new, design-forward era.
Stay: Amangalla, The Last House
Also consider: Singapore, Japan and Bali
Bohemian — Tulum, Mexico
Located on Mexico’s vibrant Riviera Maya, Tulum has become known for its beach clubs, yoga studios and iconic bohemian interior design. Here, you won’t find a hotel, restaurant or beach bar that isn’t swathed in natural linens, beachy rattans and earthy, desert tones.
Stay: La Valise Tulum, Altar Tulum
Also consider: Morroco, Spain and Bali
Country — The Cotswolds, England
As an interior design style, country may cover a wide variety of tastes including cottage, farmhouse and French provincial styles. However, as a country, England’s sweet storybook cottages, pretty rolling countryside and history of the country house makes it the perfect place to start exploring the country aesthetic.
While England’s Peak District, Lake District and southern seaside villages all offer plenty of idyllic country interiors, The Cotswolds are a lovely place to start your tour of the English countryside. Expect cosy fireplaces, wooden beams, deep claw-foot bathtubs and grand country kitchens with old-fashioned AGAs and copper pots.
Stay: The Bull – Charlbury
Also consider: The French countryside, New England
Coastal grandmother — New England, USA
Coastal grandmother might not be an official interior design term, but it perfectly describes the cosy seaside aesthetic of New England’s idyllic seaside towns around Maine, Cape Cod and Nantucket. With their hydrangea-covered porches, cane lounges and nautical antiques, these sweet coastal towns boast a combination of Hamptons elegance and cottage cosiness.
Stay: Greydon House
Also consider: England’s southwest, Sweden and Denmark
Mid-century modern — California, USA
While many locations offer good examples of mid-century modern design, the aesthetic really found its footing in California, where the the design style has become the signature aesthetic of the Californian desert city of Palm Springs.
This is largely thanks to the renowned real estate developer Joseph Eichler, who became known for building modernist homes throughout southern and northern California in the 1950s. The homes, with the their distinctly mid-century floor to ceiling glass, wood panelling and low-slung gabled roof, still have a significant influence on the interior design choices of this part of the world.
Stay: L’Horizon Resort Palm Springs, Les Cactus
Also consider: Denmark, Melbourne suburbs
Minimalist — Japan
The minimalist movement has its roots in Japanese design, which has been informed by centuries of Zen Buddhism philosophies around simplicity, nature and peace. For those who haven’t yet found an appreciation for minimalist interiors, a stay in Japan will be enough to convince you that less stuff doesn’t mean a lack of warmth, character or beauty.
Stay: Nipponia Mino Shokamachi, LOG Onomichi
Also consider: Denmark, Finland, Norway
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