Sweet Retreat

Whether your getaway is a second residence or the bedroom down the hall, you can break free of the decorating doldrums.

The hot news on the home front these days is that everybody wants seconds. In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), second homes accounted for four out of every ten residences sold last year.

Capri Bed from Excelsior Designs

Not surprisingly, affluent baby boomers are dominating the market. "Boomers believe in diversifying their assets and most second-home owners see their purchase as being a better investment than stocks," notes David Lereah, NAR's chief economist.

Even so, the purchase of a second home, whether as a vacation getaway or an investment property, is a big move for most. Among the many questions that need to be addressed before making the leap: Will the home be used a few times a year and rented out to others the rest of the time? Will it be used occasionally for business? Will you have time for routine upkeep? Do you plan to retire to the home someday? And, once all of these questions have been answered, and the second home is purchased, it's time for yet another really big decision: just how will you decorate it?

For many people, a second home represents a second chance, and they tend to shape the new residence by a wish list of things they don't have in their primary home. Still others see a second home as an opportunity to simplify busy, everyday routines. In search of peace and relaxation, they want to throw off the bonds of heavy fabrics, trims, details, fussiness, and the traditional décor of their 'formal' residence in favor of clean-lined, contemporary, and low-maintenance surroundings.

Whichever description is more apt, the important thing to remember is that a second home is your opportunity to experiment and have fun. It's a chance to express yourself via décor in ways that may be completely different from your everyday environment. It is, after all, an escape.

A Chance to Dream

Bellagio by Excelsior Designs

If a vacation home is not in the cards, or you'd prefer to retreat on a more regular basis, it's possible to create a haven right down the hall.

Given its role as a private space away far from the maddening crowd, a bedroom is ideal for self-expression; a place to spread one's decorating wings, so to speak. And the calming effect of streamlined, contemporary furnishings can be the perfect antidote to busy, over-programmed lives.

Redecorating may actually be good for your health, particularly if you're among the millions of Americans suffering from insomnia. If you're lacking shut-eye, experts suggest taking a good look at your sleep environment.

While it may seem obvious, those who study sleep for a living say it's important to ensure your bedroom is, first and foremost, a place to sleep. This means anything that does not promote sleep and relaxation needs to be banished from the room. Clutter is a no-no, but so is taking your work to bed. Relocate the bills, desks, laptops, and baskets full of correspondence.

Then, have at it. Opt for the highest thread count linens you can find, simple, but beautiful fabrics, and clean-lined pieces with a modern, minimalist sensibility and enough storage options to keep surfaces clear. Just as in a vacation home, the idea is to make maintenance a snap, so make "less is more" your mantra!