12 Items to Pack to Make a Holiday Home Feel Like Your Own

Don’t leave the house without these holiday-home essentials…

Heading off to one of Ireland’s heavenly holiday homes? (It’s okay, we’re not envious or anything…) There’s nothing more annoying than getting there only to find you’re missing several vital items that you suddenly realise are essential to your comfort and ability to feel at ease. With that in mind, be sure to fill the boot with a carefully curated must-bring list of your favourite household booty. Scroll down to see our top picks for making yourself at home on holidays?

Denim throw in soft blue, €99, By M’lle

1 Bring a blanket. For cuddling up on the beach in the evening or doubling up as a picnic blanket you can’t go wrong with one of these.

Natural Essentials box set, ?30, Opinel

2 Not without your knife. Those of you who have cooked in an unlived-in kitchen will know the woes, so make sure you pack your peeler and have a good knife with you.

Domino set, around ?20, Liberty

3 Go for games. Don’t leave the house without some good old-fashioned entertainment – particularly if your holiday home has no TV – so be sure to pack whichever boardgame floats your boat.

Decl?or Purifying Starter Kit, around ?28, House of Fraser

4 Treat yo’self. For a spa-like treatment from your own (temporary) home, bring a pampering set of miniatures.

Corkscrew, €3, Tiger

5 You’ll be screwed? if you forget one of these! (But if you do, just pick up a few bottles of screwcap vino – cork-free New World varieties in particular are of high quality.)

English breakfast tea, around ?3, Crabtree & Evelyn

6 Cuddle up with a cuppa. There is really nothing that will make you feel more at home than a good cup of tea, so bring your own favourite blend or splash out on a fancy box like this, then sit back and indulge in the little things in life!

Le Creuset round casserole dish, ?235, Brown Thomas

7 Pick a pot to feed a crowd. Make sure you have a dish big enuogh to cater for a whole crowd. Having room to cook enough for leftovers also gives you more time to relax.

Arisu gown, ?112.50, Toast

8 Dress to impress. As far as we are concerned, if you have to get dressed, then it doesn’t count as a restful day – yet this is no excuse not to look your best… so why not flit about in a gorgeous gown?

Beolit 15 speaker, ?499, Bang & Olufsen

9 Make room for the boom box. No tinny music in your gorgeous temporary home! Having your own music is a great way to unwind in a new environment – and very necessary for parties! Sharp speakers (portable, obviously) are essential for music lovers.

Tumbler candle by Helen James Considered, ?12, Dunnes Stores.

10 Hold a candle. An age-old celebrity (diva) demand is to have a certain fragranced candle burning in his/her dressing room to give the star that sense of familiarity. This homely touch is both romantic and calming, so bring along your favourite scent to help you melt into your new surroundings.

Chromecast, ?39, Google

11 Take over the telly. This fantastic thumb-sized media streaming contraption allows you to play your apps from your phone, tablet or laptop on the TV screen, so have your Nexflix ‘to watch’ list at the ready!

Jane Eyre, ?12.50, Roads Publications

12 Count on the classics. Whether on the beach or in the bed, a good book cannot be beaten, and a beautifully illustrated classic really sets the scene.

1 Blanket / 2 Knives / 3 Dominoes / 4 Skincare / 5 Wine-bottle opener / 6 Tea / 7 Casserole dish / 8 Dressing gown / 9 Speaker / 10 Candle / 11 Chromecast / 12 Book

Now all you need is the pad… Check out 5 heavenly Irish holiday homes we’d love to hide away in.