Many Kiwis are lucky enough to own a second home, which they can use as a holiday retreat. Some are grand affairs with values well in excess of many city dwellings while others are much simpler; a couple of rooms furnished with flea-market finds and cast-offs from the big house in town.

The style you choose depends very much on  money, of course but it's also influenced by the strength of your desire to cast off the complications of city life and set about getting back to basics.

If you happens to find that the decorating bug has struck when you arrive at your bach, crib, beach house or hut this year, read on for our simple ideas for making your bolt-hole more stylish without spoiling the relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Because a holiday home is often used by dozens of people in the course of a season, clutter can creep in quickly. So, on arrival, do a quick stocktake and get rid of anything you know you won't need.

Some holiday-makers enjoy and eclectic mix of old and mismatched crockery and cutlery but if you feel the need for new household essentials, the post-christmas sales will usually yield some useful bargains.

If your furniture looks a bit battered, why not put everybody to work with a paint brush, on arrival, giving it a quick spruce-up in anticipation of the hot, lazy weeks ahead?

As far as overall style goes, if you're staying by the sea, it's nice to adopt a nautical theme using blues, greens and distressed paint finishes. Use any treasures picked up on beach walks to make accessories and decorations. In bush settling a 'back-to-nature look might be more appropriate and when in doubt, a fresh, bright white scheme looks wonderful anywhere!

Jazz up old chairs and couches using covers, cushions and throws made from remnants and off-cuts and above all, make sure your floor coverings are easy to keep clean. Having lots of people traipsing in and out with sand on their feet is the stuff of housekeepers' nightmares!