How to “add” with intention, so your Mallorca home feels welcoming, not overwhelming.
When you’re designing a holiday home, it’s easy to believe you need to choose between two extremes.
On one side, you have the ultra-minimal look, beautiful, but a bit too pristine. The kind of place where nobody wants to put a glass down.
On the other, you have the “cosy” holiday home that slowly becomes a magnet for random bits, souvenir overload, mismatched cushions, half-used candles, and that inevitable drawer full of keys and things nobody can identify.
The sweet spot is somewhere in the middle.
A home can feel warm, welcoming, and full of character, without being cluttered. The secret is not removing personality. It’s adding it on purpose.
If you’re working on a Mallorca holiday home design, this approach helps you create a space that feels effortless, finished, and easy to live in, even if you only spend a few months a year there.
The goal isn’t “less”, it’s “right”
Decluttering doesn’t have to mean living with nothing.
For design lovers, it’s not about stripping everything back until your shelves look like a showroom. It’s about choosing what stays, what gets displayed, and what gets stored, so your home feels calm but interesting.
The best holiday homes have breathing space, but they also have soul.
That might look like:
● one beautiful bowl on the console, not five
● a curated stack of books you’ll actually read
● ceramics that feel special, but not precious
● a home that feels styled, but still relaxed
Think of it like curating a boutique, not clearing a warehouse.
This is where Justine Knox, our interior designer’s styling really shines, creating homes that feel elevated and personal, without feeling overdone.
Curating vs purging, especially when you’re starting fresh
If you’re starting with an emptier space, the temptation is to fill it quickly which can often lead to panic buys and wasted money.
A few weekend shopping trips, a couple of “that’ll do” purchases, and suddenly you’ve got a home full of things, but not much cohesion.
Instead of filling shelves to make the house feel complete, try curating with intention from the start.
Ask yourself:
● Does this add warmth or just take up space?
● Will I still love this next year?
● Does this suit the way we actually live here?
● Does it support a calm holiday lifestyle?
Curating is what stops your home becoming cluttered in the first place.
It also helps you spend better. Fewer pieces, better choices.
If you’re investing in interior design in Mallorca, this mindset is what keeps your home looking timeless, rather than trend-driven.
“Holiday home clutter” on purpose
Let’s talk about the good kind of clutter. The kind that makes guests feel welcome and instantly relaxed when they walk in after a flight. The kind that says: this home is loved.
Intentional clutter is about creating gentle moments throughout the home, without crowding every surface. Here are some examples of the “good clutter” we love in holiday homes:
The entry moment
Something beautiful to start with be that a vase of flowers or a lovely piece of art. A simple tray or bowl for keys, a basket for hats, a spot for a beach bag. It’s practical, but it also creates that “arrived” feeling, instead of chaos the minute you walk in.
The kitchen moment
A beautiful fruit bowl, a board for tapas nights, a small collection of glasses you genuinely enjoy using. Not everything needs to be out, but the things you do display should feel considered.
The living room moment
Some statement coffee table books, one sculptural object, a candle or two, one vase. Enough to feel styled, not enough to feel like you’re constantly moving things around.
The bedroom moment
A couple of lovely hangers, good bedside lighting, soft linen, one framed print a small vase or tray for jewellery. Holiday bedrooms should feel calm and restful, not like storage areas for leftover furniture.
This is what we mean by adding “clutter” with intention.
Storage that supports holiday life, not everyday life
A Mallorca holiday home has a different rhythm to your full-time home.
You’re not doing the school run. You’re not living in every cupboard. You might not be there year-round.
So storage needs to be simple, intuitive, and easy to reset after guests.
This is where we recommend storage that quietly supports the way you actually use the home.
A few holiday-home favourites:
● A basket for pool towels, ready to grab and go
● A dedicated shelf or box for sunscreen, sunglasses, and beach essentials
● One drawer for spare keys, remote controls, chargers
● A hidden spot for cleaning supplies, so they’re easy but not on display
● A tray for evening outside essentials, candles, mosquito spray, throws and a game or two.
The goal is not “perfect organisation”. It’s a home that stays calm without effort.
This is something we plan often at Knox Design Mallorca, especially for clients creating a fresh home from scratch.
Keep character, without filling every corner
Character doesn’t come from having more things.
It comes from having the right things.
A holiday home feels instantly more personal when you choose a few pieces with meaning:
● art that reflects your taste
● a beautiful lamp that gives warm light at night
● a framed photo that makes you smile
● ceramics from a local maker
● textures that feel natural and relaxed
You don’t need to fill every shelf or cover every wall.
In fact, leaving space is what makes the special pieces stand out.
Be intentional with what’s on display
Holiday homes often get cluttered on surfaces first : kitchen counters, bedside tables, bathroom shelves, console tables. Our rule is simple: If it’s on display, it should either be useful or beautiful. Ideally both!
A quick styling reset you can use in any room:
- Clear the surface completely
- Put back only what belongs there
- Group items so they look intentional
- Use trays or bowls to “contain” smaller pieces
- Leave breathing space
It’s a small shift that makes the whole home feel calmer and more premium.
Want help creating a holiday home that feels finished, not filled?
Whether you’re starting with an empty space or refreshing what you already have, the goal is the same: to have a home that feels welcoming and beautifully put together.
If you’d like expert support, Knox Design in Mallorca offers:
● Styling advice sessions, to help your home feel warm, balanced, and complete
● Storage planning consultations, designed around how you actually live in your Mallorca home
For practical holiday home design ideas, and personalised guidance from us at Knox Design, get in touch by emailing info@knoxdesign.net.