The kids are out of school, and your two weeks of vacation time are here. Many families look year after year for the perfect place to vacation. Some adventurous souls find the allure of an exotic place such as Umbria, Morocco or Costa Rica enticing. Others look for a tranquil place closer to home to unwind and put life into perspective. For those who live far away from their hometown, perhaps a place that serves as a connection to their past is what makes them relax and feel like a kid again. After a thorough search, you finally find the perfect location and end up owning your "dream." Now what?

The decoration of a vacation or second home seems like simple stuff at first glance, but the decisions you make will be around for a while, so give it serious thought. How many times a year and for how long will you be using your vacation home? Will you be renting out your home for part of the year to help defray annual costs?

Let's check out some statistics from the 2013 National Board of Realtors that will shed light on vacation homes. The typical buyer of a vacation home is 45 to 50 years of age, has a median household income of $92,000 and purchases a home that is approximately 435 miles from the primary home — and eight out of 10 buyers will depend on rental income. Most vacation homes will be held for 10 to 15 years.

So exactly how do you decorate for so many variables? Not only is this supposed to be a home away from home, but it also has to be designed to look good for at least 10 years and to be durable enough to accommodate its use by the many families that will rent it.

The interiors of many vacation homes start as a hodgepodge of items left over from a primary home. Generally, I advocate a mix of furnishings and periods as a good recipe for an eclectic interior, but the risk is that leftover furniture will collide. If this is the chosen route, try to find ways to tie your decor together. Color is always a good unifying start. Perhaps choose a wall color in gradating shades that will act as a unifier. Fabrics for upholstery and bedding featuring one or two colors that repeat from piece to piece can be effective in tying together furniture that otherwise might not blend. Keep in mind that heavily patterned upholstery fabric disguises the spots and stains of normal wear and tear. Another good idea for upholstery is to have slipcovers made of canvas or sailcloth that easily can be laundered.

For floors, opt for porcelain tile or wood floors over carpeting. Although initially carpeting will be less expensive, the carpet will wear and collect dust and dirt. Instead, use area rugs in natural fibers that are forgiving, such as seagrass, or cotton or synthetic rugs that can be laundered periodically.

Lastly, regarding accessories, less is more. Use fewer but larger accessories for a decorative punch. Fewer items keeps maintenance low. Incorporate few if any personal photographs, as each family will like to feel it is their home (at least for the time they rent it). Always use a dash of humor when decorating a vacation home or rental. In your primary home, the "rowboat" coffee table may seem out of place and hokey. But in a vacation home, it will make people smile ... or laugh.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash