Summer! The very word speaks of joy! Lush outdoors, sunny skies and bright colours style this beautiful season. Summer Decor is for the bold. With ‘contrast’ and ‘light’ playing a vivid role, it’s time to bring out the big guns and highlight those dark corners, draw the curtains and let the natural setting of the season take care of the rest. Think contrast, minimal setting, bright colours and a whole lot of natural light.
Breezy Whites
White and open! This should be the starting point for any summer decor. White is the go to colour for that perfect summer home. Lose the heavy drapes and replace them with white sheers that will flow with the day breeze creating that dynamic movement whilst letting in that gorgeous diffused light. Paint any existing old furniture, staircase, pots, etc white. Keep wall treatments light to reflect light and make the room appear larger and higher. Keep the floors simple with easyto- maintain surfaces allowing for a tonne of indoor-outdoor connect.
Tempting Textures
Look for elements that bring warmth – throws, pillows and even the fabric of your sofa or chairs contribute to creating warm sensations in your summer-inspired vision. Area rugs can also play a crucial role in bringing in that much needed colour whilst defining the room layout. Make spots welcoming and inviting, from a space by a nice long bay window to a patch of sand outside where you watch the stars. Toss large, cotton pillows and thick, nubby throws for comfort and a look of effortless style.
Coastal Colours in Watercolour
Beachify your home! Nothing speaks summer likes a coastal theme. The wavy palms, cool waters and blue skies evoke that serene summer vibe we all look forward to. Bringing that coastal aura into your home is as easy stripping down the space to its bare necessities and imbuing ith with those gorgeous coastal colours in the form of soft furnishings and accessories. A great coastal colour palette includes all shades of blue, crisp whites, gray, green, as well as neutrals. These hues basically echo the colours seen in nature, or along a stretch of beach. Watercolour paintings are also a great way to bring in that summer feel. Choose something light, airy and with a palette as fore-mentioned.
Take the indoor outside
De-cluttering the house and don’t know what to do with some of the furniture? Simple, take it outside! Be it a simple chair, or an old coffee table, paint it with a splash of white and throw on some fabric using a bold shade of blue or green to tie it all up together. Use the opportunity to try your hand at distressing some of the furniture while painting. White distressed furniture with a pop of a cool colour oozes that summer beach vibe.
Bring the outdoors inside
Add a splash of greenery – Indoor plants are a great way to liven up space. They are also currently very much in trend and for all the right reasons. Besides being able to purify the air inside your home, they are particularly appropriate to summer decoration. And, contrary to what people who think they have a so-called ‘black thumb’, or fear of commitment, may imagine, many indoor plants are easy to care for. In fact, they can survive pretty much on their own. Spider Plant, Dracaena, Peace Lily, Boston Ferns, Snake Plant (Mother-in-Law’s tongue), Bamboo Palm, and Aloe Vera are some of the species that can easily thrive in your indoor space with minimal care and effort. Other plants like Bird of Paradise, Split Leaf Philodendron, Diffenbachia and Areca Palm are all quintessentially summery and add lush greenery with minimal effort.
Trickle Fountain Bird Bath
After tackling the senses of touch, smell & sight, it’s time to add a summery feel via the sense of sound. The refreshing sound of flowing water has always been associated with summer retreats. Bringing that concept into your city home can be as easy as installing a small bird bath fitted with a submersible pump to create the trickling effect of water. A birdbath adds a colourful and lively element to your courtyard or terrace space. With a trickle fountain in its middle it makes a gentle gurgling that enhances the summery feel. Besides, this element helps you do good as well by providing a welcome source of water to birds of passage, who may be dehydrated due to the scorching heat.
