With warmer weather, our minds and bodies are naturally drawn outside. Getting the garden ready for summer garden parties, lounging on deck chairs and sipping early morning coffees on the patio are de rigueur for this time of year but what about the inside of our homes? If your home is feeling a bit lacklustre now that the sun is high in the sky, don’t fret as there are plenty of ways to bring that feeling of sunshine inside your home just by simply following our top tips.
In the winter months, we may be more drawn to colours that create a cosy environment – darker shades and deeper colours work well but in the summer when colours are seen in their truest forms, it’s far easier to have a play with bolder shades. Choose a sunny yellow as an accent in your living room or choose a soft turquoise shade for your bedroom. Let nature be your guide to which colours work well together and mix and match – from mint green with lavender, to blush pink with pale sky blue, or peach with jade – just experiment and see where it takes you!
Trendy Floral Patterns
Every year around this time, someone will proclaim that ‘florals are in’. The truth is, florals rarely go out of style but this year, we are seeing tropical florals, granny florals, water-coloured florals and hyper-realistic wall murals, all of which effortlessly create a summer look in our homes all year round. The trick to using florals is to stick with one strong pattern and then highlight it with the use of solid and neutral coloured fabrics. Choose well and pick solids and neutrals that complement your chosen pattern to ensure your floral is the star of the show.
Of course, summer is the best time to bring actual flowers into your home too. Consider loose arrangements that look like they have just been picked from your own back garden (perhaps they have been!) rather than stiff formal bouquets. Dot them around your home in vessels you already have – empty spirit bottles, glass jugs or mason jars – to give them a casual flair that creates a relaxing home environment.
Plant Life
Houseplants thrive at this time of year and it’s a great time to pick them up at good prices. If you don’t particularly consider yourself green-fingered, choose easy-to-care-for plants like Mother-in-Law’s tongue, Calathea, and succulents that won’t mind if you forget to water them religiously! Surrounding yourself with plants is great for your health too – they clean the air as well as help to alleviate stress. Being surrounded by plants triggers serotonin, the happy hormone, helping to lift your mood.
Touchable Textiles
And finally, consider giving your home an edit when it comes to things like cushions, throws, rugs, and curtains. Take down the heavy drapes and replace them with sheer voiles to allow the sunlight to pour in, remove area rugs to let your wood or tiled floors breath, and change your bedding for breathable cotton or linen. If you tend to pile your sofa or bed with a mountain of cushions, try leaving only a few to give your space an airy vibe. Less is definitely more when decorating for summer.
How will you be bringing that summer vibe to your home this season? We’d love to see! Share your images with us by tweeting us @TileMountainUK or tag us on Instagram!
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As a multi-award winning interior design content creator, Kimberly Duran is an Interior Design-obsessed American ex-pat, who chronicles her decorating journey and dispenses interior design advice in her personal blog, Swoon Worthy. When she’s not helplessly drooling over all the latest trends in design, she’s adding things to the imaginary ‘shopping basket’ in her head, she likes to get messy tackling DIY projects with her partner in crime, Wayne, stalking eBay for vintage bargains and filling her home with her favourite neutral – gold.