Blog

Here Comes Summer!

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

With long, balmy evenings, it’s time for some simple styling to make the most of the summer ahead. Think of your home as a holiday house, and you'll see it in a whole new light. 

Capture the summer with ocean shades or sunshine yellows and crisp white woodwork teamed with blue linen upholstery. Colours play an important role in beach inspired décor, so incorporate blue and green shades which work well against a white backdrop. Stripes enhance the nautical look and create the feeling of living in a beach house. Muted colours from soft corals to serene blues make a room feel brighter and more spacious by reflecting light, whilst white all over is instantly refreshing.  

Accessories really enhance a coastal theme. Woven baskets and reed matting look beautiful against dark colours, while rope-covered vases, driftwood lamps and shell chandeliers evoke shoreline textures. Use soft textiles and natural weathered items such as pebbles and sea glass and leave windows minimally covered to allow as much light in as possible. 

There are so many ways to make your garden a summer paradise and one of the best is to buy a summer house or just transform your garden shed into an outdoor room that can be used all year. Whether it’s designed to be your summer escape or a hideout for the kids, use paint and fabric to dress the inside, add strings of lights, coloured lanterns and cushions and it’s ready to go. The internet is full of inspiration for ideas and themes so let your imagination run wild.

Clever lighting allows you to make the most of long summer evenings and transform your garden into a stunning space you can use after dark. Create an area for eating al fresco on warm nights with smart all-weather furniture and candles in wind-resistant lanterns - perfect for dinner parties with friends or candlelit dinner for two. A fire pit can create a dramatic focal point for evenings spent outdoors as well as providing an alternative cooking option.

Transport yourself from Burnham to Barbados and create a place to relax as the sun goes down. Harness the relaxing aromatherapy benefits of fragrant plants such as lavender, rosemary or traditional favourites like honeysuckle and roses. A simple canopy or parasol will create shade on sunny days and you can create a family-friendly outdoor space with a summer beach theme. It's an easy look to achieve; start with whitewashed walls and decking and the scene is set. Add painted garden furniture and introduce colour with nautical accessories from seat cushions and parasols to tableware and planters. A swathe of cobbles and gravel in a flower bed with tall, spiky succulents and low-growing plants, such as sea thrift (Armeria maritima) echoes a shingle beach effect. Use horticultural sand, shingle and smooth pebbles to complete the look.

Colour will really bring your outdoor space to life and you don’t need a large garden to create an exotic oasis of calm. Even on a small concrete patio, you can inject colour with ceramic pots or planters. Exotic plants, Moroccan lanterns and bright fabrics will create a tropical feel to last all summer whilst a trickling water feature adds serenity. Whether you’re planning to move or staying put this summer, you can create a tranquil haven and make the most of outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining al fresco. Whatever your inspiration, a little effort can make the world of difference and whether you’re indoors or out, have a fantastic summer at home.