Lighten Up for Summer
It’s time to throw open the
windows and welcome light summer breezes into your home! There are plenty of ways to
lighten your interiors for the summer. You
don't have to completely redo your home to achieve a summer look. A few small,
inexpensive touches can turn around a room.
Indoor summer decorating is based on light
colors, light styles, and light fabrics. Furniture is relaxedlight
and cool, curtains are light delicate
and breezyfeathery, and everything is arranged with breeze and sunshine
in mind.
Bring the outdoors in! Add fresh flowers or
grasses in vases or baskets to tabletops, counter tops, and shelves. Explore
the possibilities... you don't have to buy roses or carnations. Azaleas,
forsythias, lilies, and many
other common yard shrubs and flowers can make beautiful casual arrangements. Twigs and branches can be quite decorative if you
use your imagination. You can change your scarf valence's scroll brackets with
small grapevine wreaths for a rustic summer touch.
Use silk florals to add a
touch of the outdoors to windows and walls.
Does a particular table skirt seem too heavy?
Replace it with one made of see-through organza. Likewise, change out a dark
Oriental rug with a floor covering made of sisal or sea grass. Even a mix of throw
pillows in pale sherbet shades can make a difference. Your room, and your mood,
will be lightened considerably!
So how can you “summer-ize”
your home? Here’s a mix and match list of affordable ways to
update your home in time for
the new season.
· Drape
sheer cloths or summer floral fabric on a side table
· What
can you do with your heavy winter draperies? You don't have to take them down
to lighten the look... consider changing the valence and tieback to a lighter
color.
· Display a bed of sand with shells
on a tray for the coffee table
· White
bedding and furniture add a fresh feel to a bedroom. Replace a down comforter
with a white coverlet and white sheets.
· If
you're not ready to go completely white in a room, try working in soft blues or greens. To
further lighten the feel, replace a heavy wool rug with one in striped cotton.
· Cut
fresh, long branches and fill tall vases to
set on each end of the mantle
· Buy
an orchid plant for every bathroom; keep
them fresh with twice-weekly watering
· Make
simple new covers for throw pillows
or purchase
inexpensive ones.
· Choose
a pretty floral fabric and make a runner for the dining room table.
· A
can of paint will freshen up a room faster than any other option. You only need to paint one wall to make a difference. Perhaps a
soft green or orange will work well to update the room.
· Change
lampshades for the season. For the summer, try lampshades in lighter colors and
fabrics like linen.
· Try
new artwork. Buy inexpensive black frames, and add
black and white
photos. Group them together on a wall for a graphic look.
· Move
furniture to change a room's dynamic. Turn sofas diagonally or moving lamps between rooms. Don’t forget the newest rule
of home décor: there are no rules!
Be bold and have fun.
· Wicker
furniture: Neither a
southern porch nor a northern garden room is complete without at least one
piece of easy-going wicker furniture. Effortless elegance makes wicker pleasing
year-round.
· There's
no easier way to make a quick change in
your home than to change
the accessories. Add flowers and plants, hang pictures, and pull out
interesting collections to set the mood for summer.
· Plants,
flowers and more plants; bring the outdoors in!
AND
· Don’t forget the basics. Though
it may seem self-evident, no amount of sun
can penetrate windows that are full of winter grit. Clean all of your windows and trim any shrubbery for crisp,
clear summertime views.
Try these suggestions and
enjoy the season with your updated summertime style.