Brighten Your Home This Summer

Summer is among the more exciting times of the year. With the weather picking up (at least, sporadically), we might all feel suddenly inclined to venture out into the garden, and soak up some of that summer sunshine.  But at the same time, there are a few ways we might brighten up our interiors, too.

In this article, we’ll examine a few ways in which this might be done. Let’s begin, shall we?

Tidy up

One of the best ways to increase the feeling of space in your home is to get rid of all of the clutter that’s piled on top of your furniture and crammed into corners. And a lot of these items might not be the things we normally think of as clutter – like biscuit tins, books and old matchboxes. Some of it might be actual decorations.

During winter, these items might give the place a more homely appearance – particularly if we’re not relying on light from the outside to brighten the place up. But at this time of year, it’s better to clear those surfaces, and thereby allow sunlight to spread throughout the room.

Summer Decorations

Having said this, there are some items which help to bring the summer onto your windowsills, tables and bookcases. A single vase with a bunch of flowers on can do this admirably – a good selection will epitomise those summer vibes you’re trying to introduce. If you want to take things a step further, then you might bring in live plants, too. There are few better ways to freshen up the look of a kitchen than with a shelf-full of fresh herbs – so that you can add a twist of basil or thyme to whatever dish you’re cooking up.

For those who don’t love flowers, however, there are other, more practical substitutes which can perform much the same role. A bowl of fruit, for example, can help to break up your kitchen table and provide a visual focal point. What’s more, you’ll be able to pay it a visit next time you’re feeling peckish – without the guilt that comes with eating a bar of chocolate or bag of crisps.

When it comes to the bathroom, a popular theme is the seaside. After all, there are few places which more strongly evoke the summer. So, pieces of old driftwood, starfishes, seashells and other artefacts all do the job brilliantly.

Mirrors

Another great way to improve the impression of space is to invest in a mirror or two. Mirrors help to enhance the illusion of space in two ways. Firstly, they create the impression that there’s another room on the other side of the mirror; secondly, they help spread light through the room, illuminating those shadowy corners. As a side benefit, they’re a great way of breaking up large expanses of wall, too!

In either case, a bigger mirror will produce a more pronounced effect. But get one that’s too big and you risk it dominating the room. Clearly, there is a balance to be struck – so be sure to consider how the mirror might look when it’s in the room, and to review the mirror once it’s installed, before you finally settle on your mirror of choice.

Colours

Of course, when it comes to changing the way your interior looks, then colours play a vital role. During winter, we might want warming oranges and burgundies in order to give us that homely impression. But during summer, this isn’t so desirable; we might want more summery colours like yellow and green, which help to get the best from the natural sunlight.

Naturally, swapping out your entire interior twice every year is impractical. But it’s remarkably easy to make small adjustments with the help of accessories. By simply changing the colours on your sofa cushions and bedsheets, you can make a huge difference to the overall feel of a room. Give it a try!

Textile choice

During winter, we tend to keep warm by wrapping ourselves in heavy woollen textiles and furs. Consequently, we associate such fabrics with that time of the year. You might find such fabrics draped over your furniture and covering your floor. And while these fabrics don’t keep us warm, they do help to maintain in our minds that wintry association.

And so, just as you got rid of the unnecessary items that were covering your surfaces, it’s best to get rid of these heavy fabrics, too. This will enhance the impression of lightness and help you and your co-habitants to get into a summer frame of mind.

Paintbrush

If you’d like to make a more permanent change to your home, then breaking out a paint-roller is sometimes the only solution. This is one area where fortune most certainly favours the brave – choose something bold and sunny for a specific area of your room of choice – perhaps a single wall of an otherwise plain-looking room, or an item of wooden furniture that’s in need of brightening up.

Don’t neglect the outdoors

Thus far we’ve talked about how we might inject some summer vibes into our interior. But, as we’ve already mentioned, during summer we tend to spend more time than ever out in the garden. Any plan to prepare the home for summer, then, should devote considerable time to making sure the garden is well-looked after and prepared.

Be sure that your lawn has been mown, and that your flowerbeds are cut back and well weeded. If you have wooden decking outside, then this is the ideal time to give it a wash and polish – since on hot, dry days, it’ll dry out that more quickly. By the same token, if you’ve wooden paving, then you might have moss growing in the cracks – which can be cleared out with a specially-designed wire brush.

And of course, if you’re going to be hosting a barbecue, then you’ll need to ensure that your grill has been thoroughly cleaned, and oiled to prevent rust. Investing in a barbecue cover might also prove wise in the long term.