Sizzling Summer Style at Home

Happy Friday!!! I've been sort of MIA these past couple of weeks.  April was a super-dee-duper month for Larkspur Interiors - we sold just about every piece of furniture in our booth and have been scrambling to restock.  In my absence I am delighted to have the beautiful and talented Eva Stephen do a guest post for me.  Here is what Eva has to say about Sizzling Summer Style at Home:

At last summer is just around the corner, with its promise of long, warm balmy evenings and the chance to wear shorts and flip-flops around the barbecue. As you plan your spring-cleaning (unless you are super-organized and have already finished it!) you can organize and decorate your home to welcome back the sunshine. 

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Rearrange the furniture

As winter drew closer your furniture probably crept a little closer to radiators, heaters and the fireplace and the curtains were firmly shut to keep the elements at bay. Now is the time to open out the circle of furniture, turning chairs and settees towards the bright sunshine that is hopefully pouring through the windows. Open the curtains fully every morning, and maybe even invest in some cheerful tie backs to get the maximum benefit. Move lampstands and table lights out of the room, or tuck them into unobtrusive corners, and spread the lounge suite out, just a little more. 

Having furniture crammed together forces people into closer proximity, which is fine when the weather is cold, but not so much fun on a sweltering hot, sticky day.

Splash in some colour

Change heavy lined curtains for brighter and lighter ones that will let plenty of sunshine and daylight into the room. Thick curtains are superb at keeping the cold out and the warmth in, but in summer it is best to allow the warmth outside to penetrate into the house while encouraging a free flow of fresh air to avoid stuffiness. You’ll definitely love the curtains designs at Hillarys. They’d be the good choice for summer decor. Take thick, fluffy throws off the chairs and sofas and replace warm-toned textured cushion covers with cool silk and cotton ones in bright summery colours.  

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If the throws are hiding stains or tears, perhaps you need to visit shop4furniture website to find a replacement? A splash of lemon yellow or flame orange draws the mind to thoughts of sunshine and touches of brightness here and there in the room will give a lovely fresh, spring-like appearance. 

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Dress up the window sills

While the mantelpiece is often the focal point of a wintery living room, turn attention towards the window sills in summer. Brightly coloured glass jars and vases, a strategically positioned sun-catcher and even a cheerful display of pretty pebbles and twisting driftwood are perfect 'window dressing.' 

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There are wonderful lo-tech window decorations that are brightly coloured gel shapes. These just need to be pressed firmly onto the glass and they will stay until you remove them. Make a beautiful motif in the corner of each pane, or buy seasonal shapes and change them every few weeks for a unique and colourful display! TheGelStore might give you some idea about what would be perfect for your bedroom windows. 

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Make the garden ship-shape

Mow the lawn and sweep and mop the decking ahead of all those leisurely summer barbecues! 

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A neat and tidy outside is an absolute must if you are going to be encouraging the focus of the living room towards the garden. If you are not a keen gardener you can purchase a vibrant and colourful display of potted plants to dot around to give the garden a joyous burst of colour and fragrance. Clean your garden furniture set and make sure that the parasol still works and is not full of dust and spiders! 

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These are some simple and quick ways to make sure that your home is ready to sizzle into summer, a welcoming haven for friends and family alike as you all enjoy the best of what the weather has to offer over the coming months!

About the Author: This article is provided by Eva Stephen who is a writer forShop 4 Furniture. Eva likes to write about DIY tutorials, home organization and experimenting new and odd things in home styling.