Summertime in India usually means ripe mangoes and long holidays. It’s also a time when the kids are home more and you may even have some guests from out of town. If you are preparing for such a summer, you may be thinking of doing some minor decor changes in your home.
1. Minimalism Is the Way To Go
During summer, the buzzwords are ‘minimal’, ‘open’ and ‘light’. Simply throwing open the windows and doors, pulling back the curtains (or replacing old ones with new, light cotton curtains) and placing a few small cushions in bright shades can liven up your space tremendously. Stowaway heavy rugs, accessories and throws for the colder months.
2. Bring Nature In
An easy and cheap way to brighten up the home is to bring the green indoors. Get creative with your choices. Choose planters, climbers or succulents and display them in vases, glass terrariums, hanging pots, bowls and more. They add texture, lend character and purify the air in your home – that’s a lot of bang for your buck.
3. Add Color To Your Table
There is no season like summer to add colour to your home, especially in the space where the entire family congregates. Look out for floral, tropical or nautical-themed accents to add a peppy twist to the room. Try gathering some different coloured glass bottles to display or showcasing a large bowl of water with floating flowers. Whatever you pick, just make sure that it’s bright and brings in joy.
4. Take Your Life Outdoors
With the sun shining bright, summers are the best time to do things outside. Even if you cant head to a park or go on a holiday, you can always have your version of the outdoors in your yard, terrace or balcony. Your kids will love the idea of pitching a tent outside to feel like you are on a family camping trip. If you don’t have the patience for that, try having a family meal outside, picnic-style. You could also spend time outdoors making barbecue or playing board games. These are excellent ways to bond with the entire family.
5. Rearrange Your Furniture
A quick and easy way to change up a room is to rearrange the furniture. If you are trying this in the living room, try to arrange your seating as to create easy conversation flow. Everyone in the room should be able to see each other. Perhaps the seating could point to a centre table where board games can be played.
6. Light Up Your Home
If you’ve stored away all the lanterns and exotic lamps you’ve received as gifts, there is no better time than now to get them out. Hanging paper lanterns, stringing fairy lights on the outdoor patio for small gatherings or putting up a lamplight in a covered porch can all make your summer nights a little bit cosier and lovelier.
7. Infuse Summer Scents
We often forget about the effect that a fresh scent can give a room. You can either spray your home with your preferred scent, light up some scented candles or oil, get potpourri or incense sticks. Because its summer, think cucumber, melon, ocean breeze or some fruity tones.
8. Spruce Up Old Furniture
If you have the time, grab those old, forgotten furniture pieces and give them a fresh coat of paint. You can try your skills on boring old chairs, tables, beds and more to get totally different look in the room. Go bold and pick a fun colour like bright pink, yellow or orange – especially if you are painting only one piece and the rest of the furniture is in standard shades.
9. Add Some Art on the Walls
Art doesn’t have to be expensive. You can get some gorgeous pieces for a steal at flea markets and bargain buys. You could even create your own art by printing out some pictures from a holiday. There are also plenty of videos available of simple DIY projects that you and your family can create together. These will not only transform any space in the home but will also add a personal touch which you will love to show off.
10. Go Casual
When the weather is so hot, you don’t want to go heavy on the silverware. Keep it simple by replacing elaborate dining sets and ornate serveware with glass, porcelain or steel. When you have people over, make sure you serve summery cocktails, light food and fresh desserts.
