Here are a few effortless, economical ways to create a summer house.
In the living room:
- Give the space a more breezy look by removing heavy draperies and leaving up only sheers or mix the existing drapes with simple bamboo blinds.
- Try rolling up the area rug for the season and leaving the floors bare or exchange the existing area rug with a bamboo mat.
- Borrow lighting from outside and use hurricane lamps or candle lanterns on your tables.
- Consider using more whimsical accessories on the mantle for example a model of a sailboat a faux stuffed fish or glass vases filled with shells.
- Use beach mats in front of the sink and next to the back door.
- Replace the notes and pictures on your fridge or bulletin board with holiday snaps from previous summers.
- Fill a bowl with an assortment of tropical fruit and use it as an edible display.
- Grab a ceramic milk jug or a mason jar and fill it with flowers for the table or a windowsill.
- Change your bed cover to something lighter — for example, a quilt, a chenille bedspread or just a simple white blanket.
- Cover your side tables with floor-length tablecloths.
- Use old perfume bottles or simple drinking glasses as small vases for fragrant flowers such as freesia or roses.
- Exchange your shower curtain for something summery. If you're feeling crafty, you can cover your existing curtain with a bright cotton, kitchen tablecloth (just attach it to the rings with café-curtain clips).
- Simplify the look by putting out just one shade of towel.
- For family bathrooms, exchange your usual towels for colourful beach towels.
