It’s that time of year again: birds are tweeting in the leafy trees, lawnmowers are growling into action and outdoor firepits are seeing a LOT of action!
But how can you bring the summery vibe inside?
Here are 5 quick tips to help you do exactly that…
COLOUR POPS
Summer lends itself so well to adding a sprinkling of joy in the form of funky cushions and other accessories. After all the lockdown blues we felt this interminable winter, a punch of colour and pattern is the perfect way to lift the spirits! There are so many pretty cushions in bright colours available right now, not least from Oliver Bonas and Anthropologie. Although if I had some cash to splash (and room for one more cushion on my sofa!!), I’d give this one a home - Wicklewood x Mola Sasa’s Tiger Jaguar Cushion in Blue & Orange:
Above image: www.wicklewood.com
FLOWER POWER
If you're anything like me, you love flowers…but hate the fact that they tend to only last about a week before they end up consigned to the brown bin! Well, fear not…dried flowers are the answer! My faves are from a company called Appreciation Project: each bouquet is a carnival of colour and I can say from personal experience that they also come wonderfully wrapped. It’s such a treat opening the parcel!
Above image: www.appreciationproject.co.uk
SHINE A LIGHT
Of course, dried flowers don’t smell like the real deal - but a scented candle easily makes up for it. I came across candles from this range by The Botanical Candle Co in my best-loved local homewares shop, Quince and Cook, and they were absolutely divine. I purchased several for a client, and will be back for more for my own home!
Above image: www.thebotanicalcandleco.co.uk
THINK GIN
Since we seem to be covering all the senses here, we can’t forget about taste! The shop shelves are awash with eye catching bottles of gin (or gin liqueurs) right now that not only taste of summer, but also look fresh & inviting as part of a display. Whether you have a bar cart, some spare dresser-top shelving or even a free spot in a cabinet, these are always a good idea (until the morning after!). Windowsill herbs are another way to invite summer inside, while helpfully supplying endless mint for mojitos!
Below is our gin bar in the kitchen. Although some of the bottles were quite pricey and a special treat, other gin liqueurs here were just £6.99 per bottle from Home Bargains! Why…it’d be rude not to!
SUMMER TUNES
We invested in a cool-looking vinyl player recently, and the biggest pleasure of all so far has been listening to classic songs we’ve unearthed in the LP sections of charity shops. There’s something inimitably summery about having Motown hits on in the background during a sunny day around the house.
I like the look of this one, an exclusive Crosley x Urban Outfitters bluetooth vinyl player, currently reduced to £71:
Above image: www.urbanoutfitters.com
And there you have it…an easy Hi-5 to summer! Enjoy x