The change of season is a great opportunity to refresh your home with a few easy updates.

Bring the outside in

Nothing says summer like lush green trees and blooming flowers. To bring the outside in, fill your home with big leafy house plants. A fiddle leaf or Monstera plant can be a real focal point, while a collection of succulents are easy to look after and add some desert style to your home. Remember too that plants are known to improve mood, reduce anxiety and clean the air too! I think house plants also make any home feel more lived-in.

If you don’t have room for big house plants, how about a window sill herb garden? I also love fresh flowers. I forage from the hedgerows on my daily walk or pick some up from my local florist.  Seasonal flowers displayed in a big vase on your kitchen table will add colour, texture and scent to your home – and make you feel happy every time you see them.

No matter what the season, one thing is for sure: plants will never go out of style. 

Open the curtains

In the summer, the heavy curtains that have kept the heat in all winter just don’t work. Swap them out for light breezy curtains that let in lots of natural light in the summer months. 

Curtains and blinds let you introduce some gorgeous, patterned fabrics into your home, and you can change them to match the season – bold florals are wonderful for the summer. If you have a neutral home, just the introduction of a bit of pattern on a Roman blind can be all you need to lift a room from bland to beautiful. Using an interior designer to help you choose fabrics and get your curtains and blinds professionally made is a wise investment.

Change the bed

Never underestimate the power of fresh summer bedding. Swap the bed linen from winter’s chunky blankets and throws to light summery floral quilts. Treat yourself to a fresh new duvet cover and pillowcases in a pretty shade. Linen bedding is affordable on the high street and comes in so many gorgeous muted shades.

Think with your feet

At the height of summer, when things get really warm and sticky, the last thing you want is a home that makes you feel even warmer. Thick pile rugs have no place in a summer home. If you have wooden floorboards, remove the rugs altogether. If you do need some kind of floor covering, opt for a beautiful Kilim or flat cotton rug.

Create an outside room

Summer is the time link your inside and outside spaces. As soon as the sun comes out, I love to get outside. I treat my outside space as an extra room. Whether you have a large countryside garden or just a small urban courtyard, you can do the same. 

The most important thing is to make your outside space feel connected to your indoor space. Plan the space as you would any other interior design project. If you love the minimalist Scandi look, then your outside space should be clean and modern. If your house is bohemian and colourful, bring that eclectic look into your garden. Maximalist inside? Then go for it with cushions, throws and rugs outside. Make your outside space look and feel like a true extension of your home and it will work as an extra room. Even if you only have a balcony, you can make it feel like an extra room just by using the right furniture and keeping your paint colours consistent throughout. 

Spruce up your front garden

After winter, you’ll find your front paths, windowsills and any paintwork can be a bit grubby. Pressure wash any dirt away, repair any loose mortar and get your gutters cleaned.

Summer is the best time to give you front door a refresh. A couple of coats of paint will create an entirely new look for your home. Neutral painted doors in black, white, and grey always look classy, but fun colours create impact.

Fill hanging baskets and planters with fresh plants, trim your hedge and your house is summer ready!