With summer finally upon us, it’s time to start switching up our living spaces to reflect this more uplifting time of year, and creating a lighter, brighter environment is the perfect way to go. While we might be spending more time outdoors at this time of year, our living spaces can have a greater impact on our wellbeing than you might think – so if you’ll be spending this summer working from home, then making a few simple tweaks could make all the difference to the experience. And if not, it will certainly create a more welcoming environment for those long-awaited guests.
The right home environment has been shown to boost wellbeing and creativity, while at work, it can boost productivity. So, if you can find a way to create the best of both in your home space this year, then you’ll likely be onto a winner.
Your home should be a tranquil haven that offers an escape from the stresses and strains of daily life, and this summer’s interior design trends lend themselves to just that. After a trying year, it’s time to strip things back a little and enjoy a more simplistic and minimalistic feel to mirror the season. With the future finally looking a little brighter, it’s time that our homes were, too – and the good news is that it couldn’t be easier to make it happen.
Open up your space
One of the quickest and easiest ways to open up your space and create a greater sense of flow throughout your home is to overhaul your colour scheme, swapping any warm or dark shades for whites, creams and neutrals. Creating a cohesive feel throughout your home will make all the difference and can make smaller rooms feel much bigger – and the lighter the tones you opt for, the better.
That doesn’t mean that you have to forego those summery bright items all together though, and punctuating a minimalistic backdrop with some carefully chosen colourful accessories will add interest, personality and flair. Think a bold photo frame on the mantelpiece or add pops of colour through a mix of throw cushions on the sofa, or maybe an uplifting rug.
Let there be light
The fastest way to create a bright, airy and uplifting feel to any living space is to allow as much natural light to filter through it as possible, so it’s time to take down those heavy winter curtains and drapes and swap them for a sheer and lightweight alternative instead. Unlined curtains are a great way to let the morning light come through while still affording you some privacy – or, to make the most of a smaller room, avoid bulk of any kind around your windows and opt for some simple calico blinds instead.
If the room allows, adding a Velux window or skylight can be a great way to take advantage of the additional sunlight throughout the day, flooding your room with natural light and negating the need for lamps and sidelights to be turned on in rooms that could do with a little extra help.
If you’re dealing with darker rooms that can’t be transformed with additional windows or skylights, then add some strategic extras to create the illusion of a bright, airy space. An illuminated and lighted mirror over the fireplace or in the bathroom is a great place to improve visibility where you need it, while one or two statement floor lamps positioned in just the right places can also make a huge difference.
Bring the outdoors in
Bringing plants, foliage and flowers into your indoor environment is a sure-fire way to create an uplifting feel, and is the perfect way to complement that lighter colour palette. To add colour, choose some bold vases or pots and fill with your favourite low maintenance plants. Thankfully, you don’t have to have green fingers to do this successfully, as many plants require little more than the occasional water – pothos, asparagus ferns and peace lilies are all great picks.
Being surrounded by nature has been shown to boost our wellbeing, and indoor plants can even help to purify the air within your home, so there are myriad reasons to bring the outdoors in. Even your bathroom can benefit from a little greenery – choose plants that thrive in a humid environment, such as aloe vera, gardenia and Chinese evergreen.
