7 Things You Can Do at Home to Make You Feel Ready for Summer
Fast fixes are all very well, but how about making more of a mark on your home with these long-term improvements?
Lucy Searle
28 April 2018
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist, web and copywriter. I was Editor of the hugely successful www.channel4.com/4homes, taking it from a small site to a leading brand. I was also founding Editor of Channel 4’s 4Homes magazine, was Associate Editor at Ideal Home and have written for MSN, Huffington Post, Homes & Gardens, Country Homes & Interiors, Beautiful Kitchens, House Beautiful, Good Homes, and many women’s titles. I founded www.tailoredcontent.co.uk with a fellow journalist and together we blog, write web content and run social media accounts for (mostly) interiors companies. As a general rule, I write about everything from buying and selling property, self build, DIY, design and consumer issues to gardening but have tackled travel and family...
Houzz Contributor. Editor in Chief of RealHomes.com. I am an editor, journalist,... More
The new season is the best time to get on with home improvement projects – especially ones you’ve put off over the winter. These seven ideas will transform your home into a bright, fresh, airy space that’s ready for late spring, summer and beyond.
Splash on up-scaled florals
Big blooms are big news in interiors for the year ahead, and they’re a great way to quickly make a drab room feel cheerful and contemporary. Wallpaper is one way to go, but swapping plain bed linen, tablecloths, cushion covers and throws for floral designs will be faster – and easier to change when you want a brand-new look (again).
Big blooms are big news in interiors for the year ahead, and they’re a great way to quickly make a drab room feel cheerful and contemporary. Wallpaper is one way to go, but swapping plain bed linen, tablecloths, cushion covers and throws for floral designs will be faster – and easier to change when you want a brand-new look (again).
Paint your hallway mellow yellow
Here’s a colourful way to create a cheerful first impression. Stick to a mid-toned, muted shade like this rather than a zingy citrus, and match it with woody textures and touches of black for easy-to-live-with, contemporary appeal. A wipeable finish will help you maintain it easily.
This yellow could also look fabulously summery in a bedroom, living room or kitchen, but keep it to one room to avoid overkill.
Find painters and decorators in your area
Here’s a colourful way to create a cheerful first impression. Stick to a mid-toned, muted shade like this rather than a zingy citrus, and match it with woody textures and touches of black for easy-to-live-with, contemporary appeal. A wipeable finish will help you maintain it easily.
This yellow could also look fabulously summery in a bedroom, living room or kitchen, but keep it to one room to avoid overkill.
Find painters and decorators in your area
Rethink your storage
Over winter, we tend to gather clutter. It might be Christmas presents we’re not sure what to do with, or things we’ve bought but not stashed away tidily because we haven’t yet built or invested in the storage. So now’s the time to get sorted.
Start by chucking away or passing on anything you don’t want, then come up with a room-by-room plan that’s tailored to your needs. Hidden storage will be the most effective at keeping rooms looking neat and tidy.
Over winter, we tend to gather clutter. It might be Christmas presents we’re not sure what to do with, or things we’ve bought but not stashed away tidily because we haven’t yet built or invested in the storage. So now’s the time to get sorted.
Start by chucking away or passing on anything you don’t want, then come up with a room-by-room plan that’s tailored to your needs. Hidden storage will be the most effective at keeping rooms looking neat and tidy.
Use plants to merge indoors and out
Multiple houseplants can make your rooms feel summery all on their own, but go further and also position them carefully. Near to windows, for instance, will draw the eye towards the neatly manicured garden beyond (that’s job No 8, in case you’re wondering…).
This idea is a simple one to try (especially if you’ve decluttered to free up some shelf space): simply position a generous, odd number of plants on one bookcase or, if you don’t have one in quite the right place, perhaps spread them across a wall shelf, sideboard and deep windowsill. Either option will give you an instant living wall with no installation required.
Multiple houseplants can make your rooms feel summery all on their own, but go further and also position them carefully. Near to windows, for instance, will draw the eye towards the neatly manicured garden beyond (that’s job No 8, in case you’re wondering…).
This idea is a simple one to try (especially if you’ve decluttered to free up some shelf space): simply position a generous, odd number of plants on one bookcase or, if you don’t have one in quite the right place, perhaps spread them across a wall shelf, sideboard and deep windowsill. Either option will give you an instant living wall with no installation required.
Create a home gallery
Taken loads of fab photos over the winter? Been given artwork for Christmas and still not hung it? Kids’ Easter holidays artwork gathering dust? Why not gather all your favourite pieces together, put them in complementary frames and create a home gallery?
Gallery walls ideal for living rooms and a great way to add character to a hallway, too. Choose light-coloured frames and pale or brightly coloured images for a summery mood.
Browse a huge range of picture frames in the Houzz Shop
Taken loads of fab photos over the winter? Been given artwork for Christmas and still not hung it? Kids’ Easter holidays artwork gathering dust? Why not gather all your favourite pieces together, put them in complementary frames and create a home gallery?
Gallery walls ideal for living rooms and a great way to add character to a hallway, too. Choose light-coloured frames and pale or brightly coloured images for a summery mood.
Browse a huge range of picture frames in the Houzz Shop
Lighten up your windows
We all know heavy drapes block daylight, and that shutters allow lots of light to flood in. But did you know that the colour of your shutters (or indeed blinds or curtains) can affect the quality of the light you’re getting?
Cheerful finishes or fabrics in yellow or cream will literally make the daylight filtering in sunny – a real boost for east- or north-facing rooms in particular.
Check out a range of bay window dressings that will knock your socks off
We all know heavy drapes block daylight, and that shutters allow lots of light to flood in. But did you know that the colour of your shutters (or indeed blinds or curtains) can affect the quality of the light you’re getting?
Cheerful finishes or fabrics in yellow or cream will literally make the daylight filtering in sunny – a real boost for east- or north-facing rooms in particular.
Check out a range of bay window dressings that will knock your socks off
Get a paintbrush out
We spend much more time indoors in winter, which means more wear and tear on our furniture. So spruce yours up with paint – the fastest, cheapest way to do so. Don’t just repaint chipped pieces – transform plain wooden furniture with a lick of bright colour, too.
For a dining table like this, paint the base only. That way, day-to-day maintenance will be lower and next year’s transformation will be just as swift.
Tell us…
What do you have planned for your home to get it ready for the new season? Share your ideas or photos in the Comments section.
We spend much more time indoors in winter, which means more wear and tear on our furniture. So spruce yours up with paint – the fastest, cheapest way to do so. Don’t just repaint chipped pieces – transform plain wooden furniture with a lick of bright colour, too.
For a dining table like this, paint the base only. That way, day-to-day maintenance will be lower and next year’s transformation will be just as swift.
Tell us…
What do you have planned for your home to get it ready for the new season? Share your ideas or photos in the Comments section.
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I love a bit of yellow to brighten up a room. This is an attic conversion and my favourite part of the house.
vertue75 I've always had brightly coloured bedrooms, even one with all red walls some years ago and never had trouble sleeping. Once the lights are low for reading or out for sleeping it's all dark anyway so makes no difference. While awake I love the colours, they make me feel good, like being in a garden full of flowers. I've never understood why colours would keep people awake once the lights are out.