Feel like freshening up your home for summer without spending a fortune? Interior designer Emma Boulter shares her top tips (and high street buys), and some won’t even cost you a cent!
Swap out smaller accent furniture pieces, such as your kitchen Island bench seating or your coffee table. For example, if you currently have a black metal framed stool with a velvet seat, changing to a light timber stool with a lighter linen seat will instantly change the feel of the space. The Cuba Woven Bar Stools from LoungeLovers are a fun option.
Remove heavy textiles, like blankets or heavy weave cushions for lighter feeling textiles. Think cotton throws, linen cushions, or summer patterned bedspreads. The Seaside Stripe Cotton Bed Cover from Kip&Co is a personal favourite.
Replacing towels and decor is an easy way to make the kitchen or bathroom feel like a new space. Pick light colours or fun patterns that have a summery feel. I am a big fan of the Turkish Cotton Range in the Coastal colour from Adairs.
Bring in fresh flowers and greenery to add some colour and a fresh scent to your space. Not keen on greenery? Consider adding a summery scent through a diffuser or candle. Glasshouse Fragrances’ Lost in Amalfi is a great option.
Add pops of colour. Mixing up your décor doesn’t mean you have to replace everything. Adding some bright accents to your existing décor can help change the vibe. The House of Nunu vases are a fun option that pack a punch.
For those wanting to add a summer refresh to their home on a budget:
Open windows and doors. Fresh air and light are one of the easiest ways to make a space feel more like summer.
Do a spring clean and declutter. In addition to opening the house, doing a spring clean is an easy cost-effective way to make your home feel fresh and renewed after the cooler months.
Put on some summer tunes and stock the fridge with summer treats. Spaces that influence all five senses, not only sight, can evoke a different feeling.
—Emma Boulter is the Design Studio Manager at Ausbuild’s Expressions Design Studio.
