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CITYSunTimes Web Exclusives May 2010 | Read the full SECTION
Summer-IZE Your Home
Lighter colors, fabrics bring summer into home
By Barbara Kaplan
The time has come to “summer-ize” our homes. There are so many ways to do this and we all have our own ideas of what summer means to us. Expressing our summer needs means making changes that will give us a feeling of comfort during the long, hot days.
Here are some suggestions you can choose from. Some of the following items may not make sense for you, while others may be just what you have wanted to do.
- Place summer flowers throughout your home. Buy one bunch and separate the flowers into several different smaller vases. Even one flower in a vase makes a lovely statement.
- Slipcover a sofa or chairs in a neutral color, then, add colored pillows to coordinate with your room. Your slipcover can also introduce a bold color as a summer accent.
- Replace your table linen with colors and mix and match them, or find wicker and rattan placemats. If using paper napkins, buy them in colors.
- Find sheets in cool pastels to sleep on during the summer heat.
- Add summer accents to your bookshelves with painted and natural rocks and seashells.
- Add a piece of furniture painted in a summer color. You may already have one you would like better if it were another color.
- Replace heavy fabrics, such as runners on tables, with lighter fabrics or remove them all together.
- Temporarily pack away some of your accessories like picture frames and knick-knacks to give a lighter, more open look and feel.
- Switch out a heavy rug with a lighter sisal rug. It’s easy to roll up your winter one and store it in the garage.
- Change your drape tablecloth with a lighter weight and color cloth. Or, drape a side table that has had no cloth.
- Change your lampshades from dark to light, and bring in bright colors.
- Change your furniture arrangement and if possible, face the seating arrangement towards the outdoors.
- Select your summer reading, and place some of the books on a cocktail table and the others by your bedside.
- Replace your winter afghans with lighter color or crocheted ones.
- Replace your waste baskets with wicker ones, or place baskets throughout your house – some filled with fruit in the kitchen or with hand towels in the powder room.
- Replace the logs in your fireplace with candle holders and candles or paint the inside of your fireplace white or a color for the summer months.
- Change your room fragrance to something light, such as jasmine.
- Enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s on your patio or by the pool. Serve breakfast, lunch or dinner outside, and don’t forget the candlelight in the evening.
Summer is a time to relax and kick back. Life becomes more casual and loose; let your home reflect that. Create your home to bring cool smiles. Always remembering: rooms have no feelings, YOU do!
CITYLife Web Exclusive | CITYSunTimes May 2010