How to dress your space for the season
Like fashion, decor changes as per the season. But pairing the right colours with textures, prints and patterns can be daunting. Seven experts share their best-kept secrets.
LIGHT IS RIGHT You can go for white or nude-toned furniture in distressed finish or rattan furniture to create an ambience that’s cool, breezy and fresh. Pale walls also invite more light into a room. Add pretty-blooms through motifs and patterns on rugs, pillows and bed linen that are light-weight and breathable. Extend living space outdoors, you can use white drop cloth curtains to offer a shaded seating area for hotter days.
TOP TABLES Floral, tropical and nautical theme cushions or table linen make for a free-spirited aesthetic. To add an organic appeal, you can also place succulents that are perfect for a cheerful tablescape and require little care.
AVOID THIS Even though chevron is a patent pattern for hotter months, pairing it with light coloured flooring and pastel upholstered furniture is a design disaster. Another big no-no is teaming red, green and blue together. Instead use these hues individually in separate settings.
GO BOHO A great idea is to bring in a bohemian theme that has a calming and cooling effect. This can be done by adorning your living room with flowers—real, painted or printed. If you have plenty of dark wood in your house, revamp it for the season by painting it white. Given the natural coolness of the colour, white is easy on the eyes and desirable, especially when it is hot outside. Also, it soaks the minimum amount of heat among all colours.
BEDROOM BASICS For your bedroom, you can place a botanical headboard over your bed for a knockout punch. If you prefer a royal appeal, you can add a pure white canopy over the bed as well.
HOME WORK To make your study more trendy, you can frame your favourite picture of a map of your hometown or your favourite vacation spot and hang it up. It adds class to the interiors.
WINDOW WONDERS Swap those heavy drapes for sheers. Whether you have curtains or blinds, change the fabric to a lighter diaphanous material like malmal or muslin. Do away with dark shades and opt for pastels or whites. The softer colour palette will also make the room look visually lighter. Bamboo blinds are ideal for the season. They filter in light while keeping things cool inside.
PERFECT PARE As much as small decor items, more cushions, throws and more stuff help cosy up your space in winter, in the warmer months it’s time to put all the unnecessary items away. A clean, minimal aesthetic will look less heavy and will definitely appeal visually. Clutter free rooms are just cooler, literally.
QUICK TIPS Bring in natural textures such as bamboo or jute baskets for plants or for storage. Leafy prints on a couple of cushions will give a room a lighter and brighter feel, and it’s also an instant mood lifter. Introduce some scents such as lemongrass and jasmine via room sprays or essential oils such as sweet orange, lavender and citronella through diffusers.
FOR THE LIVING ROOM The season calls for soothing and pastel shades. What better idea than to paint your walls in soothing shades such as baby blue, mint green or peach pink. Besides paint, colourful light fixtures also work well. Either buy a vibrant one or paint your existing illuminating device. Lastly, place oversized plants. Over the years, houseplants have evolved from a ‘barely-thought-about accessory’ to the main feature in a carefully designed room. Tiny indoor plants are delightful, but large, oversized ones are a growing trend.
CREATE A PRIVATE PARADISE In the bedroom use either beachy colours such as sandy beige, beach pebble grey, watery blues and summer whites or a summer garden colour palette of yellows, greens, pinks or mauves. Use lightweight breathable cotton blend linen and replace heavy furnishings.
BATH AND BEYOND Place a lush plant, colourful rug, and unexpected window treatments in the bathroom. Opt for small potted orchid or asparagus fern and place it in a corner. Shades of blue bring a calming feel to the space.
GO NATURAL Introduce products and accessories made from natural fibres such as cotton, linen, nettle, hemp, coconut and burlap. Natural fabrics will always give the room an airy, breathable feel over synthetics, even in darker colours and shades. Sofas or chairs should also be upholstered using textiles that can breathe over synthetic, leather, velvet and suede.
HOME GROWN The use of plants, in water or in soil, in and around your home is perfect for hot months. Not only is green a soothing colour, but plants embody freshness, a very welcome feeling during the heat. I use syngonium (also known as the arrowhead plant), pothos, zamiculcaszamiifolia (colloquially known as the ZZ plant) and sanseviera.
HUE KNEW Use cool colours over warm, irrespective of darkness or shade. For example, use indigo or teal, instead of orange or maroon; with cooler colours you can go as dark as you want without overwhelming the room.
ROMANCING THE STONE Consider investing in stone and marble furniture, including dining and coffee tables, since these materials do not retain heat and are cool to touch and maintain. Revealing floor surfaces as much as possible will help keep your home cool in the heat; a cold stone floor is extremely relaxing to walk on during this season. Wool rugs trap a lot of heat, alternatively use hemp or jute rugs if need be.
MAXIMISE PASSIVE DESIGN
STRATEGIES Incorporate cross ventilation, reduce direct heat gain, and add plants not only for shade and but also for cleaner air. Do not miss out on bathroom and kitchen ventilation which is key to remove trapped heat. This season is taxing on energy usage; decrease its consumption as much as possible. For instance, one can reduce the amount of lighting used to cut the heat and create an environment of tranquillity and restrict the amount of AC usage by substituting it with cross ventilation and a fan.
DESIGN FAUX PAS Avoid clashing colours or textures. Add hues that make you feel more relaxed and pick a different colour scheme for each room while still ensuring that they complement one another. Avoid using multiple small accessories, else the space will seem unnecessarily busy.
BRIGHT AND BREEZY Keep it light and airy with light or bright colours avoiding dark and deep hues. Use breathable fabrics and try out fresh fragrances.
LOVE OF LINEN Add fun cushions with light embroidery or bold tropical prints. Bedroom linen should be as breathable as possible, light solids always work or simple, bold prints but not too busy. Steer clear of velvets.
LOO AND BEHOLD In the bathroom, change your towels to white with monochromatic borders—keep it clean and simple. Remember to place plants everywhere.