Summer decor updates that won't break the bank
Want to vamp up your rooms for summer? Gabrielle Fagan reveals the super buys to snap up now
Fed up with the same four walls? Maybe it's time to give your space a summer refresh, so that it looks the part on sunny days and cheers you up when the weather doesn't co-operate.
Think colour - zingy shades will lift your mood - and lots of greenery, plus on-trend home accessories for a serving of sizzling home style.
Remember, the dazzle is in the detail - and luckily the high street is spoiling us with designer-look finishing touches this season.
Check out these easy updates and super buys, that will transform your home without busting the budget...
Easy living
Design-led shapes and a grey and pale green colour palette combines to create a relaxed vibe in this contemporary scheme.
A stylist trick is to choose slim-leg furniture which allows you to see the floor, as this creates an illusion of space, while accessories arranged at different heights add depth and interest.
Room star
Every room needs a stand-out piece that shrieks 'look at me', and a curvy chair will make guests sit and swoon.
Summer treats
Refresh your favourite chill-out area with some new kit in one of the most calming and still fashionable shades on the palette: grey. Avoid being too matchy-matchy though; mixing prints is more modern.
Trend tip: Introducing bold brights is one of the easiest ways to turn up the style dial. From lipstick pinks to golden yellows, there's something about saturated hues that will make a space really pop, as well as adding a hit of summer heat.
Divine dining
More and more of us are embracing casual entertaining and stylish eat-in kitchens, rather than formal dining rooms.
The social hub of the home should feel light, airy and inviting. Contemporary country - a chic update on rustic - can be dressed up or down. For special occasions, add beautiful tablecloths and decorative seat cushions for a touch of glamour, or leave it pared-back and simple for a kick-off-your-shoes impromptu supper.
Trend tip: With wooden furniture, opt for pale, lightly washed or matt finishes, where the grain is the star attraction. A sisal, jute or knotted wool rug under a table will help to define the space and bring a layer of comfort and warmth, which works well in an openplan setting.
Room star
It's crucial to create an atmosphere around a table, so that when you have people seated around it, the rest of the room recedes.
Low-level lighting - a pedant, chandelier, or even a row of pendants - will zone the area and make it feel intimate at night. (Ideally, the bottom of the light fixture should fall around 36-inches/91.44cm above the table).
Summer treats
Dress to impress is the order of the day for tables. Interior designers rather grandly describe this as creating a 'tablescape' but really it's just about making sure your tabletop is visual feast, so that it adds to the pleasure of the occasion.
Feel free to go as elegant or as simple as you wish, but don't neglect this opportunity to let your style credentials shine. Authentic crafted pieces and quirky touches (be inspired by the fruit bowl for summer motifs) will turn it into a talking point.
Sensual sanctuary
Layered textiles and light materials in shades of pink and white create a calming, relaxing atmosphere that's soothing for summer nights when the temperature rises.
A plain neutral palette for the floor and walls allows the textures and detail in this room to shine. (Remember to choose breathable fabrics like linen and cotton for bedding).
Trend tip: If you're not gifted in the green fingers department, simply fake it with faux plants - greenery is a must for rooms nowadays. Nothing says summer like beautiful blooms and lush foliage, which hints at steamy exotic settings. Adding accessories in rattan, wicker or raffia will bring a taste of cool colonial style to any setting.
Room star
Clutter is the enemy of tranquillity but equally a room dominated with bulky storage can feel overcrowded and oppressive. Imaginative storage solutions such as pretty trunks, ottomans and under-bed drawers could be a perfect hideaway answer.
Summer treats
Spoil yourself in your private sanctuary, with homeware that adds dollops of personality but whose prices won't disturb your dreams! This is also an easy way to pick up on one
of this year's hottest decor trends: tropical.
Pamper zone
We've fallen for this special pampering area where you can really spoil yourself when you're getting ready. This is an area where you can truly indulge and create a look and feel that's all your own.
A wow-factor deep green on a wall is guaranteed to make this piece a focal point, framed by the plants' stands and foliage for extra impact.
Trend tip: A mellow mix of green and pink is one of this year's most successful colour combinations. Paint woodwork, skirtings and doors to match the walls to maximise a sense of space. Instead of a white ceiling, consider a soft pink. This would pull the scheme together and give the impression of a warm glow.
Room star
This is where you stand and preen, so make it a stand-out feature that suits your needs. We love this dressing table, with five drawers and a mirror.
Summer treats
Decorative accessories could really give this area a tailored luxe feel. Choose an elegant mirror that works wonders by reflecting light, metallic bowls for plants, and pots for storing all those essentials.