The joy of summer I

f you’re reading this magazine in your own home right now, have a quick look out of the nearest window. What can you see? Whether you’re blessed with a garden, or you’re gazing out into the street, there’s something truly uplifting about looking outside in the summer months – it doesn’t really matter what your view is, it’s all about being connected with the world. And looking through our reader homes in this issue (from p59), they all share a connection with their surroundings – whether that’s breathtaking views of the rolling landscape beyond, or lush greenery seen through a modest kitchen window. Now that the weather has shifted, I think we all crave spending time outdoors. And while we’re wanting to look out, interiors trends this summer all have a feeling of bringing the outside in: the hottest look right now is the tropical trend – turn to p20 for our sun-filled shoot that shows you exactly how to achieve this style in your space. It’s a surprisingly easy trend to get right and the vibrant prints and mood-boosting colours will transform any room for the sunshine months and beyond.

Speaking of colour, it wouldn’t be a high-summer issue without plenty of it on these pages – and I don’t think we’ll disappoint.

From high street buys in primary shades (p9) to the newest table-top looks in every hue (p38), there’s a rainbow of inspiration for you to flick through. And our columnist and colour expert Sophie Robinson gives us the lowdown on how to collect and display art in any room (p56). Sophie is also sharing a great video masterclass on how to create a moodboard for HB readers on our website. Head to housebeautiful.com/uk/sophiejul to watch it and be inspired. Enjoy!