170Welcome Summer in Style with These 8 Ideas!
posted on May 31st, 2008
Summer is finally in sight! Are you in the mood to freshen up your home’s
decorating as we head into the warm season? Good, because there are a lot of quick
and easy ways to do just that!
- Paint your front door inside and out with an accent color that you currently use in
your living/dining room area. Make it medium to deep in tone so it really becomes a
focal point coming and going!
- Add some silk flowers by the stem to your live or silk plants to add a punch of
color. This works well for live plants that aren’t in bloom. Just add some live plants
in general. I find if I mix in a few live plants with good quality silk ones, people
thing everything is real! A good way to do this is to use live plants wherever people
will see them up close (i.e. entry, coffee table) or where they will spend a lot of time.
For parties, you can make quick a centerpiece by taking a silk (or live plant) and
inserting fresh flowers into it. Use the floral test tubes with water in them for the
silk plants.
- Replace winter drapery fabric with colored, patterned, sheer drop panels. The
sheer look in colors and those with various patterns stitched on them are very
much in style now. They work best in bedrooms or rooms decorated in a soft,
informal style. You can find them ready-made or make them yourself with iron-on
tape (available in any fabric store) to hem the panel’s top and bottom. Then attach
clip rings (available in any drapery hardware department) and string the rings on
your rod. Voila! Instant window treatment!
- Take large squares of summer patterned/textured fabric (same colors already
used in the room) and wrap each of your sofa and/or chair seat cushions with them.
Place the cushion diagonally on the square fabric and pull each corner to the
underside. Secure with duct tape or several large safety pins. Your husband will
think you bought a new couch! (Don’t laugh…I’ve had it happen!)
- Clean out the fireplace so you can use the candelabras for a glow during summer
evenings without the heat of an actual fire. Pair up a flowering plant on the hearth to
one side to complete your summery season look. (Oh, one more thing: do put away
your fireplace set and wood carriers for summer!)
- Don’t forget to decorate the outside areas of your home when thinking seasonal
changes. Put something floral around your front entrance… potted live plants, a silk
wreath on the door, a decorative piece of outdoor furniture you decorate with
colorful container pots, even a decorative sign that says “Welcome to the beach”.
(You can do this even if you live inland but have sense of humor.)
- Think about adding fountain to your back outdoor area. If you have compact
quarters, add the table size model. More space? Then try a full-sized fountain…
self-standing or wall mounted.
- Be sure to use some large plants to decorate with, too. If everything is too small,
it’ll look cluttered. It’s just like using accessories inside: think small, medium and
large groupings.
Mary L. Brown of One Day Design is an interior re-designer who specializes in
quickly transforming rooms using the furniture, accessories, and artwork people
already have to give them a professionally decorated look! She’s been featured on
FOXTV, NBC and HGTV. Download Mary’s FREE “Top 10 Decorating Mistakes (and
How to Avoid or Fix Them!)” and sign up for her FREE decorating eNewsletter at
http://www/OneDayDesign.com.