Summer Home Refresh: Easy Ways To Brighten Your Space

Getting the most from your space means treating it to the occasional refresh. This is best done seasonally. What works in winter, after all, might not be suitable for summer.

During summer, we enjoy longer daylight hours, and warmer temperatures. The design decisions we make should reflect this, and lean into the textures, colors, and moods we associate with the season. So, what does this mean in practice?

Through natural light, we can brighten up a home quickly. The best way to do this is with the help of larger windows, skylights, and minimal window dressing. It’s also worth repositioning furniture and repainting walls in order to maximize the distribution of light. Lighter colors tend to reflect light, while darker ones absorb it. For the same reason, large mirrors can work wonders near to windows. If you position them so that they lie in your peripheral vision as you’re moving through the space, you might also find that the home appears larger.

When every surface is pale and desaturated, you might end up feeling like you’re living inside a very bland environment. This might provide a blank canvas, which you can augment with a few choice paintings, photographs, and decorations. But a splash of color, in the form of a feature wall, can create seasonal brightness just as effectively. Choose colors and designs that appeal to you but bear in mind that when your choices are very unusual, the future value of your home might suffer. If you intend to sell in the near future, this might be something that matters to you.

There’s a great deal of research supporting the idea that houseplants are great for mental health. Spend time around them, and you’re more likely to enjoy an improved mood, and feelings of calm. They also tend to be easier to look after during the summer. You can bring the spirit of the season into your home by picking out summer blossoms.

This is a particularly good idea in new build homes, which might lack some of the characterful elements that come with older ones. A few large potted plants in your living room, however, and you’ll instantly attain that sense of homeliness that so many of us crave.

When all of the light in a given room comes from a single source, you’ll find that harsh shadows develop, especially around the corners of the space. This can help to make everything feel dingy and cramped. Get around this by installing a selection of different lights, at various heights and locations.