15 ways to get summer-ready

Spring, the season of rejuvenation, renewal and resurrection, is gone, and it’s time to prep your home for the long and hot summer.

Try our tips to freshen up your spaces and get ready to welcome summer into your home:

1 Spruce up the door

Give the front door something to crow about — a handmade wreath, a new coat of paint or funky artwork.

2 Go for pretty colours Dark hues added much-needed warmth during winters, but now that spring is here, bring in bright colours. Citrus hues, pastel shades, primary colours — take your pick!

3 Play with patterns

Forget the monochromes and explore the wide world of patterns. Be it checks, stripes, polka dots or others, look for energetic patterns that bring in a breath of fresh air.

4 Roll away the carpets Woollen carpets don’t exactly say spring. Put them away and get summer-friendly rugs — chatais, dhurries or just keep those floors bare.

Woven furniture

Be it wicker, rattan, cane or fabric, woven furniture brings to mind lazing, lounging and comfort. Put away a couple of wooden pieces and get some woven style.

6 Hang up sheers

Now that winter’s gone, it’s time to bid adieu to heavy drapes and curtains. Opt for light sheers, in white or pastels, or do as the Greek do — keep windows bare.

7 Swap the cushions

This is the easiest way to put your home in a spring-time mood. Cheerful and vibrant throw pillows will revitalise the most jaded of couches and rooms.

8 Bring in flowers

Spring is the season when buds burst into bloom, so make sure you make space for them in your home. In vases, in pots or in the garden.

9 Go faux floral

We get that you can’t splurge on fresh flowers every day. So why not add florals in other ways — linen, artwork, wallpaper et al?

10 Fun accessories

You no longer need a cosy vibe so put away the candles and silk arrangements. Bring in glass vases, coloured glass plates and flowering house plants. Paper lampshades add a fun element.

11 Opt for greenery

We’re not talking about the Pantone colour; we mean the real deal. Bringing in a potted plant into your home refreshes the look in a jiffy.

12 Metallic code

Whatever may be your metallic hue of choice — brass, copper, steel, gold or silver — the new metallic code features a mix of colour and shimmer. Think sparkle meets organic, be it on lighting fixtures or other accessories.

13 Work on vignettes

Fruits, flowers, pebbles, shells — put together your collection of nature’s beauty with her bounty to create living artwork for the home. Bonus points if you use natural materials such as wicker or bamboo.

14 Ombré update

The ombré trend may have passed us by, but this style of gradations looks incredibly fresh. Give an old dresser or table a brand new look.

15 Style the verandah

Apart from getting the outdoor seating right, give the creepers, shrubs and plants a wash. Could there be a better place to spend your quiet mornings?