The Summer House

A Note From Kate

Now that summer is here, I find my decorating feet are itchy, and while I have no intention of painting whole rooms, there are seasonal changes that make you feel like you’ve completely redecorated when actually you’ve just swapped a few things around and freshened up the space in a way that looks utterly new. It’s the same as buying one new top and realising you can make 10 new outfits, so getting dressed is exciting again. I imagine it might also be the same as having secret Botox and everyone asking if you’ve had a good night’s sleep. Actually, that sounds rather tempting… Anyway, the Danes change their cushions, curtains and rugs according to the seasons – their reasoning is that since we change clothes according to the weather, why not our homes? I’m completely on board with that, so here are a few tips on how to uplift each room for summer.

The Living Room

One of the easiest seasonal changes to make in the living room is swapping velvet and knitted cushion covers for those in lighter, striped or patterned cotton. These have the added bonus of not taking up much space when you need to store them.

I was resistant to the scented candle for a long time (I’m a not-so-secret catastrophist) but I’ve really come round to the joy of homes that smell heavenly (maybe this is because my cat, Enid, is now elderly and slightly dusty). Swapping out the wintery Diptyque for a sunny Acqua Di Parma brings the summer straight in, while Zara candles are beautifully packaged and can scent a whole room without even being lit.

Switching lampshades is another great way to update a room for the season. In the dark days of winter we need pale shades to let out as much light as possible. In summer we can switch to painted paper (very Charleston House) or even patterns that are more decorative when we don’t need to turn the lights on as much.

I think many of us fall into the habit of not really seeing our rooms when we use them every day, so two simple refreshes I do a few times a year are to change up the books on the coffee table and swap over the candles from dark colours in winter to lighter pastel shades in summer. They're small tweaks that doesn’t cost any money but keep the space looking fresh.

The Kitchen

I have a friend who has seasonal crockery. Her kitchen is huge and she has room to store four sets of plates. For the rest of us, adding a new set of dessert plates to the mix allows you to ring the changes without filling up the cupboards.

Florals for spring may not be groundbreaking and neither are stripes for summer, but both are delicious, so lean into it. A large vase filled with seasonal green foliage lasts longer than flowers, which you can leave to do their thing in the garden.

Another easy change to get you in the mood for summer is to add a bright, breezy bowl filled with summer fruits and put pots of herbs on the windowsill. Remember to stand them on saucers - and water from the bottom every day.

The Bedroom

I can’t be bothered with lots of cushions on the bed as they create a trip hazard if (when) I get up in the night. I’d much rather layer up four different pillowcases to create a summery floral feel. Mismatched bedding also feels lighter and brighter, and while I use linen and cotton all year round, I’ve recently discovered seersucker which is perfect for summer.

While rugs take up too much space to store seasonally, I do swap my curtains from heavy cream velvet to airy green linen in summer. La Redoute sells panels that you fold over to fit and simply attach to curtain rings with clips. Then fold the spares up and slide under the bed.

When I was growing up, my grandmother always put a posy of flowers from the garden on everyone’s bedside table. I do this for guests but rarely for myself, so I’m adding this to my list of ‘New Summer Resolutions’ – is that a thing? You only need to buy one large bunch of flowers, divide them between vases and dot them around the house – starting with the bedroom.

The Bathroom

When I did up my house in London, I quickly realised that if I was going to have a heated towel rail and any sort of storage there wouldn’t be room for a glass shower screen to open and close. Enter the shower curtain. These take up no space and are brilliant for adding colour and pattern to a room which can be full of white “furniture” and hard, straight lines. Simply swap with the seasons.

I have found it hard to keep plants alive in bathrooms. They are constantly being knocked by flying towels and I have yet to find one that loves both dark and steam in equal measure. Let’s ignore the fact that I often forget to water them. Faux fronds are your friend here, and if you are more responsible than me you can always add in a couple of real ones to trick people into thinking they’re all living.

Towels are very underestimated as a design element. You can keep your white ones for hotels – no domestic washing machine can maintain that level of thick fluffiness. Instead, add jolly colours, stripes and checks for seasonal joy and practicality.

There never seems to be quite enough spare surface in my bathroom, so adding a stool in a bright glossy finish brings colour and texture and also doubles up as emergency seating or a place to put the radio/book/vase of flowers.

The Garden

It took me a long time to realise that if I’m actually going to sit in my garden, it needs to be as comfortable as my sitting room. So that means no to sticky plastic chairs, no to deckchairs that (once in) I need a crane to get me out of, and yes to lovely scents wafting by on the breeze. Add a group of terracotta pots by the back door or along the path and fill them with lemon-scented thyme, lavender, mint and rosemary for a gorgeous sensory overload that will transport you to the South of France every time you brush past.

Lighting is key all year round. In winter you don’t want to see a black nothingness outside the window. In summer, drape solar-powered festoon lights from trees and bushes, and set the table with rechargeable lamps, which are prettier and safer than candles.

Keep the dining area close to the kitchen; if you have to carry everything down to the bottom of the garden, you won’t bother eating outside. Add a jolly tablecloth for maximum prettiness: Sarah Espeute is the OG of embroidered cloths; her designs are almost too pretty to eat off. Are you allowed to lay the table and whip off the cloth when the food arrives? Maison Flâneur has created a pretty painted version, while Summerill & Bishop has collaborated with the king of detailed design, John Derian. On the high-street, H&M has made one that won’t break the bank and can be endlessly washed.