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| Courtesy Loloi |
As spring flurries slowly start to fade away and be replaced by the bright sunshine that Colorado is famous for, so does the desire to change the design of living spaces to reflect the mood of the season. There are many simple and relatively inexpensive ways to create a space reflective of the summer, from changing bedding, drapes or decorations, to painting rooms or updating outdoor spaces.
EASY ADJUSTMENTS
Just like spring cleaning, de-cluttering can be a refreshing way to make small changes to the home.
“If you’ve got a lot of knick-knacks in your house, a lot of times a good thing to do is get rid of them,” said Karen Wray, design coordinator with Mountain Log Homes & Interiors. “The reason for that is that we tend to leave our windows open in the summer more, so we get more dust inside of our house. If you have less things to dust, you will feel more free, lighter and airier.”
Wray suggests getting rid of things like candlesticks and heavy afghans.
Another simple way to summer up the home is to put fresh or artificial flowers around the house. Exchange garlands or wreaths for fresh flowers on the tables, Wray said.
“Change out things that are woodier and evergreen and more stick-like in the winter to things that are more colorful and brighter in the summer, and change the whole look of a little entry table or your fireplace mantel,” she said.
Tracey Egolf owner and lead designer of Egolf Interiors, said she likes to keep the basic pieces in her home neutral enough so that she can do simple seasonal changes that are inexpensive. To flavor things for the summer, she suggests changing out throw pillows or accent rugs, or purchasing a fun set of summer dishes, placemats or a unique seasonal water pitcher.
“The trends change so often that it’s nice to not invest a whole lot of money in stuff like that,” she said.
Bedding and curtains can also be exchanged for a fresh look. With the temperature difference from winter to summer, the darker, heavier bedding linens can be switched out for brighter colors and crisp, cotton duvets.
“You can go to stark whites and then just put some top pillows with some colors, but changing your bedding can totally change the feel of a room,” Wray said.
Some clients also like to change their drape panels in the summer, Wray said, from a heavier brocade or velvet in the winter to a lighter cotton or linen, to bring that summer view out the window into something lighter in color and in weight. Lighter fabrics will blow around with the wind, giving the room a breezy summer feel.
COLOR TRENDS
Shades of grays, metallic and taupe continue to be popular decorating color trends, Wray said. She still isn’t seeing a lot of real color being used, except for a little bit in rugs, pillows or art, and the trend is leaning toward neutral, like grays, taupes and off-white for big pieces of upholstery.
Deb Kelley, an interior designer with Swan Mountain Interiors, said white with vibrant accent colors has been trendy, particularly cobalt blue as an accent. She also said a deep, burnt orange is popular.
For accessories such as lamps, side tables or tabletop accessories, she is seeing brass and bright golds coming back.
Egolf suggested yellows, tangerines and citrus colors that speak of summer, or fun patterns.
UPDATE ROOMS WITH PAINT
Color trends are on a five-year cycle, and paint can be a cheap way to update a room. Wray does a lot of remodel work on units that were built in the 1990s, when the trend was dark, rich colors on the walls, and she is covering those up with those lighter shades of gray, white or taupe.
“You can change the entire look of a room with paint,” she said.
Yellow and custard is another popular color from the ’90s that she has seen frequently in her remodel work, and although it seems like it should be cheery, it feels dated, she said.
“Now that we are almost to the end of this decade, it’s time to neutralize that color,” she said.
Wray said Sherwin Williams in Frisco is a good resource to look at paint samples, as the store redesigned its color fan decks. Shades of white are all in the front of the deck now, where it used to be they were mixed up with other shades of colors, such as yellow-whites with the yellows. Now the deck makes it really easy to look at all the shades of white.
“You can see, if you see them side by side, which one feels fresh and clean,” she said.
OUTDOOR SPACES
There are far more outdoor fabrics and rugs available nowadays, Kelley said, with really bright, vibrant colors and patterns. She said current trends for outdoor areas still include the basics — tables, chairs — but also seating areas around fire pits.
Outdoor kitchens are still popular, especially on the larger homes, she said. For smaller homes or condos with bistro sets, bright, vibrant rugs or throw pillows can accentuate the area.
Egolf, who has been working in the county for 18 years, said lanterns on the deck are an easy way to light up the area. Potted plants or hanging baskets are other quick, instant ways to change up the outdoor space.
It’s also another place for a new set of fun but inexpensive dishware for eating outside.
Whether it’s indoors or out, some of the simpler ways to give living areas a summer theme can be done without spending a ton of money.
“I love that the Target and Pottery Barn and some of those less expensive brands have hopped on the bandwagon and they are bringing design to the common person,” Egolf said. “You don’t have to hire a designer to update your look.”
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News.
