Summer is on the horizon, bringing blue skies, warm breezes, and those long, golden evenings. It’s the season for hosting backyard barbecues, unwinding on the patio, and soaking up the beauty of the outdoors. As the days heat up, our homes naturally transform into spaces for gathering and unwinding. To help you make the most of the summer months, here’s our ultimate guide to getting your home summer-ready!
FURNITURE
As you extend your living to the outdoors, treat it as a continuation of the overall style and colour palette of your home. Balance design, comfort and durability when selecting your outdoor furniture. And look beyond the usual greys and charcoals for outdoor upholstery. There’s a fabulous range of colours, textures and patterns available in high performance fabrics, suitable for outdoor use and resistant to our harsh UV.
Image courtesy of David Shaw
outdoor rug
Super soft under foot, outdoor rugs are perfect for defining a seating area, adding texture and a little bit of luxe to your outdoor space. Generally these are made of recycled plastic, nylon or polyester, are water resistant and best of all are super easy to hose down for a quick clean. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns, I think these are the most underrated accessory for any outdoor space.
Image courtesy of Baya
cushions
Not just for our interiors, cushions are key to dressing an outdoor space, adding both style and personality. Definitely go for fun contrasting patterns and textures - there’s even outdoor velvets which are beautifully plush and glam. I always suggest larger sized cushions to elevate your look - we prefer to mix 55x55cm cushions with 60x40cm ones. And always ensure the cushions are made from high performing fabrics with the best quality quick dry inners.
Image courtesy of Zanders & Co
outdoor fireplace
An outdoor fireplace is a fabulous centrepiece for your outdoor space. They create warmth and ambience - and even help keep the mosquitoes away. We love the simplicity of an ethanol fire and our tip is to make sure you select one that has a ledge for perching your cocktail glass!
Image courtesy of Jo Smith Photography
So get ready to enjoy Summer to it’s maximum by extending your interior style to the outdoors.
Contact Kirsten to find out how to create a home you absolutely love.
Tailored design services to meet your requirements and budgets, including:
* colours and finishes for new builds and renovations
* furniture and furnishing selections
* window treatments
* styling
Contact Auckland Interior Designer Kirsten Ford for more information.
To read more of our recent blogs, click here.
