As soon as the last chilly days of winter slip away and the first signs of spring become apparent, many homeowners rediscover their passion for creating dreamy interiors.
And with the silly season on the horizon, it makes perfect sense. There’s no better time to entertain and people want their home to look its best for visitors.
The experts agree that introducing a few trend-driven decorator items to living areas and bedrooms can breathe new life into any home. This year, neutrals, pops of pastel, cool blue hues and interesting textural finishes are all big news when it comes to home decorating.
Interior designer Natalie Fermoyle, of Bella Life Style, says navy blue has been gaining popularity in recent times and she expects it will make a big splash this season.
“Navy blue really is the next big colour in the design world,” she says. “A dramatic backdrop of deep toned blue will add contrast to metallics and soft pink, blend with grey and soft blue, and pop with crisp white.
“From the living room to the bedroom, navy can be casual when teamed with tan leather, edgy when paired with metallics or it can give pastels a new and modern feel when thrown into the mix there.”
Natalie says this is the perfect time of the year to pay some special attention to table settings.
“Beautiful table settings are a focus in home styling for the ultimate spring and summer entertaining,” she says. “Think bouquets, crystal, polished tableware and candles in purples and blues, with grey remaining a consistent neutral for the big-ticket items such as dining chairs, couches and rugs.
“Grey design staples would be good investments to purchase now with a long reign of grey ahead of us.”
Natalie says clusters of succulent plants in glass vessels inject a fresh feeling into spaces, perfect for the warmer months.
“These can be arranged in a row on a dining table, clustered together on a coffee or side table or on open shelving with books and photos.”
Shally Shwe from Kresta says people looking to add some sparkle to their homes for the summer months should keep window coverings neutral and add trending colours in the form of accessories.
“Think about introducing a lightly textured sheer to windows and don’t be afraid to throw in some bold rugs or pillows,” she says.
At Home’s interior designer Pauline Gerrans says neutrals, pastels, raw materials and clever combinations of interesting finishes such as concrete, copper, glass and steel will make their mark this summer.
She says cushions are always a good way to incorporate new season’s colours into the home without breaking the budget.
“The luxury of feather-filled cushions is hard to beat,” she says. “They look slightly lumpy in an old-world charming kind of way but they just feel wonderful.”
For those wanting to splurge a little more, Pauline says occasional chairs are an excellent option.
“These will inject some personality and you can be bold with colour and pattern alongside a safer sofa in a neutral block fabric,” she says.
“Use a few small side tables to make an interesting arrangement, mixing and matching with an added concrete or copper piece on top to suit your style.”
Pauline says pouffes are fantastic additions to living rooms because they double as coffee tables, can provide extra seating and allow you to be brave with pattern.
And for those wanting a new couch or sofa, she says it’s a good idea to look at something that is custom made.
“Leather couches are making a comeback, especially with more worn-in leather that exudes a warm and welcoming feeling,” she says.
