When the seasons’ change and the call of summer finally beckons, we can’t help but look forward to days spent soaking it up outside – either in your garden or local park – holding impromptu dinner parties or lazily late brunches. The truth is, here in Great Britain, we’re not expecting the sun to shine all of the time, but for the days when it does it feels great getting outside; and for those when it doesn’t, there’s no reason you can’t make the most of the summer months inside the comfort of your home too.
For those hazy summer days, sometimes it’s nice to avoid the beach-goers and park-dwellers and make the most of your own garden. Whatever its size, we’ve introduced a beautiful and hard-wearing range of outdoor garden furniture that was designed with these lazy afternoons and alfresco suppers in mind.
tip 1 // summer dining indoors
If the temperatures do drop outside but the sun is still shining, why not open the back door or savour the warmth of your conservatory and dine in a different spot?
Chester Grey Ext. Dining Table | Light Oak Ext. Table | Portobello Painted Breakfast Bar | Westcote Blue Butchers Block
If you’re a little short on space inside, there’s no reason why you can’t still host an indoor family BBQ or impromptu dinner with our range of extendable dining tables. Our Portobello Painted Breakfast Bar also provides the perfect perch for a quick weekday breakfast or mid-morning coffee break, while our range of Butcher’s Blocks offer a brilliant and convenient preparation spot for chopping veg and making salads. Summer isn’t just about the sunshine, it’s about savouring the longer days and making the most of opportunities to spend more time with friends and family, whatever the weather.
tip 2 // introduce natural textures
Introducing a range of natural textures into your home not only helps to create a relaxed country feel but an utterly timeless one too. Thankfully, textures of rattan, wool and seagrass are not trend-led, nor do they have to be expensive investments either, but they can do wonders for a quick interiors refresh. Our range of seagrass baskets offer the perfect storage solution while adding a tactile lamp or large woven rug help to create an impactful and instant update to any room too.
Bamboo Pendant | Round Seagrass Rug | Storage Basket | Rattan Table Lamp
tip 3 // a lick of paint
It may seem simple, but a fresh coat of paint is a quick and easy way to update and refresh your home – especially during these balmy summer months. Neutral, pastel shades will help to reflect the sunshine, helping to make your home feel both light and wonderfully airy. There’s no need to commit to painting a whole room either, try opting for a feature wall or why not choose a different colour for your front door for an instant and recognisable refresh?
F&B L-R Teresa’s Green | Parma Gray | Dayroom Yellow | Lulworth Blue
Available in Stow-on-the-Wold – our flagship store in the heart of the Cotswolds – and our newly opened store in the charming city of Chelmsford, you can find the perfect Farrow & Ball shade for your home with our exclusive showrooms in store.
tip 4 // switch up summer furnishings
Bumblebee Cushion | Charlton Green Painted Display Cabinet | Clemento Round Rug | Herringbone Throw
Sometimes all a quick refresh need entail is a change of scenery. It’s surprising the difference a few cushions, a new rug or a different way of displaying your favourite knick-knacks can have to your home. Neutral hues will always complement existing decor styles, while adding a subtle hint of green, especially to your conservatory, will help to bring the outdoors in during these summer months.
tip 5 // make the table
This is another quick and easy refresh that can quite as easily be tackled over the weekend, and equally, do wonders for the feel of your living room. Our coffee tables – with their focal position in the middle of the room – are often a magnet for gathering old newspapers, dog-eared magazines and used coffee cups. Being one of the first pieces we see though, think about what you’d like to keep on show and what you’d like to keep hidden. Place convenient items like the TV remote or today’s paper in an easy-to-reach tray with a vase of seasonal flowers, and board games or old magazines in a basket on the bottom shelf or tucked away in a drawer.
Newark Oak Coffee Table | Sussex Painted Coffee Table | Lyon Petite Oak Coffee Table
A top tip for banishing unnecessary clutter is choosing a coffee table that provides ample storage or plenteous drawer space. If you prefer the more contemporary style of our Newark Oak Coffee Table, simply add one or two small baskets to store handy knick-knacks on the bottom shelf for a tidy storage solution you’ll find easy to stick to.
Having a summer refresh in your home needn’t become an arduous or expensive task then. Think about your space and start with the areas in your home that you spend the most time in during the summer months. From introducing and refreshing your cushion collection with lighter hues and textures to reorganising your coffee table in the living room to create a warm and inviting welcome, or giving your front door a fresh coat of paint, there are many ways to make the most of the season – whatever the weather brings!
