Summer lovin’: Keep things summery all year round

From the Resene decorating blog

Summer has great associations for most people: relaxation, beaches, outdoor dining and holidays. Capturing the essence of summer in your interior design needn’t mean you’re tied to a breezy bach style, which might feel a bit chilly come winter when a southerly blows through!

But designing for a specific season also needn’t mean costly makeovers each time the weather changes. Here are some ideas for capturing the spirit of summer that will work in any home all year round.

A warm and summery living room

Plenty of natural textures and summery shades that manage to be both breezy and warm help make this living room trans-seasonal. The walls are painted in Resene Duck Egg Blue, while the floor is Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue. The mirror, shelf, lightshade, vase and bowl are all painted in Resene Raindance. Coffee table in Resene Rewind and bamboo pot stand in Resene Quarter Tea. Sofa from Contempa, rug, deco object on stand, mug, coasters and votive from Freedom, artwork from Etsy/sageseaprints, pale aqua cushion from Allium, linen throw and cushion from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Think outside the sandy box

One way to embrace the essence of summer without reverting to a simple Hamptons or beach house style is to think a bit more broadly about what summer means to you. Ask yourself what it is you love about summer that makes you want to remember that feeling in at least one area of your home, no matter what time of year it is.

Perhaps it’s the sunsets you’ve experienced at your favourite beach, maybe the freedom of being on holiday and living in a very unstructured way or perhaps it’s simply the ability to be out in nature more. You could even create a mood board of ideas and images that capture the spirit of summer you’re trying to recreate. Refer to photos of great summer holidays or experiences and consider how you might recreate aspects of them using Resene paint colours, wallpapers, patterns, fabrics, textures and furniture to inspire those same summery feelings.

A dining area with the feel of a summer meadow

Fresh greens with floral notes of lilac make this dining area feel like a summer meadow. Main rear wall painted in Resene Eighth Fossil with the middle section in Resene Norway. Cabinets in Resene Norway with panels in Resene Rice Cake, dining table in Resene Highland and plates in Resene Amulet, Resene Pale Leaf, Resene Norway, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Lola, Resene Butterfly, Resene Antidote and Resene Highland. Tumblers from Citta, floral bowl and plate from Bolt of Cloth. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Natural light and life

Loads of natural light is a good place to start creating a summery feeling that lasts all year. Pull window dressings back to allow as much natural light in as possible. If privacy is an issue consider wooden blinds that will still filter light through into your room.

If natural light is hard to come by there are still some simple hacks that will help you make the most of what you have. Add a mirror to bounce around the light you do have, with added value that it can make your room feel larger and more open. You could also use a gloss or semi-gloss paint finish, such as Resene Enamacryl or Resene Lustacryl, which will also add glints of extra light.

If natural light is just too hard, make up for it with plants. At heart, most summery interior-scapes are about the connection between inside and out. So, if you can’t flood your space with natural light, fill it with plant-life to bring the outdoors in. Go for a mix of varieties and sizes so you get a layer of greenery that will add the fresh notes you’re looking for.

A soothing natural sitting area

This soothing natural sitting area feels summery without being beholden to colours of the sun or sea.

Rear wall painted in Resene Merino, front wall in Resene Alabaster, floor in Resene White Pointer, tall vase in Resene Parchment, lamp in Resene Tapa, wall hooks in Resene Double Ash. jug vase in Resene Putty and DIY artwork in Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Double Ash and Resene Half Truffle. Project by Gem Adams, image by Melanie Jenkins. Books from Sunday Home Store, Monstera and bush from Flux Boutique, pot planter and velvet cushion from Citta, blanket from Tea Pea, carafe and glass from Father Rabbit, rug from Father Rabbit.

A warm summery lounge

The deep stain on wooden walls in Resene Colorwood Woody Bay anchors this living room with a warmth that makes the summery tones feel suitable for any season. Flooring painted in Resene Sea Fog, sideboard in Resene Casper, coffee table in Resene Indian Ink then wiped with Resene Sea Fog to add a paint effect, tray in Resene Escape, vase (with palm leaf) in Resene Lazy River, tealight in Resene Lazy River, votive in Resene Sea Fog, textured vase (on sideboard) in Resene Escape and pendant lamp in Resene Sea Fog. Sofa, chair and rug from Freedom, bottle from Farmers, artwork from Simply Creative, blue glasses from The Warehouse, jug from Citta, basket and faux palm, palm cushion, linen cushions and throw from Adairs. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.

Colour coding

Colour can be a powerful trigger for memories. A simple way to recreate what you love about summer all year, is to decorate in the colours you associate with the season.

One option is to go for a colour scheme that is all about warmth, by using shades associated with the sun, and sun-baked climates. We’re thinking warm, golden yellows like Resene Moon Yellow or Resene Buttercup, through to burnt ambers and oranges like Resene Rich Gold and Resene Hawaiian Tan. Add a layer of fresh coral in Resene New York Pink or terracotta Resene Crail and, if you’re after a summer sunset vibe, add some bold contrast in a deep indigo like Resene Lucky Point.

Bringing the outdoors into your space is another way to replicate a cool, relaxing summer vibe. Opt for layers of warm neutrals in shades like Resene Merino and Resene Half Tea and add touches of deeper greige tones such as Resene Quarter Sandstone or Resene Truffle. These deeper shades could be particularly helpful to retain a sense of warmth to the space come the cooler months.

A summery outdoor living area

Plants, natural wood tones, and soft furnishings and textured walls add warmth at any time of the year. Back wall painted in Resene Aspiring with paint effect in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed to Resene Moon Mist, right wall, breeze blocks and vase in Resene Moon Mist, bench seat in Resene Aspiring, table and large plant pot in Resene Teak, tray in Resene Flax, small plant pot in Resene Siam and deck in Resene Woodsman Uluru. Project by Vanessa Nouwen, image by Wendy Fenwick.

For fresher touchers add trim in brighter whites such as Resene Alabaster, touches of gold to reflect the light, and, as well as adding a layer of plants, add in some sage and tropical greens like Resene Como, or Resene Bottle Green.

For a more literal beachy vibe, Hamptons style is another classic summery look to experiment with. It takes its nautical feel from beachside-living reflected in bold blocks of sea blue like Resene Bondi Blue, teamed with a crisp white like Resene Quarter Black White, or creamier Resene Bianca. It also usually features plenty of wood features such as timber flooring or furniture stained in natural hues such as Resene Colorwood Natural or washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. Embrace the nautical theme with notes of deep red such as Resene Hot Chile, and for warmth add a layer of natural fibres in neutral wool throws and cushions.

A southern hemisphere spin on the classic Hamptons can be achieved through more relaxed and muted beachy tones, like Resene Duck Egg Blue, or green Resene Dingley, with parched driftwood timber finishes in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt or Resene Colorwood Whitewash. Add warmth with textured neutral walls with a Resene Anaglypta Wallpaper painted in oaty Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Wallpaper Collection 296081.

Turquoise or on-trend deep green-blues shades such as Resene Teal Blue or Resene She’ll Be Right are good choices for warmer shades that will work all year round, yet still reflect the colours of a summery beach. As an added bonus they work well with Resene Pohutukawa for an extra classic summer touch, that won’t feel too bright and breezy come mid-winter.

Go further

Here are some other quick ideas for a touch of summer in your home all year round.

Create an all-year outdoor space with accessories like an awning, mobile planters to use as wind shields, and a brazier for heat. Fill with leafy green plants and fairy lights
Add scented candles or burners with aromas of summer or tropical holidays, like frangipani, jasmine or honeysuckle
Change up cushions and throws – or bedlinen – to warmer fabrics and deeper colours to take your summer look into the cooler months
Warm, golden lights will make your summery interiors feel warm and cosy in winter; just like being huddled around a beach bonfire
Swap out lighter, brighter, beachy artwork for moodier shades and images to go from summer to winter