Seasonal switchouts

Seasonal transitions often inspire an adjustment to everyday life.

Much like you change up your wardrobe when the weather gets warmer or cooler, a change of seasons is the perfect time to spruce up the design scheme of your home, inside and out. Rotating your decor allows you to take advantage of all of the wonderful colours, patterns and textures out there and avoid the boredom that can lead to impulsive purchases that clutter up your home.

While you will likely not have plans to buy big ticket items like new furniture or drapes for each season – or space to store them – making a few changes can do wonders for perking up your home.

In this room, the walls and floor were kept neutral in Resene Merino (at the back), Resene Alabaster (on the return wall at the left) and Resene White Pointer on the floor. The bulk of the key furniture has been kept quite neutral, too, though in a slightly more saturated way to lend the space some depth. The hall table is painted Resene Double Bison Hide, the wall hooks are in Resene Double Ash, the lamp is in Resene Tapa and the wooden storage box is in Resene Double Pavlova.

However, repainting an accent wall or even just an item of furniture is an easy way to invigorate a room in your home. Choose a fresh colour that makes the room appear lighter and infuses energy into it. The peg stool in Resene Moccasin, for instance, gives the warm weather version of this room a completely different energy than the stripped stump side table, which is on display during the cooler months.

One of the easiest ways to mix things up in your home is by exchanging your throw pillows for new colours and textures. For instance, autumn is the perfect time to cover the couch in rust and ivory knit throw pillows. During the summer, you might consider blue ombre pillows that resemble splashing beach waves. In the winter, go for warmer fabrics like wool knits or plaid flannel for a country look. If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can always add a few splashes of colour with a Resene testpot or two.

Artwork makes a huge impact on the look and feel of your space, and it usually doesn’t take much space to store extras. Pick up a pair of large canvases and some Resene testpots then try your hand at making one warmer weather piece and one for cool weather to coordinate with your seasonal schemes. The DIY artwork in the warm weather version of this room was created with Resene Sunbaked, Resene Shabby Chic and Resene Raging Bull while the colder weather canvas was painted using Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Double Ash and Resene Half Truffle. Since they’re the same size and require the same hanging hardware, it’s simple to swap them out when the weather changes.

Frames, too can be easily changed out either by slipping in new prints or by giving them a quick lick of paint.

Area rugs really have a way of pulling an entire room together. What’s best about these floor coverings is that they’re portable and versatile, so take advantage of how they can easily transition your space from one season to the next. A colourful kilim rug brings heat to the summery space and play off the spicy painted accessories such as the small vase in Resene Cleopatra and the plant pot in Resene Moccasin. When winter comes round, a soft woollen rug keeps toes cosy.

Styling by Gem Adams. Photography by Melanie Jenkins. 2019