Maine Coast Home Design

coco+kelley

Article by Joann Clark

Fresh, clean and airy is the epitome of summertime. Open the doors to your home and welcome new decorating ideas to bring summer into your living room. Rearranging the furniture layout, adding splashes of color and changing out accessories can make a major difference. Let nature inspire you and soon you will have a beautiful summer retreat in your living room.

The first step to ease your living room into summer is to rearrange the furniture. If your living room is currently cozied up for winter with tight groupings of furniture, try eliminating a few pieces and opening up the room. If your current focal point is the fireplace, try for a new focal point since you most likely won’t be lighting any fires during the summer. A bright, sunny window would be a good starting point.

And speaking of windows, take down those heavy drapes and replace them with a lighter fabric. You may even just opt for shears that bring a breezy look to the room. They will allow in more light and instantly brighten up the room. If you’re concerned about privacy, install shades that you can pull down at night.

Give your furniture upholstery a summer boost with slipcovers. This is an inexpensive way to change the look of a room. Have them custom made for a nicer fit. A soft cotton canvas in cream or beige for the sofa makes a great starting point. Fit chairs with floral or stripe fabric slipcovers to add some punch. Place coordinated toss pillows on the sofa, taking cues from the chair fabrics. You can have covers made for the pillows as well so they can be changed with the seasons.

Don’t forget the floor and walls. Put down a new area rug. Clean and store that dark Oriental rug and bring out that vibrant apple green rug you’ve wanted to use. Or put down a natural sisal rug for a casual, beach-inspired feel. If painting is not in your price or time budget, replace the artwork on your walls with mirrors that open up the space and framed photos that exemplify summer.

Living room designs just aren’t complete without accessories. Edit, edit, edit! The best way to do this is to remove all accessories from the room and start with a clean canvas. Now, think about what accessories would be best for your new summer living room. Go through the house and select items from other rooms that may fit well within the new summer scheme. If nothing inspires you, go out and buy a few new pieces. This is sure to give your room a fresh look.

So all of this is great, but how do you get inspired? Purchase one piece of furniture, an accessory, rug or new fabric for window treatments and let this be your guide. Fresh summer living room design ideas abound in nature as well. Take your cues from the blooming shrubs and flowers of the season. Think of the soothing beauty of the seashore and turn your living room into a seaside oasis. Whatever your summer fantasy or desire, let it play out as you rearrange and redecorate your living area.

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