Refresh your summer entertaining space

If you don’t have an outdoor entertaining space, make your indoor areas warm and summery – add flowers in warm shades of red, yellow, orange or pink, or set the table using a beachy theme.

Still living with that decade-old drab carpet? Then is could be time for a change!. Choose from timber, vinyl, bamboo or laminate in light oak or beech tones to brighten a room instantly. Flooring has a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your home.

Ditch the vertical blinds and bring your home into the 21st century. Simply switching your curtains for the new season can give your entertaining space a whole new personality. Pick free flowing curtains that will capture the gentle summer breeze.

Never underestimate the power of white paint to make a room feel larger. If your sunroom is looking a little less than sunny, it could be an ideal time to give the walls a lick of paint. Consider warmer tones to create a more inviting space. A wall colour like Hog Bristle will go with almost any decor, and using half strength on the ceiling can make the room feel richer.

Have your cushions seen better days? Throw away the faded slipcovers and give the cushions a birthday. Pick a colour palette for your room and stick to it. Using variations of those colours will add a level of depth to the decor, and you can swap them out seasonally. Large floor cushions are also a fun summer seating option.

Consider flooring when styling an entertaining space. A pale yellow timber floor, needs contrasting timber furniture. But if you’ve gone for the matt grey look, white chairs with colourful cushions will make the room pop.

It’s the golden rule when it comes to styling. So edit your entertaining space by taking one or two unnecessary items out when you think you’ve finished re-styling. It can make all the difference.

Cool white light globes have their place in the world, but in living spaces they tend to suck the life out of the rest of the room. Switch to warm white for a sunny golden glow. If the colour of your lights isn’t the problem, but rather the one lonely globe in the middle of the room, consider replacing it with a number of strategically placed LED down lights instead.

Summer is a time when we all want to be outdoors, so blurring the lines between the inside and outside will help you feel more a part of nature. If your entertaining space centres on a fireplace or the kitchen, consider rearranging the furniture to look towards a big window or sliding door. Draw the curtains to let the light stream into your room, allowing the outside world be your focus for the season.