Let’s face it—we wait for summer all year long, but by mid-July we find ourselves quietly wishing for fall. It’s ok! Summer in Nashville is hot, humid, and intense. Here are some styling tricks to help you beat the heat and enjoy!
Edit, Edit, Edit
Stacks of magazine and piles of mail do more than just clutter your home; they make the space feel full and heavy. Clear surfaces in your home with abandon. Half-burnt candles don’t need to be displayed, they need to be stored. Gold metallic accessories are nice but best saved for cooler months when the warmth they exude isn’t the opposite of the desired aesthetic. Simply cleaning up, editing, and streamlining wherever possible is the best way to change the feel of your home. Best yet, it’s totally free!
Go Green
Swap dried florals for anything living: flowers, palms, or even greens clipped from the yard. Living plants infuse vitality and breathe character into a space. Whether you go for bushy greens, spider vines, tropical ferns, or sculptural succulents, know you are deploying designer secret weapons!
Lighten Up
When the AC is working overtime, there’s no need for chunky-knit blankets, tons of throw pillows, and lots of area rugs. Lighten up and save all the glorious textiles that add warmth and comfort to your home until it is cooler outside. Your bare skin will thank you!
Hunt and Gather
Try adding a few seasonal accessories to your home decor every season, every year. There is no need to go out and do it all at once. Focus on pillows one season, curtains the next, throw rugs the following, and so on. Before you know it, you will have treasured items stored away, waiting to be pulled out and used time after time. A lot of people know the trick to building up their holiday collections is to wait for after holiday markdowns. The same goes for seasonal decor. Now is the perfect time to grab feather-weight sheets, colorful pillows, and summer-themed accessories as stores begin to rollout the newest looks for fall.
Bring on the Beach
Or lake. Or mountains. Whatever your preference, add a dash of your dream summer escape to infuse your home with elements that remind you to take a step back and relax. For many, this means driftwood trays, hurricane displays, and painted fish. A few accessories go a long way!
Last but not least, remember to leave space for at least one token from your summer get away! We are always on the lookout for unique objects and art and love bringing something home that reminds us of where we’ve been! — By Kate Gray Fudim
Editor’s Note: Kate Gray Fudim is an interior designer with Beth Haley Design. Kate has a master’s degree in Interior Architecture and Design with an emphasis in sustainable design. Beth Haley Design, an urban interior design firm, focuses on remodeling and revitalizing established homes, as well as creating stimulating, functional, sustainable spaces in new homes.. E-mail your questions to her at ngregg@ngregg.com or visit www.bethhaleydesign.com.