Summer in the UK is a cherished season. The longer days and warmer weather inspire us to throw open the windows, spend more time outdoors, and refresh our living spaces. It’s the perfect time to breathe new life into your home, making changes that will not only enhance your enjoyment of the season but also add lasting value and comfort.
If you’re looking for inspiration, here are five impactful things you can change in your home this summer.
1.Fully Embrace Al Fresco Living
For years, we’ve been told to treat our garden as an extra room, and there’s no better time to embrace this philosophy than summer. This year, go beyond simply mowing the lawn and create a true outdoor oasis.
The key to this transformation lies in investing in high-quality, comfortable garden furniture. The right setup can turn a neglected patio or a simple patch of grass into the most popular spot in your house for dining, relaxing, and socialising.
Think about how you want to use the space. Are you dreaming of long, lazy family lunches in the sunshine? A durable, all-weather dining table made from acacia wood or modern composite material is a must. For evening entertaining, fire pit tables have become the ultimate centrepiece, offering warmth and a captivating focal point that keeps the conversation going long after sunset.
For pure relaxation, consider creating a dedicated lounging zone. Forget rigid upright benches; think deep-seated outdoor sofas with plush, waterproof cushions, stylish rattan egg chairs for a quiet reading corner, or a classic wooden Lutyens bench to add a touch of timeless elegance.
Modern garden furniture is designed to withstand the unpredictable British weather, with rust-proof aluminium frames and UV-resistant weaves, ensuring your investment looks great for many summers to come.
2.Lighten Up Your Living Space
Just as we swap our winter coats for lighter layers, our indoor spaces can also benefit from a seasonal refresh. Summer is all about creating a bright, airy, and welcoming atmosphere inside, and a few strategic changes to your living room can make a world of difference. This is the ideal time to reassess your sofas and chairs.
If your living room is dominated by heavy, dark fabrics, it can feel oppressive during the warmer months. You don’t necessarily need to buy a whole new suite; sometimes, simply changing the scatter cushions and adding a few light-coloured throws in materials like linen or cotton can lift the entire space. However, if your seating has seen better days, investing in a new piece can be truly transformative.
Consider sofas in lighter shades of grey, soft beige, or on-trend earthy pastels. Natural materials are also a fantastic choice for summer, with details like light oak feet or woven side panels adding a subtle, organic touch. Think about the shape and form. A sleek, low-profile sofa can make a room feel more spacious, while a modern modular design offers the flexibility to change your layout for social gatherings.
By lightening up your main seating, you create a more relaxing and visually spacious environment that feels connected to the bright season outside.
3.Prepare For All Weather
Thinking about heating in the middle of summer might seem odd, but it’s actually the most strategic time to upgrade your home’s climate control. Doing this work during the warmer months means you won’t be left in the cold when a system is being replaced. More importantly, a modern system addresses that other great British obsession: the heatwave. Investing in your home heating and cooling is a forward-thinking move that prepares you for every season.
The demand for air conditioning in the UK is rising, and modern units are a world away from the noisy, inefficient models of the past. A sleek, wall-mounted unit can provide blessed relief during those sticky, sleepless summer nights. Crucially, many of these systems are now reversible heat pumps, meaning they can provide energy-efficient heating during the winter, too.
This is also the perfect time to install smart thermostats. These clever devices learn your household’s routine, ensuring you only use energy when you need it, which can lead to significant savings on your bills come autumn. By tackling this upgrade in the summer, you get ahead of the winter rush and ensure your home is a comfortable sanctuary, whether you’re facing a summer heatwave or a winter cold snap.
4.Tackle A Bathroom Renovation
A full bathroom renovation can be a daunting, time-consuming, and expensive project. But what if you could achieve a dramatic transformation in just a weekend? This summer, consider a speedy and stylish upgrade using bathroom wall cladding. It’s the perfect weekend project that delivers maximum impact with minimum disruption.
Modern wall panels are a sophisticated and practical alternative to traditional tiles. Forget the hassle of chipping away old tiles, re-plastering, and painstakingly grouting. These large, waterproof panels can often be installed directly over your existing tiles, instantly concealing any tired or dated designs. The result is a stunning, seamless finish that can make any bathroom feel more luxurious and spacious.
The best part? There is absolutely no grout to clean, meaning no more scrubbing at discoloured lines or worrying about mould. The panels are incredibly easy to wipe down, making them a hygienic and low-maintenance choice. With a huge range of designs available – from hyper-realistic marble and slate effects to chic woodgrains and bold gloss colours – you can create a high-end, spa-like retreat in just a couple of days.
5.Declutter
Our final tip doesn’t cost much, but its effect on your home’s atmosphere can be profound. Summer, with its energising spirit, is the ideal time for a thorough declutter. Over the winter, it’s easy to accumulate ‘stuff’ – extra blankets, unused gadgets, clothes we no longer wear. This physical clutter can contribute to a feeling of mental clutter, making our homes feel smaller and more chaotic than they are.
Dedicate a weekend to systematically going through your home, room by room. Be ruthless. Use the four-box method: one for items to keep, one for items to donate or sell, one for rubbish, and one for items that need to be relocated to their proper home.
Clearing out your wardrobe to make way for summer clothes, organising kitchen cupboards, and streamlining bookshelves can make your entire home feel lighter, more organised, and more calming. This renewed sense of space and order is the perfect finishing touch to your summer home refresh, allowing you to fully relax and enjoy the season in a home you love.
