Go ahead, make your house home

Interior designers, decor specialists on cost-effective revamps of living space for summers.

LAHORE: As we head towards the peak of the summer, you might want to spruce up your surroundings to suit the season. With the mercury leaving no holds barred and the dark colours and heavy fabrics around you beginning to haunt, here are a few quick and easy fixes to transform your living space through a facelift that will make the heat bearable.

“Home décor items have become quite costly so practically speaking, changing the entire upholstery is not really an option for most,” says Architects Inc Managing Partner Saad Kureishi. This is entirely true, for decor is not something people change seasonally, but making it more weather friendly is still possible. “One thing I do recommend is curtains of lighter shades for the summer and storing away those heavy window dressings until the season changes. One can remove heavy blankets, rugs and dark coloured cushions, opting for lighter or brighter coloured fabrics of silk and cotton,” he adds.



According to Kureishi, animal prints are also back in fashion. “Even though white is a go-to summer colour, we do have a big problem of dust in our region so people hesitate to use lighter shades,” he says, adding, “They do look great but are extremely hard to maintain.” Colours such as beige, light grey, teal and aqua green, he feels, should be chosen.



When temperatures drop, we tend to become lazy and spend more time indoors. In the summer, people tend to put more energy into their surroundings that reflect their own inner feelings. Hence warm, comforting colours should be avoided for summertime.

Interior designer Naila Ishtiaq agrees with Kureishi’s emphasis on changing colours of curtains, rugs and cushions and even the walls. She suggests the use of wallpaper instead of repainting rooms to minimise costs. She also recommends using flowers that are common to the area and season, to liven up surroundings. “If you put them in the fireplace, for instance, it will change its wintery association with warmth,” she says.



For the night when the atmosphere becomes friendlier and the breeze sets in, places such as lawns and verandas can be turned into comfort zones with only a few touches. “Using candles and inexpensive oil lamps can be great when the sun goes down. Soft lighting really helps the mood,” says Muhammad Ali, owner an outdoor furniture store called Baahir.

If you are not hesitant to spend some extra bucks, painting and polishing furniture can also work out well. Side tables and chairs can be redone in pastel shades to make them more alive. This works well when it comes to heavy, old-fashioned furniture pieces that dominate the living room. Colour can really liven up a dull sofa or armchair.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2016.

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