Interior Design: the Art of Editing

These long, warm days of summer call for a lighter, simpler look – both in our wardrobes and in our living spaces.

This time of year, I love ditching my heavy sweaters and clunky leather boots, tucking them away in the back of my closet. Out come sleeveless blouses and strappy sandals. Yet my wardrobe staples remain. A charcoal skirt, perfect for winter with a dark long-sleeved blouse, now takes on new life with a bright coral, lightweight top.

Fine furnishings work the same way in our homes – they are timeless, the staples of our interior design. That’s why we are careful in choosing them. Of course, we don’t want to pack away our heavy wooden or metal tables or distinctive couches. But we can “edit” our interiors in celebration of summer, creating a lighter, airier look and feel.

The editing process can be lots of because you can experiment, trying new, fun looks without making a huge investments. Some ideas:

Tuck away some of the trappings of winter: Just removing the extra throw blankets and dark pillows from the sofa can lighten the mood.
Introduce a more playful print on toss pillows to add fun and energy to a bedding ensemble. Are you a fan of fresh flowers? A home fragrance and a floral print might do the trick, with no need to add water or pick up falling petals!
Change out table linens or placements with lighter-colored, cheerier ones, and try more vibrantly colored towels in the bathroom.
Pack up that dark, heavy comforter and consider replacing it (for now) with one that is lightweight and white. While color is vital to our lives – and décor – white bright instantly brightens the space around it.
Roll up small, darker rugs that are perfect for winter, and roll out lighter accent rugs with playful prints or geometric designs.