It keeps things feeling fresh, and allows me that ‘newness’ high without changing things around too much!

Below are 5 super simple home updates for summer. I hope you enjoy having a peruse, and I’d love to hear of any shifts you are making in your space too!

5 Home Updates for Summer

1 ~ Natural Textures

Natural textures like rattan, jute, seagrass and linen are some of my favourite ways to lend a little Mediterranean charm to a space.

Just recently Oli and I added our largest textured piece into our home: A jute rug for the kitchen.

Jute rugs are relatively inexpensive, last ages and work in high-traffic areas like the kitchen.

I’m also bringing all of the little rattan and wicker trinkets we have in our home to the forefront RN.

Again to add some Mediterranean style into our home in lieu of us actually going away. I love these rattan table mats we got earlier in the year from Anthropologie. I use them mainly under vases.

I’m Wearing

Top: Phase Eight c/o | Shorts: Next ~ Past Season
Headband: Primark | Earrings: Auree c/o | Necklace: Astley Clarke c/o

2 ~ Updated Cushion Covers & Throws

Yes, yes, I have an obsession with cushions. I THINK my cousin-in-law once counted 20 in one room.

No shame, ha!

Cushions add so much colour, texture and depth to a space. They’re mostly inexpensive and I love how easy it is to change up the look of a room, by simply changing the cushion covers.

Adding in a light-coloured throw is also an easy way to lift a space. We have a big wicker basket we fill with blankets so that it’s easy to grab one when the evenings get chilly.

3 ~ New accents: soft pink, neutrals + lemons

In the summer months I find myself drawn to two distinct styles, both at home, and in my wardrobe:

Neutral and/or high-colour. Below I’ve popped notes on a few new accents I’ve added into our home.

COLOUR: SOFT PINK

As part of my simple home updates for summer I wanted to bring one of my favourite colours — soft pink — to the forefront. I did this by re-arranging a few styling bits to bring soft pink items into focus.

I also bought a fresh bunch of pink hydrangeas from the flower wholesaler, and used clippings of pink hydrangeas from our garden dotted around the flat too.

The beauty of hydrangeas is that they look amazing right the way through their life cycle.

I keep them fresh for as long as possible and then let them dry out. Once they’re dried, if they’re in good condition, I’ll keep using them for as long as I can!

ACCENTS: CITRUS FRUIT

I love the look of a big bowl of lemons, they make for a great decor accent AND you always have them to hand for salad dressings and drink garnishes.

I tend to buy fresh lemons regularly, but you could also invest in some faux fruit which would last you all year round.

TEXTURE: NEUTRALS

I don’t know if it’s because of the warmer months, or if it’s just a general shift in my style, but I’ve been looking for more neutral home pieces of late.

I’m drawn to texture over colour RN, which you can see in the image above. Lots of woven items, interesting embroidery, and natural fibres.

I love Swedish brand Himla for great linen pieces, and the tall vase you can see is one of my new items from La Redoute. I’ve rounded up some other great neutral vase options below.

4 ~ Plants

I can’t believe it’s taken us so long to get houseplants for the flat! Now we have them, they feel like they’ve been here forever.

In our living room we now have a Bird of Paradise plant. I love how it adds life, colour and a little drama to the space. I was inspired by Kate’s gorgeous plant, since Kate also lives in a home with tall ceilings, and her plants add so much depth to her space too.

For the kitchen we went with a relative of the lemon tree. Another nod to our love of the Mediterranean.

5 ~ A de-clutter + spruce!

There is a reason you havn’t seen behind this sofa before . . . it’s usually cluttered with SO. Much. Stuff.

One of the happy side-effects of lockdown was an urge to de-clutter, and piles of forever-forgotten stuff fell victim to said urge! I am SO happy to have these random areas cleared now!

For behind the sofa specifically, it now feels like the perfect space for this beautiful ‘Jelena’ runner rug, again from La Redoute, leading up to our new plant baby!

Generally I had a really good spring (or rather, summer) clean, and it feels SO good to have things looking fresher.

I find that my home environment has a huge impact on my mental clarity and wellbeing, and so it’s always important for me to keep mine feeling fresh, inspiring and welcoming.

Plus I just really love a good shelfie, ha!

OVERALL

The core items in my home — furniture, artwork and wall colours — remain the same all year round, but it’s fun to change up small elements seasonally. I love focusing on simple home updates for summer. They make the space feel fresh! And when you’ve been spending a LOT of time at home, that’s even more welcome than usual!

 WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?

Do you have any go-to updates you usually make for summer? If so, what are they? I’d love to hear from you!

Love, Monica x

Photography by Charlotte Bryer-Ash