Sweep off your patio and bring out the fans, summer is here! This is the time of year we welcome the cool breezes through the window, wake up to the birds chirping and relish in spending more time in the backyard then the living room! We know we’re ready for summer, but is your home? Get it screaming summertime with this season’s hottest trends; plates as wall décor, colorful placemats, distressed wood accents, matelassé fabric, and lanterns!
Plates as Wall Décor:
Unique wall décor never goes out of style! It’s a way of showing off your personality, and adding to your home’s character. One of the biggest trends interior designers are hot on this season is using plates as wall décor. If there’s one thing Goodwill always has – it’s an array of dinnerware! A unique arrangement of plates on your wall adds an eclectic feel. You can start with three to five plates, and then add more as you continue finding ones that catch your eye. Some designers will stick to one color of plates, to match the room. But, we’re also seeing walls with all mismatched plates. Either way you choose to select your plates, be sure to go with varied sizes. This allows the placement on the wall to look like a collage and has the effect as one big piece of art.
Tip: Once you’ve shopped around your local Goodwill locations for your plates, you’ll need to hang them. We suggest arranging your plates on the floor, and choosing how you want them displayed. That way you do not have to re-hang them over and over. Plate hangers can be found at any craft store, and work well to keep your plates secure.
Colorful Placemats:
Summer calls for family gatherings! Much of the time, summer meals are eaten outside on the patio or they’re eaten using paper plates for quick clean-up. We love that this gives us more time to enjoy our guests and the beautiful weather, but it can sometimes mean that décor is lacking. This season, we’re adding a little something extra with colorful placemats! A set of placemats to use throughout the summer is a great way to make the whole presentation come together. Whether you’re eating on the patio, around the kitchen island or at the dinner table, colorful placemats will add a special touch. Placemats that are shaped like your dinnerware tend to look best; round placemats for round plates or square placemats for square plates. We’re seeing mats with a lot of texture in them too; this really adds a unique touch to the table setting.
Tip: Use your placemats to wet your guests’ appetites! The color red is known for making people hungry. Try out this color in your placemats, and your guests are sure to ask for seconds!
Distressed Wood Accents:
Distressed items are popular for their vintage inspired feel. With their worn down qualities, comes a sense of warmth. It’s no surprise that distressed wood accents are one of the summer’s top trends; we’re seeing this aged appeal on everything from side tables and picture frames to headboards and kitchen tables. One of our favorite things about this trend is that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to get the look; simply do it yourself! Using sandpaper from the craft store you can create a one-of-a-kind piece that looks like it’s been passed down through the family. The best places to distress furniture are the arms on a chair, the top of a wooden table or coffee table, and the feet on the bottoms of chairs or dressers. If you’d like to give your furniture a more worn look, use a hammer to knock a few chips off of small areas on the wood. The rest of your décor should be muted in order to stay in-line with your vintage feel.
Tip: Love painted furniture? Give a side table a little color and a distressed look, by adding paint before you sandpaper. Turquoise, green and cream paint look fabulous on furniture when distressed!
Matelassé Fabric:
Matelassé is a technique of weaving or stitching that creates a padded quilt look on fabric. We don’t need the warmth of a quilt this season; however the light puffiness of matelassé fabric is all the rage. It brings the cozy appeal of a quilt without the heaviness. This trend is best incorporated into accent pillows and throws. Look for pastel shades in order to keep the space looking light and fresh. We love that this trend can seamlessly work its way into any room. If your furniture is mainly dark wood, the pastel matelassé accents will soften it up; exactly what’s needed for summertime! If you already have pale or light colors in your décor, they will be perfectly complimented with the matelassé.
Lanterns:
One of the best parts about summertime, are the evenings when the temperature is just right, and you can sit outside with family and friends. Decorators have not only started designing spaces to allow for more time outside, they’re also creating accessories to make it that much easier. Lanterns are all the rage right now, for many reasons. First, lanterns have an antique appeal to them; for many of us they make us think of the days they were used as signals and for outdoor survival. Second, they’re very charming. Modern day lanterns come in all sorts of decorative designs. The intricate detailing can evoke either a country or cultural charm, depending on the design. You’ll want to start by deciding how you want to place your lanterns. A collection of lanterns in different heights looks great on an outdoor table. Or, you can hang antique metal lanterns around the patio space to bring everyone together. White pillar candles work best inside any color or shape of lantern.
Tip: You can bring the lantern trend indoors too! A large metal lantern looks great as a centerpiece on a coffee table! Or, try placing a few small lanterns above the fireplace mantle, to add a rustic touch. Be sure the rest of your décor fits the antique charm of your lantern. Overly bright colors or geometric shapes may take away from the lantern’s charm.