How to Take Your Living Room Through the Seasons
The changing seasons offer us opportunities for different types of support and comfort at home. The way we change our wardrobe throughout the year, so should we do with our interiors too. Light fabrics during spring summer feel airy and fresh to wear, and the same goes for soft furnishings. A linen dress in the winter wouldn’t be warm or cosy enough for the snowy, chilly months - it’s the same for linen fabrics at home, during winter. Velvets would feel much better.
By rotating our interiors “wardrobe”, we can really create a home that nurtures us throughout the seasons. It’s also a great opportunity to rediscover decorative bits you’ve gathered, or cushions from yesteryears.
Biophilic design, using natural furnishings to reconnect us to calming nature, does not stop at selecting wooden furniture. By following the outdoor seasons indoors, we feel more in-synch with nature, and better within ourselves.
Here are a few tips on how to use textiles and decorations to allow your living room to better support you across the seasons. Follow your intuition and how your physically feel during the change from spring, to summer, to autumn, to winter, and you will be guided effortlessly towards adjusting your home, and feeling better in your space.
My example of a living room taken through the seasons. All seasons furnishings: Markslöjd Sober Lamp, SoffaDirekt Portofino Sofa, Asplund Grand Palais Coffee Table, Norrgavel Pinnpall Rak Björk sidetable, Zara block print rug
1. Lively Spring
Looking outdoors, you’ll notice that spring is the most playful season: there are baby birds flitting about, ducklings waddling around, sunshine, and spring blooms left and right! We’re coming out of our winter cocoon to rediscover the world around us.
Consider bringing out brighter, patterned textiles and coloured vases and decorations for playfulness, and linens and cottons for freshness. Bold colours and pastels are welcome after a long, drab winter. Fresh flowers and cuts of green branches will uplift your space, further connecting your indoors to outdoors.
2. Fresh Summer
High-summer is hot. The sun beats down, draining colour from the landscape around us, whilst a welcome breeze and a dip in the sea refresh us. It’s about keeping cool where we can, and extreme relaxation.
For summer months, try light-weight fabrics such as linens and cottons for airiness. Opt for sun-faded or duller colours such as natural linen beige, seaside blues, and white, to bring some coolness and respite from the sun. Keep greens and flowers around for extra freshness.
3. Cosy Autumn
A glorious autumn signifies chilly air and a chorus of orange, red, yellow and brown foliage. We hope to keep warm, and cling on to the last bits of life, before the upcoming months of the deepest cold and stark landscape.
Keep your home cosy by introducing heavier fabrics such as wool, velvet, and sheepskins. Textiles and decorations with colours mimicking the fantastic leaves will continue the warm feeling indoors - think burnt reds and oranges, beiges and browns. Now is a good time to introduce fluffy pampas grass and other dried flowers into your decoration. Start to amp up the number of candles sprinkled around your home, for extra atmosphere and warmth, as the skies grow darker.
Cosy Autumn Details: ByOn Calore multi-coloured Candle Holder, House Doctor DK Brown Glass Vase, Sinnerup Mini-vase, Skultuna Lily Brass Candle Stick, Zara Textured Faux-Fur Cushion, Tartan Wool Cushion, Zara Braided Cushion Cover, Zara Tassled Cushion Cover, Hemtex White Sheepskin, Hemtex Brown Throw Blanket
4. Hibernating Winter
Biting cold air, crisp snow, early evenings. Sitting by the glowing fire, and breathing in a bowl of warm soup, or sipping a cup of hot tea. Winter is a time for hibernating in our warm and cosy homes.
Prepare for hours on-end indoors, and dive into your sofa covered with layers upon layers of cosy fabrics. Bring out your wool, velvet, and sheepskin blankets and pillows, to create the perfect spot for snuggling. Choose really deep natural shades, like evergreen, natural beiges and browns, and a touch of winter-berry red. Keep nature close with fluffy pampas grass and other dried flowers. Inundate your home with candles everywhere (they can be LED candles hidden in candleholders, for the same glow, but requiring less attention). This season is all about creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere at home. Just imagine returning, from a walk through the blustering winds under dark skies, to warm blankets, a hot meal, and candlelight!
Hibernating Winter Details: Sinnerup Brass Mini-Vase, ByOn Calore multi-coloured Candle Holder, House Doctor DK Brown Glass Vase, Skultuna Lily Brass Candle Stick, Sheepskin Cushion, H&M Tasselled Cushion Cover, Zara Textured Faux-Fur Cushion, Tartan Wool Cushion, Bungalow DK Green Velvet Cushion, Hemtex White Sheepskin, Hemtex Green Henrika Throw Blanket
Many of us accumulate decorations from travels, gifts, and spur-of-the-moment shopping. Rotating your home decorations is the perfect opportunity to make the most of your belongings, as well as supporting your nature. Have a go at switching around your decorations, and see how you feel!