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The magic’s in how you put puzzle together

Adding splashes of colours found in the garden, and switching out throw pillows for lighter, brighter textiles can bring summer into your space.
SUMMER COLOUR: Adding splashes of colours found in the garden, and switching out throw pillows for lighter, brighter textiles can bring summer into your space.

Sara Bederman likens interior design to a puzzle.

“Every day, every quote or every estimate, you get closer to putting all the pieces together,” the owner of Sara Bederman Interior Design said from a coffee shop near her office in the Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue area.

With summer weather finally upon us, Bederman, whose design philosophy is to create comfortable and practical living spaces that look put-together, suggested ways for homeowners to welcome the season and breathe new life into a home.

“People get stuck in their ways,” she said. “To shake up their sofa and buy themselves two new pillows or switch out the throw, it injects a different feeling into the space.”

Bederman’s first tip to give a home a summery feel is to weave colours found in the garden throughout key indoor areas.

“Display more colourful items in the home,” she suggested. “Add a little brightness inside and display more coluorful home accessories — for example, exchange a clear glass vase for one in a more vibrant colour.”

She suggests switching out throw pillows for brighter, lighter textiles, and wool and fleece throws and blankets for woven cotton and linen. She also incorporates textures throughout a space, even though it can be more challenging in the summer months.

“Pare down house plants and focus on bringing fresh cut flowers into the home instead,” she recommended. “I like the leafy trees to take centre stage through the windows of the home.”

Displaying current magazines and rotating displayed coffee table books can also help maintain a summery vibe, she said.

“Coffee table books are a really nice way to show personal interests, to give your guests something nice to flip through while they’re being entertained,” she said.

Bederman suggests transforming gardens into outdoor rooms.

“Bring some of the indoors out with great weatherproof throw pillows and outdoor area rugs,” she said. “Plan a single lounge and side table in a quiet corner of the garden for a perfect place to read and reflect.”

She also brings up growing a herb garden to enjoy the benefits of the warm summer months in the home and to add flowering plants to an outdoor space, no matter how big or small.

“A little gardening goes a long way,” she said.

And homeowners could consider adding a hammock to their landscape to enjoy cottage comfort at home.