Summer is the ideal time to refresh your home décor, creating a light and fresh ambience that will bring the beauty of the season indoors. Complementing this décor with the right lighting can enhance the overall atmosphere, making your space feel bright, open and inviting. Here’s how you can achieve this perfect blend of light and fresh décor with thoughtfully chosen lighting.
Light and Airy Colour Palettes
Light neutral colours reflect light and make spaces feel larger. Choose a foundation of whites, soft greys or pastel colours to provide a crisp, clean canvas.
Adding accents of soft blues, greens or yellows will help to add personality and warmth to your neutral base. These hues can be introduced through accessories, cushions or lamps.
Choosing the right colours for your interiors will help to create a space that feels brighter and more inviting while enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Have a look at our collection of Laura Ashley Paints to find the perfect colour combinations for your home.
Incorporate Natural Materials
Opting for materials such as rattan, bamboo, or wood will bring the refreshing look of the outdoors to your interior. Incorporating these natural textures into your home will add a touch of tranquil elegance and will also contribute to a more sustainable way of living. We have an increasing range of sustainable lighting that will help you integrate these natural elements into your home.
Also consider layering various textures throughout your room to add depth and interest. Choose light coloured rugs, cushions or bed linen in your preferred colour palette to add depth to your space without weighing it down.
Maximise Light
Using light reflecting materials for your light fittings can help to enhance the brightness and ambience of the room. Fixtures made with materials such as glass, polished metals and crystal are particularly effective.
A crystal chandelier can create dazzling light effects which can help to brighten up dull walls and glamorise any space.
Similarly, table lamps or floor lamps with glass or polished metal bases will amplify the light given off by the bulb making your space feel more open and inviting.
Incorporating these light reflective materials into your home can help to create a brighter, more dynamic environment.
Layer Lighting
Creating a balanced, well-lit space involves the strategic combination of ambient, task and accent lighting.
Ambient lighting serves as the main source of light in the room. This is usually achieved with overhead lights such as hanging pendants, flush ceiling fixtures, or chandeliers. When choosing these types of lights there are a few important things to considers. Check out our home lighting guide to find out more.
Task lighting focuses light on specific areas whether it be for reading, cooking or working. For this you can use table or floor lamps, pendants, and bathroom vanity lights. These types of light aim to shed intense light to increase visibility and reduce eye strain.
Accent lighting is used to highlight features such as plants and art work or elements of architecture within the space. Chose wall lights, spotlights or picture lights to achieve this effect and create a functional living space that meets all of your needs.
Choose LED
Use LED bulbs for their energy efficiency and ability to produce clear, bright light. Not only do they use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs but they also emit less heat, helping to keep you rooms cooler and more comfortable. LED bulbs are also available in a variety of colour temperatures.
We also sell a range of light fixtures with integrated LEDs. Designed to last these fittings require minimal maintenance and omit the need to change bulbs. They offer sleek modern designs that will blend into any interior décor style.
Ceiling Fans with Lights
Ceiling fans with integrated lights are an excellent solution to keep your home cool and well-lit in the summer months. We have a great selection of ceiling fans with integrated LEDs which offer numerous benefits. Fans are a great way to reduce cooling costs as they use less energy than air conditioners and are easier to install. Fans help to improve air circulation and make rooms feel cooler and more comfortable in the summer months.
Most ceiling fans have remote controls with a variety of speed settings allowing you greater control over the temperature of your room. Many also have Apps supported via Bluetooth for even more convenient adjustments.
Many of our fan fixtures have the ability to adjust the temperature of the LED as well as having a dimmer function. Warmer tones give your home a cosy ambient feel, while cooler, daylight tones enhance the brightness of the room. The dimmer function will allow you to adjust the lighting intensity based on the time of the day.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting can influence your indoor spaces. Create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor areas by using lighting to highlight patios, balconies and gardens. Coordinating lighting design between indoor and outdoor areas can establish a flow that blurs the boundaries between the two. This will help to make your home feel more expansive.
You can use well placed outdoor lighting such as lanterns or porch lights to highlight doorways and entranceways.
Additionally, using ambient outdoor hanging lights or pedestal lights can help create cosy seating areas perfect for entertaining well into the warm summer evenings.
Portable lighting is also a great way of creating cohesive indoor/outdoor environments. Paired with our selection of outdoor cushions and rugs you can transform any outdoor space into the perfect cosy retreat to spend the summer evenings. We have a selection of solar powered lighting as well as rechargeable, portable lights. These offer a flexible and stylish solution to outdoor lighting which can be easily moved and adjusted for any occasion.
When combined with our plush outdoor cushions and durable, weather resistant rugs you can add a touch of comfort and luxury to your outdoor living space as well as extending its usability well into the evening.
Final Thoughts
Creating a light and fresh home décor complemented by perfect lighting can transform your living space into a summer sanctuary. By combining natural elements, maximising light reflection, and using chic functional lighting fixtures, you can achieve a bright, airy, and inviting atmosphere. Furthermore, by extending these principles to your outdoor spaces with portable lighting and cosy furnishings you can seamlessly integrate your indoor and outdoor areas.