Five Ways to Introduce Resort-style Decorating to Your Home

One of the chic-est ways to revitalize your home for summer is by introducing elements of the resort-style decorating trend. Whether you go all out or simply update a few key elements and accessories, is entirely up to you. You can get a big impact from small changes (and an even greater impact from big changes)! Here are 5 easy ways to introduce resort-style decorating to your home.

1. Lighten up

Embrace summer’s sunny ambiance and soft breezes. Undress those windows by swapping heavy drapery for light, tropical-weight linen or cotton; think: solids in the white-to-cream shade range, coastal stripes or even a simple leaf print. Layer them with gauzy sheers, which let in a diffused, beachhouse light.

2. Bare the floors

Extend that less-is-more approach to the floors too. Store your wool carpet for the season, and trade it for a beach-house-chic sea grass or sisal area rug. Or channel a polished, coastal-resort look with a cotton rug patterned with a trellis or Greek key design. Patterns in bright green or citrus yellow are particularly on-trend this season.

3. Add wood

Another resort-style decorating essential is wood. No need to replace all your furniture! Just introduce resort-style wood decorating elements via smaller pieces like trays, side tables, accent chairs, window blinds or shutters, or even table or floor lamps.

Match your wood to your resort style:

•The casual-formal, Hampton’s vibe utilizes polished mid-tone woods and lacquered-white finishes. Upholstery matches that play off this style include nautical stripes and small-scale prints.

•Tropical-resort style capitalizes on polished teak and rattan. Deep, rich jungle colours play off these woods: think deep verdant greens, lush crimson.

•Coastal beachhousestyle uses aged and distressed wood and chalky paint finishes. Bright colours play well with this: coral, emerald, turquoise, yellow, and energetic prints, from florals and stripes, to everything in between.

4. Introduce accessories

For outdoor spaces, think: Candles, lanterns and replacement seat cushions for your outdoor room/patio. Spring for new outdoor tableware. Rubberwood, bamboo and teak serve ware are timeless tropical-chic investment pieces, while trendy leaf-print or trellis-pattern melamine plates and bright acrylic drinkware are budget-friendly ways to get that resort-restaurant look – fast!

For indoor rooms: Look for fast-and-easy accessory updates. Fold a lightweight throw over the couch. Introduce bright beachy toss pillows. Bring your seaside souvenirs out for display: shells, corals, vintage glass or wood floats. Update your dinner table with wooden serveware (as outlined above), and striped table linens that will add colour to your always-classic white plates.

5. Go green

Finally, no resort-style decorating scheme is complete without ample greenery! Head to the garden centre for a mini-jungle of living plants. Get a big palm tree for your living room, and any other rooms where you want that tropical-resort verve. The best thing about plants is they not only look great, they improve air quality too!

Source: national drapery