Let the sun shine in on summer decor

As promised, here are Janette Ewen’s top tips for switching up to a fresher, lighter, more summery décor.

The first step, she says, is to give your home a good old-fashioned spring-cleaning.
This means getting into all those dark, dreary corners - cleaning behind the bed, behind the fridge, and flipping/vacuuming/steaming your mattress.

To avoid overload, assign tasks to family members and put together a cleaning schedule. Before you begin, make sure you have the tools and cleaners you’ll need. Ewen is a fan of steam cleaning, and favours Hoover's Twin Tank, which lets the user clean with steam alone, or with a cleaning solution.

 Here is Ewen's step by step program for lightening summer decor:

• De-cluttering will clear both your mind and home. Start by tackling one room at a time.  Sort items into piles, toss, donate and keep. Ask yourself, is this something I can tuck away, need on hand or want to display?  Once sorted, place the items into the appropriate storage containers.
• Change your paint colour, even if it’s just a feature wall. Think of shades you see in nature in the spring and summer — sky blues, leafy greens and sunny yellows.
• Swap your accessories. Replace dark coloured accessories with lighter pieces in simple shapes - think  sleek glass vases and clean-lined bowls. Fill them with oranges or apples for a hit of colour.
• Replace heavy tablecloths with lightweight open-weave linens. When shopping for plates and placemats, opt for a seasonal palette of bold orange, lime green, lemon yellow and sky blue.
• Change your window coverings. Replace heavy fabric drapes, such as velvet, with bamboo blinds or drapes that are light in weight or colour. Try something sheer that lets the sun shine in.
• Put heavy and ornate area rugs into storage. If you have one, expose your clean wooden floor. Alternatively, try rolling out a light coloured sisal or sea grass carpet.
• Place airy arrangements of wildflowers throughout the home. Keep the look soft and natural by mixing a variety of flowers and using an assortment of vases. Or try an eclectic combination of old tin cans.
• Replace winter bedding with soft blankets and top sheets in relaxing colours like lavender, pale green and soft aqua.
• Bring the outdoors in with rustic metal or wood planters or vases planted with fresh herbs or spring annuals. Incorporate furnishings with floral motifs into your living space.
• Shop for art or photography that incorporates natural and outdoor elements that reflect the season.