Summer shouldn’t be complicated. Sunshine, lazing in the shade on a comfy cushion and soaking up some warm weather on an early morning in July is the kind of thing that make me love summer. The reality: I spend most of my day inside, on a computer, drinking too much coffee, trying to balance unrealistic deadlines and how to make my family’s lives magical. The only thing I soak up is air conditioning and mom guilt! That’s why I’m sharing these 7 Simple Design Details to create the Ultimate resort style for your own home this summer.
Summer resort style design embraces a casual yet chic approach to everyday living. Creating this look in your home doesn’t have to be complicated and can even be done on a tight budget if you plan, prioritize and follow a process to bring the right pieces, materials, and details together. From the entry hall to the patio, resort style design puts you at ease, inspires visions of tropical destinations and is rich in lush materials and natural elements.
If you are fortunate to have a home with amazing windows and views to die for, just know that I am totally jealous, and I will talk about you behind your back! For the rest of us, we must make our own panoramic beauty. The concept of ‘unobstructed views’ goes far beyond what we see outside our windows. These inspirations show how uncluttered spaces with purpose can create an open airy vibe, even in a smaller space plan. Use soft textiles like sheers, gauze, and linen for window treatments. Incorporate a large focal piece of artwork or a unique cocktail table or ottoman for anchor, A monochromatic color scheme goes a long way in making a room feel larger and more expansive. If you don’t have the view of a thousand ocean waves, you can still create the carefree atmosphere of a tropic beach resort.
via houzzvia houzzvia houzz
For many of us, especially if you were crafty in the 1990s, raffia’s main use was to dress up your best friend’s baby shower gift bag. Really, raffia is a lush textural fiber that comes from the raffia palm tree There will be a quiz later, so please make note. The raffia palm originates from the tropical regions of Africa and Madagascar and goes way beyond gift wrap ribbon. It is often woven into mats, hats, baskets and that sort of thing. From a design standpoint, we can incorporate this lush textural detail in a number of ways in our homes, both naturally and through man-made reproductions. Look for raffia textures in fabrics, area rugs, and accessories.
OK, so this one may seem obvious, but one of the quickest, simplest ways to bring a little resort living to our day to day lives is through incorporating a bit of well-placed palm frond. Tropical inspired greenery whether via art, accessories, naturals or textiles creates an instant atmosphere of relaxed comfort. No hectic day of running kids around, negotiating with co-workers, or self-inflicted to-do lists is a match for the lush, dense moment of palm. The waxy hues of green and tropic color wash away the day to day humdrum.
Bring on the Mai Tai and Mojitos, Mr. Pool Boy! I love the use of cabana style stripes for a fresh infusion of summer style. A casually placed pillow or slipcover bar stool (I love this trick as a quick freshener for tired bar stools!) is a great way to use this style tip in your home without major long term commitment. As a designer, I enjoy incorporating high contrast tones with wide black or navy on white stripes. A little can go a long way here and the understated impact is both chic and inviting. If a softer palette is more your comfort level, you can choose the same wow, but go for the tropical color tones instead such as sea foam, coral, pink, soft blue or yellow. Whichever way the wind blows for you on this; you are not making a mistake with cabana stripes in your summer decor.
Much like palms and raffia, bamboo and rattan are great details to incorporate into your resort style influenced summer home mini-moments. You don’t have to look like you are raising pandas in your living room to use this tropical material successfully. Less is more to avoid becoming thematic or specific. Bar carts, accent tables, or a stem of lucky bamboo are lovely ways to infuse bamboo into your home. Keep the bamboo to a minimum but be creative with this element and you can achieve some delightful design wow factor!
tommy bahama home via houzzbungalow bar via stuart memberyvia pinterestfrom @nestups on instagram
While bamboo and rattan are in some ways visually similar, they are not the same thing. Rattan is a solid material while bamboo is hollow. Rattan can be bent. Bamboo cannot. That’s the easiest way to tell the difference if you are not sure.
Ok, so full disclosure, this may be my new favorite thing. I recently installed one of these and I am now convinced that every room in my house needs one! If you want instant relaxation and place to unwind in a way that takes you out of your everyday, consider a hammock chair for your home. Tuck it in a quiet corner of a guest bedroom for a unique boutique hotel kind of experience for your guests. Make your teenager’s day by hanging one in their room. A sunny corner in any room is an instant hit. If inside is too much of a stretch, feel free to find a shady spot on your patio or backyard and enjoy a cup of coffee before the heat of the day kicks in. Regardless of where you find a spot to hang one of these, the slow pace and gentle swing of a hammock chair delivers a unique high impact resort-style vibe.
Treat yourself to something special by bringing in a unique accent item. This can be a collection of travel books or a unique souvenir that reminds you of the amazing vacation you had or the one you are dreaming of. This can be a creatively embellished accessory or accent table that generates a conversation in your room. Try a strategically placed bit of sparkle or shine to remind you of glistening ocean waters. There are few things that I get more excited about when I work with a client than to stumble across that sweet little treasure that makes the design moment special and belong only to them.
…and isn’t that what we love about getting away? That moment when the daily grind is behind us and only tropic sunsets are ahead. That feeling that the whole place exists just for us so that we can sit back, relax and enjoy the view. Try carving out a little paradise of your own and make a sunny summer spot in your own home that you look forward to sharing and enjoying.
Let me know if this was helpful. Go to Instagram @shawsquaredesign and follow the adventure of shawsquare design. share your home with me at #shawsquarehomeshare. if you have a design snag or question, let’s find a solution. I would love to see what you are doing in your home!
