summer Archives - Page 2 of 2

Get Airbnb ready – what to do with your belongings

Hessian doormat with words welcome and two pairs of grey shoes

Summer will be upon us before we know it and with no certainty that international travel will have opened up by then, it looks like a holiday in the UK may be the safest option. We will all be looking for a lovely bolthole away from home for a week or two, and if you’re thinking of opening up your home to Airbnb, now is the time start planning.

Figures suggest that over 260 million guests have stayed in Airbnb properties around the globe making this the obvious place to market your property or guestroom. If you want to let your home whilst you’re away for the summer months, or even whilst you’re still there, then it really doesn’t make sense to box up and store all your personal belongings and favourite pieces of reclaimed wood furniture for this relatively short period.

Whether it is the spare room you are letting or the whole house, you have to find the right balance for your guests. A mix of homely and ease of use. Feeling at home is one of the main reasons that guests opt for an Airbnb rather than a depersonalised hotel room. But your guests will want to be able to put their things away and won’t want to be moving your items out of the way all the time! Think about where you can store your personal items in the house – maybe you have a lockable spare bedroom or can make some space in the loft or garage for storage.

The rule of thumb is if you don’t want guests to touch or use it then get it out the way! Ideally, you should let your guests know what they can or can’t use – so make it clear in the guest book to save any misunderstandings later.

A large sideboard in the living room is a great place to clear your stuff into – books, family photos and other personal items can all be put away. We would suggest that in another cupboard you could leave jigsaw puzzles, board games and playing cards for your guests to use during their stay. On top of the wooden sideboard, you can leave a selection of books for them to read and information about the area they are staying in – such as flyers from local takeaways or restaurants and details of local visitor attractions etc.

The bedroom is one of those places that can be a bit cluttered. If you have a bedroom chest of drawers you can move all your things to the bottom drawers and leave guests two top rows to use during their stay. Section off large wardrobes – push your things to one side and leave them the other side clear with plenty of hangers. If your guests are only staying for a week or two they won’t need too much storage space, but think about other items of furniture they might need. A wooden bedside table to put a reading lamp on or somewhere to put a glass of water and charge their phone is a handy and stylish bedroom storage addition.

Children’s bedrooms are another space that can be a bit cluttered, if you have a family home then you would, of course, expect families to rent it off you. Children love looking through new books and playing with different toys! So things you don’t want them to use and play with, should be put away completely. Toys they can use can be put in a wooden toy chest in the bedroom – your guests will also know exactly where to tidy everything away.

Ways to get your kitchen ready for summer

reclaimed wood dining table and green velvet dining chairs

This summer we may all be spending a little more time at home, so we thought we could see how we can bring the garden into the kitchen and make it a more summery place to be.

On the continent, outdoor summer kitchens are a popular addition to many homes, perfect for living and entertaining outside in the warmer months. Here we look at how we can turn our indoor kitchen into a bright and summery place to enjoy.

Open your kitchen to the garden

If you are lucky enough to have large patio doors that look out to your garden, arrange your kitchen furniture to make the most of the view. Beautiful reclaimed wood kitchen furniture will bring an additional natural element into your kitchen. To give some continuity between the spaces, place some tall indoor plants in floor pots at the edge of the doors. If you can, position your barbecue near the entrance to your kitchen so you are not running back and forth on alfresco cooking nights.

Brighten your kitchen

Light, sunny and airy – use light linen in your kitchen and add an accent colour. Blue, green, yellow or red are wonderfully bright and summery colours which mimic the sea, grass, the sun and flowers. You can bring in these colours using relatively inexpensive items such as cushions, table napkins, plant pots, vases and candlesticks, with these you can easily produce a bright and summery display on a homely rustic wooden dining table. If your kitchen has a dark corner you can add a reclaimed wood sideboard with a table lamp, or fairy lights, on it and a wall mirror to reflect light around the room.

Add some Indoor plants

An indoor herb garden is a great place to start and it doesn’t take up much room, you can just choose your five favourite herbs to get started. You don’t have to be restricted to just herbs either, tomato or houseplants in terracotta pots on a sunny windowsill will also do the trick. It’s a great way to get a bit of greenery in if you live in a flat or have a small garden. Cut flowers always look fab, go for something seasonal, a vase of bright sunflowers placed on a reclaimed wood dining table really adds a sprinkling of summer to a room!

Get ready for Barbecues

Barbecues are the ultimate in summer entertaining – when we have guests the last thing we want to be doing is prepping and hunting around for barbecue utensils. Set aside some space in the kitchen to keep tongs, slices, glasses, plates and serving dishes……much easier than searching around last minute to find everything you need, when we would all rather be making a start on sundown cocktails! Have a few easy but tasty recipes up your sleeve, include some side dishes that don’t need cooking that you can prepare well in advance. Do any other prep work as early as possible, and have everything ready and waiting for your guests.

6 Tricks to Turn Your Garden into an Extra Room

Rattan corner sofa with matching coffee table and white cushions

We could all do with some extra living space, right? And with the sun shining and most of us spending more time at home, why not take the opportunity to organise your outside space and take your living and dining rooms outdoors? Whether you have a humble balcony, small patio, sunny courtyard or large garden with these tips you can create somewhere calm and beautiful to while away your days and nights. Let’s take it outside…

Work with what you’ve got

If you have a favourite tree, flower bed or even a potted plant, you want to make it part of your outdoor living room and arrange your furniture around it.

A garden sofa set under a tree will enjoy dappled sunlight or how about an outdoor corner sofa or rattan bench next to a large terracotta pot filled with lavender on a patio for a Mediterranean touch?

Zone your space

Just as you would in your kitchen, dining room or living room, use furniture to create a comfortable and sociable area to relax and dine.

An L-shaped settee or garden corner sofa has multiple benefits – ideal for seating a large group or lazing about on your own. Add a pair of armchairs, a matching coffee table and anchor with an outdoor rug and you have an instant outdoor area.

Keep it simple

An outdoor sitting room doesn’t have to be grand and elaborate or cost a fortune. A modest corner can be made into a snug hideout, whether that’s in a suburban garden, a sunny terrace or small city balcony. Create a cosy nook with soft throws and piles of cushions, and add a hanging pendant light or a simple string of fairy lights to take your space from day to night.

Create a ceiling or canopy

For a romantic and bohemian vibe outdoors, nothing is more dreamy than an overhead covering shading an area. What’s more, it can work in whatever size outdoor space you have, be it a balcony, patio, decking or lawn. If your outside space is lacking colour, choose a bright fabric or for an exotic Bedouin style covering, a sheer muslin drape gently blowing in the breeze will transport your imagination to faraway destinations. A natural slatted wood ceiling gives a beautiful dappled light – paint white for an instant Balearic vibe.

Go au naturel

Wicker and rattan is a favourite for garden furniture, and not just because it’s super durable and easy to look after. The natural texture works seamlessly in both classic and modern settings, blending in with the natural surroundings rather than competing with it. Another natural and sustainable alternative to wicker or rattan is all-weather bamboo and reclaimed wood furniture. Style with soft, neutral cushions, throws and table linens to achieve a chilled yet elegant atmosphere.

Dine al fresco

From long lazy lunches to dinners lasting late into the evening, nothing feels more like summer than eating al fresco. A stylish garden dining set instantly transforms your outdoor space into an elegant dining room and with a few added touches, it could well become your favourite room in and out of the house. Apply the same level of detail to your outdoor table as you would to your dining table indoors. Dress with natural linen, style with jugs filled with fresh flowers and accessorize with pretty festoon garden lights or hanging lanterns for a cosy, rustic look.

If space rules out an outdoor table and chairs, how about creating an outdoor drinking spot with a bar table? For a chic outdoor bar, add a high reclaimed wood table with an integrated ice bucket, like the St Mawes Bar Table, and a set of wooden or bamboo stools to bring happy hour to your outdoor space any hour you please.