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Summer is a good time to let your shoulders fall. In interior spaces, that means turning an eye to elements of design that impart a feeling of tranquility.
One of the first things to consider is colour. According to interior designer Lucie Pitt of Versa Style Design, there is proof that certain colours calm us while others don’t. “If there is too much yellow, red or orange, it’s overwhelming. On the other side of the colour wheel are the greens, blues and lavenders. It’s colours like blue that lower the heartrate and breathing, whereas greens and lavenders create a sense of calm,” she says. There’s a reason why they use those colours in yoga studios, she says, adding that they can be combined with neutrals such as greys, taupe, and beige for a deeply calming, spa-like effect.
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Eugenia Triandos, the principal designer and co-founder at Hibou Design & Co., is a big fan of using materials that are consoling “I like a cohesive design aesthetic that exudes comfort,” she says. “Layered neutrals and textures are important elements. There’s comfort in textiles: velvet, bouclé and linen make a room more inviting.”
Texture can also be used to soften an environment: pliable throw pillows, woollen materials and sheepskin add comfort. “You want to consider anything your skin is touching,” Pitt says. Throws can be taken out in winter for cocooning and swapped out for thinner soft blankets in the summer. The same goes for the pillows.
Lighting in a space is another important element; Pitt likes to install a dimmer on every fixture. “It’s inexpensive and very easy to do,” she says. “Ceiling fixtures are anti-ambiance, but you need them,” so a dimmer switch helps. ““They’re great even in the bathroom.” And you can layer in accent lighting like table and floor lamps.
“Be careful about the colour of the bulb,” she notes. “You can have a beautiful lamp with a blue lightbulb, and it’s so sterile and laboratory-like. Get LEDs bulbs or a warm lampshade.”
Finally, a messy, overcrowded room won’t be peaceful in summer or any time of year. “I have to talk about clutter because we need to control it and try to find a way of hiding it – it’s very distracting,” Pitt says. Restorative spaces need to be airy and light. Open storage options include floating shelves with opaque baskets and bins, and closed solutions like under-furniture containers as well as drawers, keep items corralled in a stylish way.
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