How to create the perfect summer chill-out spot

Summer might be prime time to head off on holiday, but you don’t have to go away to make the most of the season. One of the best places to relax is at home, whether that’s in the garden, the conservatory, or in the living room, with the brightness of outdoor light cascading in through the window. Kick back with a good book or magazine, put on some soothing tunes in the background and pour a glass of something cool and refreshing. What could be better?

It’s easy enough to create the perfect summer chill-out spot in your home, wherever you plan on relaxing.

Does your outdoor space need a summer spruce up? It doesn’t need to be a major overhaul, even just a few little updates can transform the area into the perfect chill-out zone.

If your fencing is looking a little tired, give it a fresh coat of paint, or bring a pop of vibrancy and colour into your garden by introducing different types of flowers. You can add a variety in border areas, or if you prefer, plant your flowers in several large decorative pots. Next, review your seating area. If you have decking or a patio, get the surface cleaned. A pressure washer is a great low effort way to get a patio looking sharp and as good as new, while decking might need a fresh coat of primer if it’s looking worn in places.

If you’ve had your outdoor furniture for a while but it’s still in good condition, smarten up its appearance with some new scatter cushions for extra comfort. To make the very most of the summer nights, you could add a chiminea or fire pit to give your garden that comfortable warming feel in the evening. Light it as dusk falls and you’ll be toasty well into the night.

You don’t have to be outside to enjoy the outside, as strange as that might sound. If you want to chill-out without going out, set up your interior rooms to maximise the beauty of summer. If you have a conservatory or garden room, for example, it’s the ideal spot to harness the season indoors. Let the natural light flood in – open blinds to their fullest and open the windows up wide. You’ll still feel the welcoming warmth of the sun on your skin, as well as the gentle breeze and the sweet aroma of the lawn – all the better if it’s been freshly mown. Just remember not to let your sofa get too much direct sunlight or you’ll risk it fading.

Many of us have styled our homes to merge the outside with the inside. If you have patio doors or bi-fold doors in your home, summer is when these really come into their own.

Bi-fold doors extend fully, sliding across the length of the wall to completely open out allowing you to feel closer to the outside.

Our mood often changes in the summer – so why not bring that feeling into your home? We’re not talking about repainting all the walls and changing the flooring, just a few simple touches can work really well. The key is bright colours. Add in some large, oversized, cushions on your sofa, introduce a luxurious throw to drape over the arm – just make sure it’s colourfast so there’s no risk of dye leaving a mark.

Add some lanterns, large enough to house a chunky pillar candle, that you can carry inside and out as you wish. Fresh flowers in a vase can also help to provide a lovely ambience to the room, as well as offering a pleasing scent.

You can’t really relax on a summer’s evening without a super comfy sofa – you need one that you can settle into, and happily stay put on for hours while you enjoy some well-earned ‘me time’.

If you’re trying to pick the perfect sofa for summer, considering a leather option is always a good idea. Untreated aniline leather in particular is cool in the summer, but still warm in the winter. The Galleria is a great example, handcrafted from premium, natural Italian leather that’s full of character that makes every piece beautifully unique.

Now you’re all set. Having created your perfect summer chill-out spot, the only thing left for you to do is relax in it. Enjoy!