MIDSUMMER MAGIC

Midsummer magic









Look deep into the April face, a change is clearly taking place...sang Chris Rea in Looking for the Summer.

The change begins across India, especially northern India, as early as March and by May, the heat comes beating down our doors. It's that time of the year again when we shed the warm, dark tones of winter and seek the light, cooling hues of summer. As the nip in the air makes way for an ambience that's both hot and heavy, here's how to get your home set for the swelter season ahead.

First of all, pack away your heavy silks, chenilles and velvets and switch to cool fabrics like cotton, linen and jute. If your sofas are upholstered in rich burgundy or deep plum, there's an easy way to get the summer look going. Keep a set of loose covers handy-in linen or cotton-and simply slip them on. These can be easily packed away once the heat is beat. Make sure the colours are cool too- try vanilla, apple green, custard yellow, peach and apricot. If these are too bland for your bold tastes and you just can't live without your vivids, here's what you can do-throw in cushions in red, magenta, turquoise and orange. These will help balance the colour quotient and keep your home from looking too plain and pastelly.

Now, for the drapes. Here, too, the silks and brocades should be put away. Replace them with breathing, translucent and free-flowing materials which let in some light, yet keep your home cool. Voile, organza and chiffon are ideal material choices. As for prints, stick to florals and botanicals as they tend to keep the ambience fresh and breezy.
If your room gets too much sunlight, it's a good idea to opt for double curtain rails-one rod can be lined with heavy drapes while the other can have dainty lace or wispy sheers.
Chiks or blinds are another option. You can get them custom-made as per the decor of your room. But here's a tip-put the chiks outside the windows and not inside the room. If you have these blinds inside, you may succeed in blocking the glare but won't be able to stop the house from getting heated up. Put the blinds outside the window, and the sun's rays won't reach the panes, thus keeping the house cool.


Woollen carpets, too, need to go into hibernation. Heavy carpets not only attract dust in summer, they are also a huge load on the air-conditioning. Besides, they also psychologically create a feeling of warmth. Strew the space with small area rugs or cotton dhurries-the more floor you show, the cooler your home will look and feel.

Less is more during summer as clear spaces allow for effective circulation of air around the house. So, cut the clutter. Pack away extra decoration pieces that may have made your space look cosy in winter look fussy in summer. If you have an extensive collection of art, it's a cool idea to store away your bold oils and replace them with landscapes or watercolours.

Flowers tend to wilt pretty fast in summer, so introduce indoor plants in every corner of the house. Also, when entertaining, use diffuser oils like khus, musk and ocean breeze. Keep fresh flowers like mogra and jasmine in bowls to spread a fresh fragrance around the house. You can burn camphor oil to keep mosquitoes at bay. That done, you're set for summer.

Summer don'ts

- Stay away from acrylics or oil paintings, especially ones in warm, deep tones, as these can make a room look oppressive at this time of the year. In fact, don't hang too many things on the wall. Keep them bare to add to the feeling of space.
- A definite no-no is kitsch. It may be funky and may look hot, but is visually very heavy and bright colours make a room look small and stuffy.
- No matter how dramatic and sleek black may be, it does nothing for your summer decor. In case you have black sofas which you simply can't remove, pile them up with white cushions and surround with white accessories.
- Pack away your dark lampshades as they only add to the heat. Go for ones in light hues or floral prints. Also, avoid using harsh lighting.
- Don't use candles and tealights when entertaining out. Instead, put urlis filled with water and floating rose and jasmine petals.

god bless you