Here comes the sun! As the days turn longer and the sky a little bluer, it’s time to head outside and make the most of the season – and a little bit of new-found freedom, too. From intimate garden parties to at-home vacations, it’s so simple to adapt any outdoor area for the summer, no matter what sized space you’re working with.

With the reopening of private gardens promising the return of small, intimate gatherings, it’s time to fire up the barbecue, string up the café lights and get your outdoor space summer-ready. Fill courtyards with twinkling fairy lights or light up your patio with lanterns. Add clusters of weatherproof LED candles to your table settings, and hang traditional-style festoon lights overhead for a gentle illumination on those long summer evenings. The fun needn’t be confined to the afternoons, either; as the weather improves, it provides the perfect opportunity to host a colourful outdoor breakfast or brunch party. Gather a few of your closest friends, fill tables with tropical fruits and baked pastries and linens in loud, sunny shades, and enjoy the brighter mornings together – perhaps with a glass of fizz, or two.

Bring the destination to you: it needn’t take much to create a fantastic, summer-abroad atmosphere in any outdoor space. A bright lick of paint, a few printed cushions or throws, and a host of lanterns and candles that take inspiration from wonderful, far-flung places will have your garden, balcony or courtyard looking vacation-ready in no time. Opt for accessories and lighting in premium, maximalist finishes: bamboo, brass, gold, and filigree cut-outs will lend an opulent air to any setting, whilst contrasting colours and prints speak to an eclectic, bohemian vibe, a perfect backdrop to barbecues and afternoons spent dining al fresco under a hot summer sun.  

Create a pocket of pure relaxation by reimagining your space as somewhere to relax, recharge, and recuperate. Our physical and mental wellbeing are at the forefront of our minds this season, as we turn to our homes in search of a safe, healthy environment: surround yourself with muted colours and natural materials, and take a moment to slow down and seek tranquillity, and a zen-like state of being. Hazy summer days are made to be spent lounging on patios and balconies, listening to the gentle sound of a water feature and enjoying, as the sun goes down, the soft glow of outdoor candles and garden lanterns. Pair with rattan, basketry and a whole forest of oxygenating greenery for a serene, contemporary look; the ideal environment in which to practice mindfulness and gratitude as we look to remember what is most important to us and appreciate a simpler, slower way of living.