The sun is finally out, and as a natural mood booster, it brings with it a much-needed change in our behaviour too. Lighter and brighter days tend to make us feel happier, freer, and more positive after the restrictive dull and gloom of winter. We can finally come out of our winter hibernation, shed our chunky knits, stow away our boots, hats, and gloves, and throw open our doors and windows to soak in the fresh air.

Summer is all about long sunny days spent outdoors by the pool, braaing with friends and family, being active and just living your best life. It is so important that your living space is just as ready as you are and mirrors that bright and cheery feel. Celebrated Cape Town based interior designer Kim Williams, shares her top five easy tips to help you channel a laid-back summer makeover without breaking the bank.

Embrace the great outdoors

South Africa’s tropical climate is perfect for outdoor living, and we have seen a huge upscale in this space recently, especially during the Covid lockdown when people were desperate for some fresh air.

Blending the outdoors with your indoor area creates a soothing, relaxed mood which is synonymous with summer. Ocean torrents are especially big this season, so why not consider adding a water element to your outdoor space for some extra zen.

Add an entertainment area

After two years of being masked up and cooped indoors, the pandemic has left us yearning for interaction. Communal spaces like rooftop gardens and outdoor gyms that allow people to come together have gained popularity within larger communities.

In the home, families and friends tend to meet more often during the summertime, so an exclusive outdoor entertainment space like a braai area has always been essential. Inside we have seen people move away from just sitting around a kitchen island to embracing the elegance and drama of a dining room where the table and its gorgeous tablecloth is the focal point. This is a wonderful way of bringing everyone together and the table décor opportunities are endless, especially in the run up to the festive season.

Splash the colour

From a trends perspective, colour is back with a bang, and we are seeing a big uptick in rooms filled with mood boosting colours that reflect personal style and taste. If you’ve been wanting to experiment with this trend, then now is the perfect time to have a go. In general, summer paint tones tend to move away from the muted grey palettes of winter to something richer, brighter and more rejuvenating.

A splash of colour can add expression and playfulness so don’t be afraid to be bold, but also remember that less is always more. Just repainting one feature wall can have a colossal impact on an entire room.

Small touches go a long way

Seasonal décor changes don’t need to be flamboyant or costly. Simple things like replacing thick winter curtains and blankets with lighter linens and cottons can add that carefree, breezy tone in no time. For darker corners of the home that don’t get much light, consider uplifting the space with pretty prints rather than plain fabrics and opt for thinner fabrics to create lightness. We are defined by what we feel, see, and smell so try and keep your doors open, undress windows of any curtains and add lots of succulent plants for texture.

Even a simple thing like rearranging your furniture apart can create a light and airy feel, and don’t forget to have a good spring clean – it can go a long way in making a tired space feel and look refreshed.

Do what makes you happy

Before embarking on any major (or minor) décor transformation, remember to first think of your specific lifestyle and what is important to you and your family. How you work, live, and entertain, how many people use the space on any given day and what hobbies you enjoy must be instrumental factors to your design and décor choices.

Everyone wants a modern living space, but your home must be relevant but suited to you. Trends come and go, so you want to choose décor accents that have longevity, but that also blend in comfortably and almost act as an extension of you and your family.

For more tips from Kim Williams, sign-up for her blog at www.kimwilliams.co.za or follow her on Facebook and Instagram @kim_williams_design.

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Editor's note: - All image credit goes to - provided by Kim Williams.

Media Contact: Nadia Hearn
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About Kim Williams – Creative Interior Behaviour Strategist

Kim Williams is a top interior designer in Cape Town, a 2022 Loeries Interior Design finalist, and author of My Yellow Room. Kim has carved a niche for herself as a creative behaviour strategist focused on designing interior spaces. She is known for her unique approach to interiors which blends creative, behavioural and design strategies and is a well-respected entrepreneur having founded the full-service interior design studio - Kim Williams Design.

Kim’s deepest passion centres around designing to positively impact the physical and emotional health of her client’s so that they can live their best possible life – at home and work.

Her ability to understand and analyse interior design, décor and human behaviour trends, and to intelligently design spaces for the best outcome, sets her apart in the general design industry.

Kim had experience renovating her own properties during her early twenties, with the aim of increasing their resale value and making a healthy profit, so this passion and talent had always been burning within her.

Her personal journey and lessons learnt as an entrepreneur, interior designer, and behaviour specialist, shaped her perspective of the design process. This became the cornerstone of her own blueprint called the Pure Design Innovation ID, which is a process of extracting what people need emotionally and physically from their interior spaces.

After a successful career (21 years) as a change management consultant and behaviour specialist in the corporate world, Kim fell ill and relocated back to Cape Town. In her 40s then, she discovered her true purpose and combined decades of business experience with a passion for beautiful spaces.

Kim’s Blueprint – Design ID guarantees clarity of what each client needs and desires from their space and is where she applies her unique creative and behavioural strategic insights to making their dream space a reality.

Her love for smart, fresh and ahead of trend, yet classic designs and interior architecture, plus her easy and vibrant personality helps create dream spaces that exceeds even the best imagination of her clients.

Kim Williams’ portfolio adds up to millions of Rands in retail value. She has worked across building and construction projects, alongside developers and architects for over 142 new apartments, 19 residential homes, 10 renovations of which 7 are developments and 2 are medical practices, with many more in the pipeline.  These projects include a variation of interior architecture, design and finishing, as well as soft furnishing.

She is also the creator of My Yellow Room, a blog detailing her personal journey growing up with a physical disability where she spent many years indoors as a young child born with a club foot. It was this, and other life experiences, that showed Kim the importance of well-functioning, energising interiors in the healing process.

Through My Yellow Room, Kim became an inspiration to others, helping them to navigate the unknown of being in a confined space during Covid-19; to understand what they needed in order to function better and discover how to use this knowledge to improve their quality of life and manage their mindset during the pandemic.

Kim continues sharing her journey and has written a book to help homeowners, business owners, creatives and budding interior designers understand design principles to unleash the best in people.