Summer is now upon us, although it may not always feel that way with the weather in Britain. And while the sun may not always be out, it is still important to give your home a summery feeling to reflect the seasons, so that in the summer, it is both bright and homely.

Fireplace , In the winter, a fireplace is a sign of winter and warmth, something to snuggle up close to when the rain lashes down on the window, and when a chill ripples through your house.

In the summer however, your fireplace need not look abandoned and empty, waiting for the winter months to roll back around. Use your fire place decoratively and artfully by storing wood you may use in the future, or perhaps place a vase of flowers in front of the hearth to brighten the area up.

Flowers , There are some beautiful flowers that bloom in the spring and summer months, including Geraniums, Petunias, Marigolds and Pansies. Keep your house light and floral with a few vases placed around your home! Make sure you choose bright vases too, so that you enhance that lovely, colourful effect.

Furniture , Change up your furniture this summer with a nice new coffee table, a garden bench to relax on, or a gorgeous new oak table for your kitchen; it's incredible how big of a transformation just changing up a few items of your winter furniture can have.

Lighting , Choosing the right lighting both on the inside and outside of your house can really bring that summer feeling to life. On the outside for example, you can hang lanterns and use large garden candles to keep away the flies and the oncoming darkness. While on the inside, fairy lights can add an enchanting feel to any dinner party.

As you can see, just a few simple changes can make a whole lot of difference to making your home feel bright and summery; helping to keep the sun shining on the inside, whatever the weather is like on the outside.