A simple summer bedroom refresh with Urbanara [AD]

[AD – this summer bedroom refresh is a paid partnership with Urbanara. All images Cate St Hill]

My style is all about creating a timeless backdrop for relaxed, everyday life to take place – I like to use simple, seasonal updates to regularly give a space a fresh, new feel. The weather’s hotting up and it’s got me itching to give my home a summer refresh. I want to pare things back and clear space for this easy, carefree season, packing away the woolly blankets in favour of light textures and pale, natural tones.

For this post, I’m working with Urbanara to share a few simple ideas for a summer bedroom refresh. Urbanara is always my go-to for timeless, natural homeware – the neutral wool rug in my living room is from there and I’m always recommending their textiles to interior clients. From pure linen bedding and organic cotton towels to recycled plastic runners and untreated jute rugs, Urbanara produces natural, sustainable products using ethical and conscious processes. They say:

‘We believe your home is an extension of your personal style, so we create collections that will transcend seasons and trends. Wellbeing begins in the home, so we use only the finest natural materials to create homewares that help you live better, naturally.’

Sustainability has become one of the biggest factors impacting what I choose to decorate my home with. Urbanara has made it easier to make a more informed decision by clearly labelling their most environmentally-friendly products on their site. Tags help highlight four ‘Urbanara Terra’ categories — organic cotton, untreated materials, recycled PET and fast-growing materials. Their organic cotton, for instance, uses approximately 71% less water and 62% less energy, while their untreated products bypass harsh dyeing and chemical processes in favour of embracing the material’s natural tones.

What really appeals to me, though, is the affordable price tag. There’s often a misconception that sustainable design is expensive and elitist, but Urbanara’s homewares are designed to be accessible to all, with rugs starting from a competitive £49 and linen bedding from £79.

Let’s take a closer look…

Earlier this year, when I gave the bedroom a botanical green makeover, my aim was to create a tranquil, soothing space that could become a little sanctuary away from it all. At the core of the design, was a desire to create an atmosphere that could support my wellbeing, with tactile, natural materials and rich green tones.

When I look at the images I took in January, the room appears cosy and inviting, but the dark grey accessories definitely give a winter feel. Our bedroom is south-facing; it’s a light and sunny space that takes on a soft, warm glow in the summer months. It’s cold in the winter but can get very hot when the sun comes out. So for summer, I want to introduce some lighter tones to help soften the dark green wall (which I still love more than ever) and balance the effect of the heat.

I really believe that you don’t need to constantly give a room a new makeover to give it a different feel, a few simple swaps are sometimes all that is needed. I can still store my winter bedding in the base of the bed and get them out again when the temperature starts to dip.

The key to a summer bedroom refresh is using lightweight layers – you want a few options so that your room can adapt with the temperature and your mood.

Linen is a great choice for the summer – it’s breathable and naturally helps regulate temperature and absorb moisture, so you’ll have less chance of overheating and waking up in the night feeling sweaty. Urbanara’s Tercia duvet provides the perfect base for a neutral look. Made in Portugal using 100% Belgian linen, it features a contrasting grey piping detail that gives the plain white fabric an elegant finish. I like to mix and match my linens to give a relaxed look, so I’ve paired it with the Figuera pillowcases – the knotted ties add an extra bit of texture.

Even in the summer I like to dress my bed to look the part with a beautiful throw, I can always peel off the blanket in the evening if it gets too hot. The Cousso bedspread has a beautiful waffle texture; it’s large enough to be folded in half for extra weight in winter, but light enough to be used in summer. The perfectly-imperfect melange texture is woven from a blend of cotton and recycled polyester. It’s pre-washed for softness and feels like a fluffy cloud to touch. In case I need something a bit lighter, I’ve also got the off-white Amaro blanket. It’s made of 100% recycled fibres using a blend of cotton, polyamide, acrylic, linen and silk. The lightly woven, slightly open, knit contrasts with the smooth linen.

A summer bedroom refresh needs lots of texture to add life and character to a simple scheme. A pair of Veiros cushions in a cool grey tone add a subtle note of detail with their embossed waffle weave. I have a dressing gown in the same jacquard fabric and love how tactile the fabric is – the perfect finishing touch for a relaxed bedroom.

Here are a few other tips for a summer bedroom refresh:

– Invest in two duvets and swap your winter duvet for a lighter summer duvet each year. In the summer, you’ll want a lower tog rating – anything from 4.5-7 will be sufficient – whereas in winter you’ll need a higher tog rating of 10-13

– Choose soft, pale colours to lighten things up and create a bright, airy feel. White and beige are classic, understated, natural colours that are associated with feelings of safety and purity

– Don’t bother ironing your linen – the natural creases are all part of its charm and who wants to get out a hot iron in the summer anyway?

– Clear your surfaces – have a good declutter and edit down the objects you have on display. It will instantly give the space a new look and help create an ambience that’s conducive to relaxing, free of visual distraction. In winter, I’ll have more candles and things out on display, but in summer, I want to free up those surfaces. All I need in the summer on my bedside table is a big carafe of water

– Bring the outside in – add some plants to help bring some life to a space or forage some fresh greenery to give a wild, natural touch

Shop the story, use the code CATE15 to get 15% off any item on Urbanara’s website (excluding sale items, with a minimum order of £50):

URBANARA_Amaro_Decke_Eierschale_Melange_AMOO_BLA_XXX_XXX_V_231XXXXXX_002_0477_620x620

Amaro blanket, £75

Figuera linen pillowcases, £19

Veiros bathrobe, £69

Veiros cushion cover in grey, £12

Cousso bedspread, £79

Tercia bed linen in white, £99

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