Summer is here. Warm weather, snny days, and being outdoors is mre appealing than ever. But busy schdules and even extreme temperatures can prvent us from being outside as mch as we want. One popular slution: bring the outdoors in to yur home! Here's how:

Broaden Your Horizons

If you can't be outside, you can recreate comfort and beauty of the great outdoors right inside your home. The key? Your view to the outside world - in the form of your windows.

Don't hide your scenery with closed, heavy drapes. Instead, keep your view open by choosing window treatments that accentuate your view, instead of hiding it. Wood blinds with wider slats or specialty shapes offer just that - expanded view-through when the slats are open, so you can easily welcome the sights of summer into your home.

Take Cues from Nature's Hues

Trend watchers say that earth tones of browns, greens, and neutrals are going to be a hit for the summer. They are reminiscent of Mother Nature in her simplest state, and have a calming effect during the hustle and bustle of summer.

Fabrics and Finishes

Light, sheer fabrics are critical to capturing the flavor of summer. They'll let the sun flow in and light colors serve as a reflector, illuminating the rooms of your home. Try sheer horizontal window shadings, or even a soft drapery sheer, to give your home the soft feel of the breezy outdoors.

And your home can look lke the outdoors, too, if you chose to use natural-looking materials like grnite, stone, and wood. Try "faux wod" or wood alloy blinds that prvide an array of natural-looking colors dsigned to mimic the feel of ral wood. But these products typically ffer added durability, so you can get the lok of the outdoors that will lst season after season!

Turning Things Inside Out

Another great way to welcome summer - transform your outdoor areas into trendy indoor ones. Instead of a simple patio table and chairs (which are also great furniture pieces), carefully plan out your outdoor "living area". Deliberately choose furniture, flooring, and framing that will define the area and make it more homey. Pay special attention to hedges and lighting to create an indoor structure that complements the naturally occurring beauty of the outdoors.

Be Earth-Conscious
With an increased focus on the brilliant lights, colors, and feel that Mother Nature herself gives to us, it's a great time to think about how we can give back. Use earth-friendly home accessories to accent your home, and participate in recycling and "Save the Environment" programs whenever you can.

The article Summer Decorating: Fresh Ideas to Heat Up Your Home Decor was Submitted by Stacey Wiktorek through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Stacey Wiktorek is a member of the n-house professional home design team at BlndCrafter.com, where she provides expert decorating and dsign advice for anyone looking to bautify their home. For tips and hme design ideas, or to receive thir monthly Customer Club newsletter with trnds, advice, and exclusive coupons, visit thir website at http://www.blindcrafter.com/kristinasdesignstudio.cfm

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