Buys to beat the winter blues
We know. The last thing you probably want to be buying right now (what with all the rain and freezing weather) is swimwear and cut-offs.
July 05, 2012
We know. The last thing you probably want to be buying right now (what with all the rain and freezing weather) is swimwear and cut-offs. But in a few weeks, there’s going to be little chance of you walking into a store without being screamed at by shelves of string bikinis. Even more annoying is that unless you’ve booked yourself a mid-year getaway to somewhere decidedly sunnier – you won’t be able to enjoy your summer purchases for a good few months. Right? Wrong. While you might not be parading around in your pastel one-piece just yet, there are still ways to get into the summer spirit, without having to wait for the weather to agree. In fact, the following buys aren’t dependent on the forecast at all, which means you can start thrashing them – now. So what are they, we hear you ask? Homewares! A lamp here, a cushion there: they’re the easiest (and cheapest) way to not only pretty up your digs, but to enjoy the best summer has to offer, before it actually hits. Here are five of the best warm weather-inspired buys for your home:
1. Glasshouse candle in Amalfi Coast, $39.95, from Opus, opusdesign.com.au. Picture Southern Italian beaches – without the exxy plane ticket. It’s from where you’d rather be.
2. Lamp shade, $49.95, Ikea, ikea.com. Everyone has room for a new lamp, and with a shade covered in digitally printed blooms, you’d barely need another reason to justify this summery purchase.
3. Quilt cover, US$89, Urban Outfitters, urbanoutfitters.com. On cold and rainy weekend mornings, there’s nothing better than lying under a big, warm doona – especially one with blue skies.
4. Print, £49, ArtFeverUK, etsy.com. Wish you had a decidedly more tropical view of golden sands and island palms? Now you can.
5. Bathrobe, $395, Missoni Home from Top3 By Design, top3.com.au. It’s not exactly home décor (even though it will definitely brighten up the back of your bathroom door), but I dare you to find something better to lounge around the house in on a dreary day.
Ellie Packer, features writer.