Home Decor

Accomplishing that summertime breezy vibe at home

Jessica Crawford
Cotton & Co.

(6/2021) It wouldn’t be Maryland without an immediate transition from Winter into Summer. And just like that, here we are. The heat has already kicked in, everything is flowering and smells sweet like summertime. Baby birds are chirping, nestled into their little feathered nests. The grass is growing quite literally like a weed; lush and vibrant green. We wake up on weekend mornings to the sounds of distant lawn mowers and the fragrant smell of fresh cut grass. It’s a much-needed renewal, Summertime. I know our family is dreaming of slow Summer mornings, backyard camp-outs, firing up the smoker and grill often, playing outside all day, and the fruits of our labor from our vegetable garden.

So, how do we make our home and surroundings reflect Summertime and all the breezy vibes? A massive trend that’s been lingering in the background for a long time, but has recently exploded, is the love of wicker and rattan. And I’m just going to say, I’m here for it. It gives all the natural vibes, doesn’t compete in terms of conflicting patterns or colors with other home decor, and can be integrated into all kinds of home décor styles. There are so many ways to incorporate these natural elements into your home and living spaces. While I wouldn’t suggest subjecting these natural reeds to the elements, they’d also be great on a covered patio or four seasons room too.

We have several vintage rattan furniture set in stock right now. They make such a great Summertime statement. We’ve been seeing them come into the store as vintage lounge and coffee and end table sets. As well as five-piece glass-top dining sets. All of which are perfect for Summertime relaxing and entertaining. They’re wonderful for lounging in, on Summer evenings, reading books. Or hanging out with your favorite people. They’re also durable, which is a plus when you have little ones like we do. Everything needs to stand the test of time and durability. And while they do give off all the summertime vibes, rattan furniture really is all seasonal. You can even add your own personal touch with the cushions and blankets. You could use solid colors for a modern spin, geometric cushions for a mid century look, bold tropical leaves for a more beachy boho vibe, etc… There’s a way to make an indoor/outdoor living set like this reflect your own personal style and taste.

Another popular way to utilize rattan in your home, that we’re seeing trending now, are vintage etageres or shelving units. While making a bold display statement in a room, they also, like the patio set, don’t conflict with your existing décor and can be incorporated into various home décor styles. In our home, we have one for displaying our favorite books and nature and beach finds. They’re an excellent way to highlight some of your most favorite items or conversation pieces. I also love that while they tend to be three to four feet wide, and hold and display lots of favorite pieces. They are generally considerably narrow, so they don’t impede traffic flow to a room or take up a lot of real estate. I’m also a fan of how light and airy they are. They’re easy to maneuver and they don’t block natural light as they aren’t solid or bulky.

I recently restyled my living room using some of these techniques, and one of my favorite subtle additions is the starburst rattan mirror I added in my favorite corner of the room. It is very simple, and delicate, but also elegant and naturalistic. And functional. I love when décor is also functional. These mirrors have become very popular over the past year or so, and we see them come in the shop periodically too.

I know I’ve mentioned these in previous articles, but it’s worth mentioning again. Because they make such an impact or statement in a room, and are generally pretty inexpensive to put together; basket walls! Remember all of those vintage flat baskets from the 70’s and 80’s? The tv dinner wicker trays. The large centerpeice trays with the plastic inserts. Discard that aged yellowed insert and put that puppy up on the wall. You’ll want to select baskets that are all different sizes, styles and hues, but also coordinate with one another.

This is not the time to be matchy-matchy. If you want a carefree, Summertime vibe, you’ll have to let that slide, which I know for some is easier said than done. But the mismatched-yet-coordinating look is in. And you’ll want to go big or go home, and stick to odd numbers of baskets. To get started, I usually suggest sourcing seven. You’ll want at least one large one (12-16") to act as the ‘base’ or ‘center’ and then six or so other coordinating ones to fan out from it. My personal favorites if you can find them, are the more ornate, made in Japan, shallow vintage baskets. They add a touch more texture and design to a basket wall, and are really fun if you can find one or two to incorporate into your wall feature.

Wicker wrapped bottles of all kinds are a great way to throw a beachy, Summer feel into your summer style. Try a group of three, as odd number pairings are best for a cohesive look. You can find vintage or reproduction wicker wrapped vases in various styles, sizes and glass colors. They’d look beautiful as a centerpeice on a rattan dining table…And while the natural rattan and wicker aren’t durable for direct contact with the elements, there are plenty of authentic metal and plastic substitutes that are suitable for exposure to the sun and rain.

As always, if you’re in need of help executing a vision into fruition, stop by the shop. We are always happy to lend a helping hand or outside eye on the project. Our creative staff are always ready to help you find the perfect piece to get a project going or completed. Bring in photos of your space, pinterest vison boards, etc… and we can help! Cotton & Co is open weekly, Friday-Sunday. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for shop updates, new products and inventory, events and classes!