According to research by Professor Barry Green, there's a reason that, during the hotter months, we reach for spicier food. By eating something a little up the Scoville scale, you raise your body temperature to match your surroundings and start to sweat. As that moisture evaporates, it creates a cooling effect that, apparently, has a greater cooling ability than eating something like ice cream. If muted tones and lighter colors aren't your things, you can still create a welcoming and refreshing environment for your guests without skimping on vibrancy. Drawing inspiration from your favorite taste-bud-testing dishes can be an excellent way to indulge your inner interior designer while creating that perfect summertime sanctuary.

Food for thought

When it comes to food or interior design, presentation is everything. Think about the colors of a spicy Thai salad set against the backdrop of a white bowl. That perfect whiteness allows the greens, reds, and yellows to step into the spotlight. As a starter, one of the best things you can do is break out a brush and create a clean, minimalist backdrop against which to present the new additions to your home.

A cool kitchen

The kitchen is undoubtedly the busiest room in the home. Having a blank canvas against which to throw some color is a great way to make your mark. Our selection of cookware, bakeware, and tools includes some defiantly bold designs from established designers and new kids on the block. While the kitchen might be a hive of activity, the end result doesn't have to be offered up on drab, bland dinnerware. Instead, you can choose hot and spicy colors that can elevate the eating experience for anyone sitting around your kitchen table.

Sofas and rugs

Similarly, our range of living room furniture gives you a broader palette to play with. Lighter tones and muted colors might add freshness to a living room but choosing something bold and vibrant gives you a chance to make a statement. However, if your sofa is part of the family, consider offsetting it with a rug that highlights its crisper qualities but adds a little extra. Rugs, such as our Suzette Yellow Geometric Rug and our Erria Clay Rug, evoke all the flavors of spices, such as saffron and paprika, but without detracting from the larger pieces of furniture in your home.

Turning up the heat

Linen and hemp are essential heat-beating materials when the temperature starts to climb, particularly in the bedroom. However, while you might prefer lighter materials to sleep under, it doesn’t mean they have to be without personality. You’ll find plenty of white, fresh bed-ware in our collection of duvets and sheets. But if you want to add a little touch of the exotic to your sleeping space, check out products such as our Palma Tropical Organic Bedding and our Pure Linen Dip-Dye Blue Duvet Covers and Pillow Shams. Ideal for those who prefer their designs to be less in-your-face, they help to add some welcome depth to any bedroom.

Taking inspiration from the way you choose to live your life is a superb way to create your template for seasonal change. With the heat of summer just around the corner, using these ideas could be the hottest way to cool down.