George Home has dropped a 36-piece collection celebrating Halloween in June – I asked experts how to embrace the Summerween trend tastefully
Playful or tacky? Help me decide...
How early is too early to start celebrating Halloween? 10 years ago, I’m sure the general consensus would have been that it is way too early to start celebrating Halloween pre-October. But times have changed, and George Home’s new ‘Summerween’ collection is proof of that.
This spooky, kooky and downright summery home decor trend hasn’t come out of nowhere, as George Home has reported shoppers are searching for Halloween decor as early as August. In response, they dropped a 36-piece collection you can shop online right now.
I’ll admit, the Ideal Home office is a little less convinced about the Summerween trend. On the one hand, the upcoming Summer Solstice is the perfect excuse to display whimsical decor. On the other hand, spooky decorations in highlighter pink shades aren't exactly what you'd call classically tasteful. So, I asked interior design experts how to decorate for Summerween tastefully, and this is what they said.
Summerween at George Home
As you can see, the George Home Summerween collection is a glitter bomb of bold colour, disco balls and statement prints. It’s perfectly in line with the popular disco pumpkin and Pinkoween trends that have been incredibly popular over the last couple of years.
It’s fun and a little tongue-in-cheek, but not exactly what I would call chic. And while great fun to deck your home out with for a party, it’s not exactly decor I’d want adorning my home every day.
‘New search data shows interest in ‘Summerween’ has surged by 200% in the past month, with a further 50% increase week on week. That shift suggests it’s moving beyond being a bit of an internet in-joke and into something people are actually bringing into their homes,’ says Victoria Robinson, trend expert at Hillarys.
‘From a trend perspective, I think it’s a fun one, but like a lot of social media-led trends, it can easily tip into feeling gimmicky if you go too literal with it. Bright orange pumpkins and heavy Halloween décor can feel out of place in summer if they’re not styled carefully.’
How to style the Summerween trend tastefully
According to the experts, the key to tasteful Summerween decor is opting for softer colours and going by the principle that less is more.
A velvet cushion such as this one is a subtle nod to a pumpkin.
‘I enjoy the idea of taking familiar autumnal motifs and reimagining them through a lighter, more playful summer lens. The key is balance. When done well, it feels whimsical and creative rather than kitsch or overly themed,’ says Kunal Trehan, interior designer and founder of Touched Interiors.
‘Swap traditional orange and black for softer combinations such as terracotta, coral, dusty peach, sage green, sand and cream. This creates a more elevated seasonal look. Decorate with woven lanterns, rattan accessories, driftwood, ceramic pumpkins and dried florals rather than plastic decorations. The result feels far more sophisticated.’
Forget gaudy, in-your-face decor such as bright orange pumpkins. Instead, incorporate a pumpkin hue into your existing decor with items such as the M&S x William Morris at Home Pure Cotton Wild Tulip Bedding Set (£70), which uses moody orange tones for a whimsical effect. Or, an orange velvet cushion (£18, Dunelm) can add a pop of autumnal colour to a sofa.
The trend works brilliantly outdoors.
‘Texture also plays a big role. Natural materials like linen tablecloths, woven accessories and rustic ceramics help ground the look and stop it from feeling overly themed. You can then layer in gentle nods to Halloween, things like candlelight, atmospheric lighting or understated motifs, rather than anything too costume-like,’ adds Victoria.
‘It works particularly well outdoors. We’re seeing a big shift towards people making better use of their gardens and outdoor spaces, and Summerween lends itself perfectly to that, things like relaxed tablescaping, soft lighting, and layered textiles that create a slightly moody but still summery feel.’
If you love pumpkins, opt for a more rustic take than the bold oranges and even disco styles we've come to expect. The one has tiny LED's for a subtle glow.
This bedding set has a stunning autumnal look, without being explicity Summerween. The orange and blue colours work wonderfully to create a whimsical display.
Soft, flickering candlight is one of the simplist and most stylihs ways to nail the trend. This lantern has a gothic edge, whilst remaining subtle enough to blend with your home.
‘The most successful Summerween interiors don't look like Halloween arrived early. Instead, they capture the mood and magic of the season while remaining stylish, relaxed and appropriate for summer living,’ concludes Kunal.
The choice is yours. Will you go bold with George Home, or opt for something a little more subtle?
