How to Style, Cool and Calm Your Space for Viewings

1. Make the Garden Work for You

A scorched lawn or dusty patio doesn’t scream ‘dream home’ — but with a few quick tweaks, your outdoor space can become a major selling point.

Top tip: Leave the rake in the shed once in a while. The clippings of dry grass act as mulch, feeding the lawn and helping it recover from heat or drought.

Planting hacks (even for the botanically challenged):

• Try pots of lavender — they’re low maintenance and loved by pollinators.

• Dahlias, cosmos, and salvia offer bold, bright colour and thrive in containers.

• Salvia is a summer favourite that butterflies and bees can’t resist.

Style it like a lifestyle shoot:

• Add a jug of elderflower cordial and glasses to your outdoor table.

• Use cushions, lanterns, and throws to frame each space.

• Think breakfast nook, BBQ corner, or fairy-lit evening drinks area.

Even if your garden is more sandpit than suntrap, you can still stage it. A colourful parasol over a child’s picnic table or a hammock strung between trees can create a sense of retreat and purpose.

2. Keep Your Home Cool

British summers might be short, but they can surprise us with the heat. A fresh, cool home feels instantly inviting.

Quick cooling tips for summer viewings:

• Draw curtains or blinds during the hottest parts of the day.

• Turn fans on low in the background — positioned discreetly.

• Leave a bowl of cold water with lemon and mint in the kitchen.

• Swap out heavy throws for light linen or cotton textures.

Buyers aren’t expecting air conditioning, but they are drawn to fresh, breathable spaces.

3. Create Calm from Chaos

Selling with children at home during the holidays? It can feel like trying to keep a sandcastle standing at high tide — but don’t panic. You don’t have to cancel your summer plans.

Family-friendly viewing prep:

• Have a ‘magic basket’ (a lidded trunk or woven hamper) for last-minute toy tidying.

• Designate tidy zones — a small, organised play corner still feels intentional.

• Embrace your garden — a clean, safe trampoline is family gold.

• Time it right — aim for mid-morning or late afternoon viewings when light is soft and kids are at the grandparents (or having a nap!).

The goal isn't to hide the fact children live there — it’s to show the home works because they do.

4. Channel That Summer Vibe

Buyers don’t just buy bricks and mortar — they buy a lifestyle. Summer viewings are the perfect time to sell a feeling: barefoot kids on the grass, cool interiors, alfresco brunches.

Your summer styling checklist:

• Fresh-cut flowers or garden foliage in a jug on the table.

• Light, citrusy room sprays or a scented candle in fig or sea salt.

• Open windows to catch a breeze (unless there’s a lawnmower or traffic outside!).

Selling in summer isn’t about pressing pause on real life — it’s about showing off your home at its brightest and most welcoming. A few thoughtful tweaks can keep the magic of summer alive, help your viewers imagine their next chapter — and help you move on to yours.