Expert Interview: Summer Design Trends with Kelley Sandidge of Hip Haven

It’s always fun to rethink the look and feel of your home. Especially when the seasons are changing, a change in the scenery of your abode can help bring freshness and vitality to your space, breaking the aesthetic monotony. If you’re looking for some tips you can incorporate into your apartment this coming hot season, we’ve talked to Kelley Sandidge, owner and designer at Hip Haven about the summer design trends we can expect this year.

Can you tell us a bit about your background, why you chose to open an interior design shop, and what is a design style that you see people becoming very interested in?

My educational background was in studio art, but I went on to work in museum exhibit design and commercial interior design before ultimately being led by my love of Midcentury Modernism to create my own line, website, and showroom in Austin. Of course I’m a bit biased, but I think Midcentury Modern is a style that has established itself and is not just a passing fad.

Which décor trends and focus pieces do you think will dominate this coming summer?

This summer, people will continue to focus on stylish and comfortable outdoor living spaces. Our outdoor goods are selling quite well as people prepare for summer days spent on balconies and patios. Comfy lounge furniture and warm lighting will help create a relaxing atmosphere for spending time with their favorite people.

What color trends do you think work best for the summer season?

Based on what I’m seeing with my clients, energizing colors will dominate. Yellows, sky blues, oranges and other bright hues.

What interior design style do you think fits best in a rental apartment?

The style that makes you happy is the best style, but from a purely practical standpoint, I think the scaled-down size, modular options, and minimal clutter of Modernism are best suited to a rental apartment. You can choose classics that can stay with you long term, but make sure they are easy to move, durable, and configurable for different spaces.

Do you have any tips for our readers for budget-friendly, renter-friendly design ideas?

In my apartment-dwelling days, I tried to maximize the number of uses for any given piece of furniture. An ottoman would store blankets, a side table would store books, and I always had a sofa that would also work as a guest bed. For me, the right décor mix was Midcentury Modern furniture with bohemian accents. The second-hand furniture pieces were affordable but well made, and my decorative accents came from thrift stores, were picked up on my travels, or were handed down from family.

Since it’s not usually an option in a rental to paint or change light fixtures, there are great options out there for temporary décor, like removable wallpaper, and swag lamps or sconces with cords and switches that don’t require hard-wiring. (With apartment dwellers in mind, much of our lighting has the option to add a cord and switch for a temporary installation).

Lastly, a quick internet search of DIY décor will yield so many great ideas, you’re sure to find all you will need to decorate an entire apartment with very basic materials and tools.

You can find all the midcentury décor, planters, and apartment-friendly lighting that Kelley mentioned at Hip Haven, open to Austin by appointment and ready for your online orders of summer style!