If you’re thinking about freshening up your home for spring and summer, start small.

Changing your bedding, introducing a different colour or rethinking a crowded corner can make a difference without replacing the furniture.

For some local advice, we’ve teamed up with Ashley Hawthorne, Founder and Creative Director of Sass Design Co in Port Macquarie, to create the first edition of The Art of the Stay, our seasonal styling guide from Lifestyle Holidays.

Ashley designs residential homes, commercial spaces and holiday accommodation, balancing style with the practical demands of everyday use. For our Spring/Summer 2026–27 edition, she’s brought together room mood boards, furniture and homewares selections, and advice to help holiday homeowners prepare their properties for the season.

There’s plenty to borrow for your own home, too. Here are a few of our favourite tips from the guide.

Start with lighter bedding

An easy place to make a seasonal change is the bedroom. Ashley recommends breathable fabrics such as cotton, bamboo or linen, with lightweight layers for warmer nights.

Keep the base simple, then introduce colour through a throw, pillowcases or a couple of cushions. Soft greens, warm neutrals and terracotta all feature in the guide, offering options that work well beyond summer.

For holiday homes, Ashley also puts comfort, durability and easy laundering high on the list. Keeping bedding consistent across bedrooms makes it easier to replace individual pieces when needed.

And go easy on the decorative cushions. A bed should be inviting without giving someone a pile of things to find a home for before they can get in.

Visit the website

Use colour and texture to update what you have

Ashley’s “Soft & Dreamy” mood board, featured in the guide, combines greens, curved furniture and layers of texture. It’s a useful starting point for finding colours and finishes that work with what you already own.

You might pick up a colour from an existing artwork and repeat it in your cushions or bedding. Or add texture through a throw or rug rather than introducing another colour. Ashley also suggests selecting artwork early when furnishing a room, so it can help guide the rest of your choices.

There’s no need to change every room at once. Start with one space and build from there.

Choose fewer pieces, and give them a purpose

Ashley’s advice throughout the guide is to prioritise quality over quantity. Before adding anything, look at what’s already in the room.

One substantial artwork can have more impact than several smaller pieces. A well-chosen cushion can be enough to finish a sofa. And a coffee table still needs space for someone’s drink.

This is especially useful in holiday accommodation, where guests need room for their own belongings. Consider how the space will be used as well as how it will photograph: somewhere comfortable to sit, a surface within reach and furniture that’s easy to move around.

Visit the website

Check the lighting after sunset

Longer days make it easy to overlook lighting, but it’s worth checking how your rooms feel in the evening.

Ashley recommends warm white globes and a combination of bedside and floor lamps, rather than relying entirely on bright overhead lights.

Start where you spend time after dark. Is there enough light to read beside the bed? Would a floor lamp make the living room more comfortable in the evening? These are useful changes you can make without taking on a larger project.

Visit the website

More from Ashley in The Art of the Stay

Our collaboration with Ashley brings a local designer’s perspective to the homes our holiday guests enjoy along the coast. The full guide includes her spring–summer mood boards, curated shopping selections and more advice on creating comfortable, welcoming spaces.

To see more of Ashley’s work or enquire about her interior design services, visit Sass Design Co or follow @sassdesignco

Visit the Website

Pick up a copy of The Art of the Stay

Spring/Summer 2026–27 at our Lifestyle offices.

Spring–Summer Styling Tips with
Port Macquarie Designer Ashley Hawthorne

If you’re thinking about freshening up your home for spring and summer, start small.

There’s plenty to borrow for your own home, too. Here are a few of our favourite tips from the guide.

Start with lighter bedding

Use colour and texture to update what you have

Ashley’s “Soft & Dreamy” mood board, featured in the guide, combines greens, curved furniture and layers of texture. It’s a useful starting point for finding colours and finishes that work with what you already own.

Check the lighting after sunset

Longer days make it easy to overlook lighting, but it’s worth checking how your rooms feel in the evening.

More from Ashley in The Art of the Stay

Pick up a copy of The Art of the Stay

Where to Next...

Contact Us

Spring–Summer Styling Tips withPort Macquarie Designer Ashley Hawthorne

If you’re thinking about freshening up your home for spring and summer, start small.

There’s plenty to borrow for your own home, too. Here are a few of our favourite tips from the guide.

Start with lighter bedding

Use colour and texture to update what you have

Ashley’s “Soft & Dreamy” mood board, featured in the guide, combines greens, curved furniture and layers of texture. It’s a useful starting point for finding colours and finishes that work with what you already own.

Check the lighting after sunset

Longer days make it easy to overlook lighting, but it’s worth checking how your rooms feel in the evening.

More from Ashley in The Art of the Stay

Pick up a copy of The Art of the Stay

Where to Next...

Contact Us

Spring–Summer Styling Tips with
Port Macquarie Designer Ashley Hawthorne