Vintage scarves from anywhere, from a junk shop to Top Shop, who sell them, are brilliant if backed onto a brightly coloured velvet cushion. To be honest, it’s worth raiding your mother/grandmother’s wardrobes, as those sort of scarves were once very ‘in vogue’ and are often hidden away. But they make the most wild, colourful addition to a room and are so easy to do.

I think they are best backed onto velvet in a bold colour, but corduroy also works. If you are a good sewer, then you just make a cushion cover using the velvet plus the scarf on one side. But, if not, then I suggest you find a friendly local sewer who can whip it up for you – not expensive.

Top Shop, however, have an amazing collection of vintage scarves from around £15 – £80, depending on the quality, design etc., but the ones photographed here were all £18, having really searched around.

Pre-this summer, check out what old beach towels you have lying around before you throw them out – make cushions out of them for that outdoor, slightly vintage-y look! They are unique as each one can be different, with mad colours, and not matching. If you want to be more creative, try adding rick rack or bobbles around the edges. Check the picture and see how cool they look piled up on a chair. And then, if it rains it doesn’t matter – you will get dry on the towelling!

Finally, hammocks! Bring back the hammock this summer, I reckon! So much a part of my childhood was a squeaking hammock we had between two thick tree trunks. Fill them with either the towelling cushion or the vintage scarf idea and you could (weather depending!) imagine you were in some exotic Moroccan location!