By Lana Torre

As you are falling asleep, do you hear the waves of water pushing gently against the shore? Do you love the thought of long walks along a sandy beach? Do you love the shabby chic look of cottage designs? With lots of white- white fabrics, white seashells and super white cotton sheets.

This month, I will give you so many ideas on how to give your home a summery, cottage look, without paying the premium of waterfront taxes.

Let’s start by removing all heavy, winterish accessories. Put wool plaid pillows away, as well as insulated drapery panels and baskets brimming with dried Evergreen boughs. Store away heavy bedspreads and bed skirts. Think lighter, thinner, sheerer, clearer. When accessorizing, less is more.

Is your sofa covered in a heavily textured, red chenille? Purchase cotton slipcovers in naturally soft colors of off white. Select twill, canvas or cotton duck. If you have club chairs, slipcovers those in soft ticking stripes. Replace toss pillows in nautical prints like sea shells, crabs, lobsters and shore birds.

On your coffee table, place light reflective accessories, like glass candle sticks and use white candles. Fill a large glass container with sand or kosher salt and then add sea shells. If your children have an unused fishbowl, make a terrarium in it. Old mason jars also look great filled with water and a few stems of fresh flowers. Replace your area rug under the coffee table with a natural sisal or cotton striped rug, look for wide cabana stripes.

Use crisp, white cotton sheets on your beds, add toss pillows covered in textures of white and soft blues and greens. Replace heavy draperies with sheer panels, you can hang these on tension rods, eliminating making extra holes in your window casing.

If you are hosting a summer party, plan a beach themed event. Find more mason jars, add some sand and a votive citronella candle. Using natural twine, hang these from the spokes of your patio umbrella. When evening arrives, you will be delighted how these mini lanterns glow when lit. For a table cloth, use fish netting (these are available at party stores).  Set the table with white dishes and make place cards by writing your guest’s names inside sea shells. If you still have shells left, string them on twine and cascade them around your chairs or doorways. Make a huge pitcher of frozen Margaritas, pour yourself an icy treat, close your eyes and picture the waves pushing against the shore.