10 Easy Summer Home Decor Ideas
At the start of summer, I’m always craving a little refresh, so I thought I’d share 10 summer home decor ideas to kick off the season. Below, you’ll find budget-friendly decorating ideas and simple DIY projects you can easily implement, both indoors and outdoors. Get ready for summer vibes!
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As you plan for a summer decor refresh, consider how guests might enter your home. I’ve organized these tips starting with the porch, followed by the living room, and finishing on the patio.
You can use the Table of Contents above to jump to a specific section or grab a glass of lemonade to enjoy as you scroll.
Creating an Inviting Summer Front Porch
I always enjoy decorating my front porch for the seasons. After all, it’s the first thing people see. Why not set the stage?
1. Add a summer wreath with seasonal florals
The front door wreath is the first thing I swap out when the seasons change. I’ve made a few DIY wreaths over the years to incorporate different summer trends.
Consider adding wreaths with bright florals in blush pink, coral, or orange tones. Citrus also makes a nice addition for summer decor, like this DIY summer wreath with lemons. (It’s easy peasy, too.)
For a simple way to swap out flowers, consider using a basket wreath like the one I used for my DIY lavender wreath below.
Each season, you can mix and match different floral stems and ribbons in a matter of minutes.
2. Add a coordinating doormat
Replacing every piece of porch decor seasonally isn’t practical or affordable. For doormats, I like to stick with coir mats, like the one below with a monogram.
Not only do they last a long time, but they also coordinate with a wide variety of color schemes.
Summer Living Room Decor
I recently collaborated with At Home to refresh my living room for summer. It made our family area feel 100 times lighter, brighter, and more organized!
Watch this summer living room decor video on Pinterest to see me in action.
There were a few key tips that helped me pull the room together and avoid overwhelm.
3. Add a summer color palette with pillows and throw blankets
For summer, stick with lightweight fabrics like linen or cotton over velvet or suede. For a coastal look, you can bring in blue tones, blush pink, or pale yellow, depending on your sofa color. Think light and bright!
Above is a picture of our living room with pillows in neutral blues and pinks to brighten the area. For fall home decor, I switch to deeper colors like burgundy and gold.
Favorite Summer Pillows
4. Contain the clutter with baskets and boxes
When you have kids, you collect lots of papers, headphones, toys, and gizmos. My twins play instruments, so we have sheet music all around the living room.
I added two open baskets that fit nicely under our coffee table and give each of my boys a “home” for their music books.
Baskets and boxes can help organize clutter and also add a summer touch. Our coffee table decor feels much more organized by using a small decorative box like the ones below to store coasters and remote controls.
You can also use decoupage to disguise common items like tissue boxes as decor accents. I have a full guide on how to decoupage on wood if you’re interested in this project.
5. Include coastal decor accents for a breezy touch
I love adding decor accents like wooden knots, coral, or seashells to give the living room a coastal vibe.
Decoupage oyster shells are another great way to add coastal decor with a pop of color. You can display them on top of coffee table books or in a shallow dish.
6. Add ambient lighting to brighten the space
Lighting can help create a relaxed atmosphere in a shared living space. Consider adding a floor lamp or table lamp to brighten the living room for summer.
I recently added a floor lamp beside our sofa, and it’s perfect! Below are some of my favorite options, including the one I purchased.
7. Use houseplants or faux greenery for liveliness
Greenery adds an organic touch that makes a living room feel more welcoming. My favorite indoor plants include fiddle leaf fig, snake plant, and monstera.
I’ll soon include a photo of the fiddle leaf fig thriving by our living room windows.
Summer outdoor patio decor
My favorite space to spruce up for summer is the back patio. Over the years, I’ve shared many patio decor ideas and themes for entertaining outdoors.
How you decorate will largely depend on your layout and weather conditions, but here are some thoughts to keep in mind for summer decorating.
8. Ground the space with an outdoor rug
An area rug made all the difference on our back patio. You can see my full summer outdoor decor in another blog post.
Whether you’re working with a small balcony or wooden deck, adding a rug can set the mood and give your feet a soft landing, too.
A rug can also establish a color scheme for other decor, like patio furniture, pillows, and decorative flower pots.
9. Use decorative planters as decor
Flower pots don’t have to be boring! You can easily add vibrant color to your patio with a container garden and painted flower pots.
Decoupage flower pots are a fun summer craft that can also add visual interest to your back patio. All you need are plain terracotta pots, napkins, and Mod Podge.
As you celebrate summer holidays like Independence Day, you can also include decorative garden stakes in planters for a festive touch.
10. Bring the indoors outside
Some of the same summer decor ideas for a living room can apply outdoors.
For ambient lighting, I suggest using lanterns or string lights. Lantern decor comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, from classic black lanterns to whitewashed lanterns like the one below.
When entertaining outdoors, use clear bottles or melamine containers to create a light and airy feel.
For this outdoor dining table, I used clear bottles as vases for faux florals. Again, blush pinks, whites, and soft blues give the table a summery, coastal feel.
Since summer marks the start of mosquito season here, I like to find pretty ways to control the pests. These bug-repellent luminaries look attractive as decor but also help keep insects at bay.
Final Thoughts on Summer Home Decor Ideas
Whether you have a large or small space, it’s easy to add summer touches to your decor with a few simple ideas. To recap:
- Add a colorful pop to your front door with a wreath or hanging basket, and use a neutral doormat across the seasons.
- Lighten and brighten textiles like sofa pillows and throw blankets.
- Include coastal touches for a beachy vibe and greenery for a lively element.
- Add ambient lighting whenever possible, using lamps or lanterns.
- Contain the clutter with decorative bins and baskets. Get creative to disguise practical elements as decor.
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