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I don’t know what it is about summer, but the minute the days get longer and the windows start opening again, I get this overwhelming urge to chuck half my stuff out the door. Suddenly, everything inside feels too dark, too heavy, and way too… winter. My throw blankets are looking suspiciously like scarves, the pillows feel like leftovers from a cabin Airbnb, and don’t even get me started on the weird dried eucalyptus I swore was “year-round neutral.”
So yeah, I needed a glow-up. But not the kind that requires knocking down a wall or reupholstering my entire life. Just a few tweaks. A few happy, summer-y things to make the space feel a little more alive — like the season itself.
If you’re feeling the itch too, here are 17 summer decorating ideas I’ve either already tried, seriously considered, or saved in 14 different Pinterest boards. They’re easy. They’re fresh. And they make your home feel like it just exhaled.
Coastal Grandmother Is Still the Vibe
I’m not mad about it. Picture light linens, beat-up wood frames, and blues that look like they came straight out of a Nancy Meyers movie. I threw a striped blanket over the couch and plopped some hydrangeas in an old ceramic pitcher, and suddenly my living room was giving “spent summers in Maine” without me leaving my street.
Sun-Washed Color Palettes
Goodbye charcoal, hello dusty peach and seafoam green. I didn’t even repaint—just swapped a few pillow covers and snagged a $10 thrifted lamp in a weird faded mustard color. It worked. It looks like everything’s been sun-bleached a little, and that’s kind of the point.
This image is by AI for inspiration only.
photo by gotfal
This image is by AI for inspiration only.
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Rattan & Cane Everything
I bought a rattan mirror for the entryway and it instantly made my space feel 40% breezier. These woven textures are having a moment, and it’s not just boho anymore. They’re sneaking into modern and traditional homes too — think bar carts, headboards, even lampshades. Texture = instant summer.
Blue + White = Can’t Go Wrong
My kitchen? Basically a lemon-themed fever dream now, thanks to some new blue and white dish towels and one very bold decision to get a chinoiserie vase from Facebook Marketplace. Add in a bowl of lemons (real or fake, no judgment), and boom — summer has entered the chat.
Mismatched Outdoor Dining
Our patio chairs are a disaster, but instead of replacing them, I embraced the chaos. Added a floral tablecloth, a few mix-and-match plates, and suddenly it felt like a quirky French countryside setup. Bonus: zero stress about perfection.
Stripes in Weird Places
Stripes are showing up in spots I didn’t expect: tile backsplashes, lampshades, even shower curtains. I threw a striped runner on the hallway table and now every guest says “Ooh, cute!” It’s a five-second makeover. Highly recommend.
Plants, But Like, Styled
One lonely fiddle leaf in a corner? Nah. Now I’ve got vines crawling over my bookshelf and herbs lining the kitchen ledge. My basil looks like it pays rent. I even named my pothos plant Kevin. We’re close now.
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Soft, Layered Curtains
I swapped my blackout curtains for some gauzy sheers and immediately regretted not doing it three years ago. Now the sunlight comes in soft, like it’s been filtered through a summer romance novel. You can even layer in a linen Roman shade for bonus texture (and pretend you know what a Roman shade is).
Wall Murals or Decals
I am so over gallery walls. I slapped a peel-and-stick abstract mural in our powder room and it instantly went from “forgotten hallway closet” to “intentionally designed space.” Took 20 minutes and zero commitment. No regrets.
Linen Everything
Linen is the laid-back cousin of cotton — a little messy, kind of rumpled, but somehow always chic. I thrifted some wrinkly linen napkins for $4 and they make takeout feel like a dinner party.
Citrus Is a Whole Decor Category Now
I didn’t mean to start a lemon collection, but here we are. Citrus art prints, tea towels, even a bowl of oranges on the table — it’s simple and it makes the whole kitchen feel fresher. Also, oranges don’t wilt. Win-win.
Pop Colors That Feel Like Summer Vacation
Normally I’m a neutral girlie, but I impulse-bought a hot pink pillow and it brought more joy than my morning coffee. Tiny pops of color — cobalt, chartreuse, tangerine — are in. No need to repaint, just sneak in a little happy.
Gingham + Checkerboard Moments
Retro, yes. But cute? Absolutely. I snagged a gingham throw from a garage sale and tossed it on the porch bench. Now it feels like a picnic lives there full-time. You’ll spot these patterns on planters, rugs, even outdoor umbrellas.
Low-Effort Outdoor Setups
I used to think I needed a full patio makeover. Turns out, all I needed was a foldable bistro set, a washable rug, and a string of solar lights. Now we eat dinner outside even when we’re just microwaving leftovers.
Flea Market Glassware Is the Moment
Thrifted goblets? Yes. Wavy candlesticks? Also yes. Mismatched salad plates? Bring them on. It’s not about perfection — it’s about layers and charm and things that look like they’ve been collected over time (even if you panic-bought them all last Saturday).
Sculptural Decor That Looks Expensive (But Isn’t)
We’re talking asymmetrical vases, funky little candle holders, and objects that feel like you picked them up in a European gallery… even if they came from Target. I have one lopsided lamp I call “Art.” My husband hates it. I’m keeping it forever.
Soft Lighting — All Day Long
I’m officially anti-overhead light now. This summer, I’m all about rattan pendants, globe table lamps, paper lanterns, and candles everywhere. I want my house to feel like golden hour, even if it’s 3 p.m. and I’m eating cold pasta in yoga pants.
Final Thoughts: Summer Isn’t a Season, It’s a Mood
You don’t have to gut your home to make it feel like summer — just throw open a few windows, swap in something light and bright, and maybe string up a few fairy lights even if you’re the only one who’ll see them.
Home should feel like a place you want to come back to after a sweaty day at the park, not a dark, stuffy cave where throw pillows go to die.
So here’s to citrus bowls, thrift-store linens, and summer vibes you can feel barefoot in.
