17 Home Décor & DIY Projects to Complete This Summer

The beginning of Summer is always a great time of year to sit down and carefully reconsider both your personal goals and your home goals too. 

After all, you have the added benefit of knowing what has worked well for you these past 6 months and what things you need to spend time tweaking from now until the end of the year.

I used to think room makeovers took anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour because I had seen so many on TV.

But after several years of DIYing under my belt, I’ve realized the process can take 4-6 weeks. Especially, if you don’t have a large work crew or your plans nailed down.

This is particularly true if you’re trying to complete projects around work schedules, travel plans, and family life.

While some of these projects took an extra set of hands and some DIY skills, other projects can simply be completed with a little time, paint, or stain.

In fact, the 3 most important things you can do to give your home a refresh in any season are to:

1. Declutter
2. Add a fresh coat of paint to the walls
3. Unify the color palette in your home

That said, now is a great time to energize your home by working on all those projects you’ve been dreaming of or have been putting off due to a busy spring season.

Here are 17 Home Décor and DIY Projects to Complete this Summer….

Add a Coat of Fresh Paint to the Walls…

We spent a good portion of one summer uniting our home’s color palette by adding a fresh coat of paint to all the walls with Valspar’s Bistro White. 

It seems like such a small change.

But it made a big difference throughout our home.  Looking back, I wish we had done it sooner!

Paint is an inexpensive way to update any room in your home. Especially, those spaces like the bedrooms where we spend so much time. 

You can find out more about how we created this bedroom makeover here.

Change Out Your Bedding, Pillows, or Curtains…

I know good quality bedding and linens can be expensive sometimes.

Given we sleep anywhere from 4-8 hours a night though, it makes sense to make your bedroom as comfortable as possible. 

If you have mostly neutral color palette it’s fairly simple to add a quick pop of color or give your bedroom a fresh feel by changing out the linens, pillows, or curtains.

Stencil the Floors…

The floors in our laundry room and in the master bedroom have been stenciled for years now!

While this project can be a bit time consuming, it’s another one of those creative endeavors that made a budget-friendly impact to both spaces. 

You can find out more about how to paint concrete floors like a pro here .

Hang a New Light, Chandelier, or Shades…

Adding chandelier shades to an existing chandelier is a quick and easy way to update the chandeliers in your home. 

That said, vintage-inspired lights and chandeliers can be found at home improvement stores, antique malls, and Amazon at very reasonable prices.

Declutter & Organize…

Decluttering and organizing your home might not be high on your priority list this summer.

But believe me, taking the time to declutter and organize your spaces now will go a long way in helping to create a sense of calm in your home all season long.

Summer is also a great time to get your kids and family on board while they’re home on break.

That way, they can continue to help with age-appropriate chores and embrace a solid cleaning routine.

If you haven’t had a chance to join our 52 Weeks to a Simplified and Organized Home Challenge yet, you can get started with us at your own pace right now.

Create a Dish Pantry or Party Supply/Entertaining Drawers…

Much like ironstone, dishes are a total weakness for me. Especially vintage dishes. 

I used to have them in the closets, under the beds, in the cabinets – it was bananas. I finally decided to take control and create a dish pantry and it was a game-changer.

In some ways, it forced me to keep only those pieces I loved and to organize our party and tablescape supplies in one area. 

Now, when I find a set of dishes I can’t live without, I know there is only a certain amount of room in our dish pantry. And if I want to bring them home, I’m going to have to let another set of dishes go.

In addition, I asked my bestie S to help me build a set of party storage drawers to go inside the pantry.  Not only has it cut down on our party décor clutter, but it also really helped to make things simple when getting ready for guests or pulling together tablescapes for the blog.

Bonus, having everything corralled together is such a timesaver too!

Stencil the Walls…

One fall, we stenciled the walls of our pantry, and every time I walk into that tiny space it makes me happy. 

It took longer than I expected because the walls had to be hand-stenciled, but it was absolutely worth it. 

Add Trim to the Windows…

With each room makeover we have completed, we have slowly been adding trim to all the windows in the house. 

It’s one of those things I wish we would have done a long time ago!

While at first glance it’s a subtle change, it helps to add a finished look to the rest of the room. And depending on the type of molding and trim you choose is not an expensive or time-consuming project to complete.

Here’s a look at how we installed trim to the windows in one of the bedrooms for around $30 a few years ago.

Install a Wall Treatment…

Installing wall treatments like board and batten or shiplap to any space in your home is a simple way to add an architectural element to an otherwise basic box. 

Board and batten are probably the least expensive of the two treatments to install. But it does require an extra set of hands, multiple power tools, and a bit more than basic DIY skills.

Truthfully, once you start adding wall treatments to one room in your home you’ll want to keep adding them to even more spaces.

It’s such a simple way to customize a builder-grade home.

Paint Your Interior Doors a Bold Color…

This was another home decor and DIY project we completed a few summers ago that I wish we had completed earlier.

We live in an open concept home and all of our walls are painted in Valspar’s Bistro White. Painting a few of the interior doors in Valspar’s Cathedral Stone really helped to add a pop of color to a basic space.

You can find our simple tips for panting interior doors here.

Choose a Consistent Color Palette For Your Home…

Choosing a consistent color palette for your home is not always an easy thing to do, I totally get it. For years, we struggled with it too. 

In the beginning, we simply started with 3 -5 colors we could agree upon. Then we slowly started changing the color palette in each room we gave a makeover to from that point forward. 

That way, we didn’t feel like we had to do everything at once!

Style Your Bookshelves…

The bookcases in our living room are one of my most treasured pieces of furniture. I was gobsmacked when my Dad delivered them because they are over 8 feet tall. 

I know bookshelves and hutches can be a bit tricky to decorate but don’t let that stop you from styling them with the pieces and the collections you love.

You can find our Easy Tips for Styling a Bookcase here.

Paint a Piece of Furniture…

Painted furniture might not be as trendy as it was a few years ago. But it’s one of the least expensive ways to refresh thrifted finds if you’re trying to decorate your home on a budget. 

Whether it’s adding a farmhouse feel to a new-to-you breakfast nook table or changing the look of a dresser in your bedroom most of the time painting a piece of furniture can be completed in an afternoon save for drying time and seal curing time. 

If you’re new to painting furniture you can read our beginner’s guide to painting furniture here.

Add a Flower Basket or New Wreath To Your Front Door…

Welcome your family and guests into your home by adding a wreath to your front door. 

Wreaths, swags, and wall baskets can be easily customized to compliment your home décor. They can also help you celebrate important family milestones and holidays.

Plant Container Gardens on the Front Porch, Back Patio, or Lanai…

No matter if you have a large expansive front porch, a small front stoop, a back patio, or a screened-in lanai there’s likely a spot for container gardens. 

Consider growing fresh herbs or veggies, seasonal flowers, and trees for a simple way to add a layer of nature and a pop of color to your outdoor spaces.

Turn a Workbench Into a Potting Table, Outdoor Buffet or Drink Station…

Several years ago, we bought this workbench to use on our back patio for around $20 from an old warehouse. I can honestly say, it’s been one of the best purchases we’ve made so far!

It’s been used as an outdoor buffet, a drink station, and even a potting table over the years.

As I shared above, summer is a great time of year to sit down and carefully consider your home goals. 

You can start with the projects on your list you may have been putting off for a while or simple start with the projects that are currently on your dream list. 

Either way, it’s going to feel so good to cross them off your list!

We hope this list of 17 home décor and DIY projects you can complete this summer will help get you started. Let us know what projects you have on your list!

Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo