Decorate for Summer in 5 Easy Steps

With a new season just around the corner, today, we’re sharing how to decorate for summer in 5 easy steps.

Are you guys ready to welcome summer season into your home?

I have to say after an unexpectedly busy spring, we’re looking forward to embracing a slower pace of life over the next few months.  That’s not to say we won’t have a lot of things on our plates as we work toward fall deadlines on several projects, but the slower pace will offer more opportunities to rest which is something we desperately need and I know so many of you do as well.

Over these past few weeks, I’ve really been thinking about how to decorate for summer with ease given we’re in the midst of several makeovers and it made me think about how we decorated with simple pots of lavender for summer last year.

It’s amazing to look back on these photos and realize how much of our home has changed with just a few simple tweaks like gallons of paint, a more consistent color palette and bringing in as much greenery as possible.

Decorating with seasonal flowers such as hydrangeas, peonies, dahlias, daisies and lavender is an easy way to add a bit of color to your home while also bringing in a nod to nature.  Here are a few simple things to consider when decorating for summer in 5 easy steps….

Decorate the Front Porch First…

Decorating your front porch, whether it be an expansive space or a small stoop, is one of the easiest ways to begin to celebrate the summer season.

Welcome your family and friends to your home with a pretty wreath or basket on the door flanked by your favorite summer herbs, plants, flowers or container gardens.

We choose this area first because it’s one of the last things you see in the mornings when you leave for work and it’s one of the first things that will greet you when you get home.

Take the time to make it as pretty as you can with pillows made from summer inspired fabrics like linens, florals, ginghams or stripes.

Add texture with wicker, outdoor, rugs, and lightweight blankets.

Next, Start Decorating the Entry…

If your entry is anything like ours it’s a functional area that holds everything from backpacks to purses to rain gear and flip flops.  But it’s also a space you want to feel warm and inviting.

If you have a bench add summer pillows that complement the pillows from your front porch.

Then consider hanging a piece of art or a wreath that’s saturated with summer colors on a picture ledge or from simple hooks.  You can also add branches, greenery or plants from the nursery or gathered from around your property for a subtle touch of nature.

Whatever you choose to put in your entry make sure the color palette is consistent with the rest of your home and pretty, functional and purpose filled for summer activities.

Then Move onto the Living Room…

I know decorating a summer mantel can sometimes be tricky, so my best tip is to mentally divide the mantel in thirds. Start with the center portion and let it be your focal point. Then decorate the left third and the right third until the mantel is well balanced.

As with the front porch and the entry, include pillows consistent with your home’s color palette in colors and textures that are a nod to the summer season in the living room.

Once you have the mantel decorated and you’ve added pops of summer color with your pillows, keep it simple on the coffee table by layering some of your favorite decorating books or magazines in a wicker tray and add flowers or plants for an unfussy summer vignette.

Highlight the Dining Room and Breakfast Nook…

Whether you have a small breakfast nook or an expansive dining room table, use centerpieces, table settings, and linens that have color, texture, embroidery, or pattern as an easy way to highlight summer tablescape ideas.

Summer is a great time to use unconventional containers of flowers, herbs and plants help to create and unify your summer color palette both indoor and outdoor.

Keep your tablescapes simple and uncluttered so the eye can view the open floor plan spaces as a whole.

Finally, Decorate the Kitchen… 

Being that the kitchen is the heart of the home, the sight of continuous family meal preparation and impromptu dance parties when the littles are over, we try to keep summer decorating in the kitchen as simple as possible.

We like to keep things functional in the kitchen which means keeping the countertops festive yet free from seasonal clutter.

We usually just have a few branches cut from our property by the sink, potted plants, herbs or a simple drink station.

Keeping the counters clutter free allows extra room for meal planning, creating and baking summer inspired dishes and desserts.

I know I say it a lot when we’re taking about seasonal decorating in your home, but I want to drive home the point that summer decorating doesn’t have to be fussy or complicated. All the summer decorating tips I’ve shared today can be easily accomplished in no time – so give them a try!

How are you guys decorating for Summer this year? Until next time, I’ll see you on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Many blessings,

CoCo