Looking for simple summer decorating ideas? Here are 17 ideas and projects to refresh your home and get it ready for summer.
Have you ever noticed how changing just one thing in a room can make it look entirely different?
You add one accessory.
Or move a piece of furniture to another corner.
Or add a vase of fresh flowers in a new color.
It doesn’t have to be a big change or an entire room refresh.
Instead?
Sometimes all you need is one little change and everything looks a little fresher.
It’s been a challenging past couple of months.
So today?
Today is all about making little changes to fall in love with our houses all over again.
Here are 17 simple summer decorating ideas.
17 Simple Summer Decorating Ideas
1. Grocery store flowers
Take your grocery store flowers to the next level.
Buy a small bunch of flowers from the grocery store.
Then clip leaves from your yard and add them amongst the flowers.
(total aside: I did this the other day and got TWO arrangements out of one $5 bunch from the grocery store.)
2. Simple fix for floral arrangements
If you have a wide-mouthed vase that makes your flowers fall to the side?
Here’s an easy fix.
Add pebbles to the bottom to create an easy flower arrangement (that’s how I created the arrangement on the coffee table).
3. Summer decorating ideas: DIY pillows
Make your own pillows (and make SURE they have down inserts.
Here are some of my favorite pillow projects:
- a polka-dotted pillow
- a hydrangea pillow
- a pillow from a shopping bag
- a drop cloth pillow
- a no sew bolster pillow
4. Update an armchair
Change up a chair for summer in minutes with this simple tip.
It completely changes the look without the cost of a new chair.
5. Change it up
Switch out the pillows from one room to another.
I know this seems simple.
I get it.
But a new home for a pillow can freshen up an entire room.
6. Paint it
Repaint a piece of furniture in your room a bright summery color.
Looking for a color?
This is SW Adrift, but I have tons of other blue-grays that would work, too.
7. Change the lighting
One simple summer decorating idea is to change out the lightbulbs in your room with soft white for summer.
You can add a dimmer on the light bulbs to create a soft glow in the evenings, too.
8. Simple tip for peonies
It’s almost time for peonies.
I’ve been waiting for them to show up on Trader Joe’s.
Help your peonies open up with this simple tip.
9. Simple tip for baskets
Use a basket as a plant holder in your home.
This basket was too big for the tree and it kept falling over.
Quick tip: tuck burlap inside the bottom of the basket and around the tree or plant to keep it upright.
10. Refresh your couch
Have sagging couch cushions?
No worries.
Fix the cushions on your couch for summer with this simple tip.
11. Decorate with books
Stack books everywhere.
Have you seen this faux wood paper you can use to cover books?
I found it in the hobby section of the craft store.
12. Simple summer decorating idea: change the curtain rods
Don’t pay a lot of money for curtain rods.
Simply spray paint them instead.
Here’s how I spray painted my curtain rods (and 8 other things you can spray paint, too.)
13. Open up your curtains
Let the sunshine in.
Every morning I wake up the house and pull back the curtains.
It’s a simple summer decorating idea, but it makes the rooms so much lighter and airier.
14. Cover the buttons
Add buttons on the back of your dining room chairs like this.
It’s a no sew project that’s held up for over a year.
15. Add pillows
Place pillows in your dining room chairs.
It’s an easy way to add another pattern to the space.
For pillow ideas, refer to idea number three.
16. Summer decorating ideas: Create a summer arrangement
There are so many simple ways you can add flowers to a room.
Here are 9 ways to decorate with flowers.
17. Make a wreath
Create a wreath to hang on your door
Here are some of my favorite wreath projects:
- this eucalyptus and flower wreath
- this magnolia wreath
- this drop cloth wreath
- this bird book page wreath
Did you know the first day of summer is June 20?
Less than 30 days away.
That’s not much time to get ready.
Good thing all these ideas are simple. 🙂
Here are some other simple summer decorating ideas and essentials from some of my favorite blogging friends
SHADES OF BLUE
Shades of Blue: Summer Essentials
TIDBITS
Tidbits: 10 Summer Essentials for Your Home
MAISON DE CINQ
Maison de Cinq: My Favorite Summer Essentials
SEEKING LAVENDER LANE
Seeking Lavender Lane: Family Summer Essentials
Grerat idea Karianne! I love all the blue in your home too, it feels so summery!
These are great tips! We just washed all the blinds, rescreened our screens and cleaned all the windows and curtains last Saturday, and the natural light coming in was just gorgeous and made me feel so much better. Now that I won't see dirty windows when I open my blinds, I am doing that more often!! Oh, the peonies this year at my house are gorgeous!!! You know how you grow stellar hydrangeas? My forte is peonies. Actually it is God's forte at my house. Lol!! I planted them in my upper bed, but he made them stellar. I have been cutting some and bringing them in while leaving a few for neighbors walking to smell and enjoy! Flowers are so great, aren't they? Hope everyone is staying happy and healthy!
Did you know your DIY Style Finder book is on sale for $3,58 on Amazon? I received my copy the other day and really like it.
Such a timely article!! Yesterday and today I’ve been moving lamps/decor from room to room for a change up. Nothing new here, but downstairs instead of upstairs etc. I do need a couple new plants to add, but mostly all cost free. It does feel nice to walk around and see the newness here 😊
Love all the ideas! It is true moving things around really helps freshen things up.
These are great ideas! I especially love the tip to open up your curtains...that is the most overlooked, yet cost-effective way to brighten up any space. And a great way to say "hello" to summer and goodbye to the drab that winter can sometimes bring. Thanks, KarieAnne
Love all your ideas KariAnne! Changing pillows or paint, and of course, my summer favorite, peonies! All add so much for so little! Thanks for joining us my friend! Sheila xo