Looking for simple summer entertaining ideas? Here are my favorite recipes, table settings, DIYs, outdoor dining ideas and so much more.

Summer is just around the corner and I’m already planning all the summer things. Here are all of my favorite summer entertaining ideas.

summer entertaining

Just in case no one else mentioned it?

Summer, I am SO READY FOR YOU this year.

There’s no other season quite like you. I was sitting outside yesterday with my feet in the sand and my face turned toward the sun with blue clouds floating by sprinkled with flocks of birds in the spring (almost summer) sky and I started thinking of all my favorite things about summer.

And decorating.

And entertaining.

And celebrating long lazy days and all the summer things.

So today?

Today I’m sharing 21 of my favorite ideas and tips and decorating and everything I love about summer. Yep. My favorite recipes. My favorite table settings. My favorite centerpieces. My favorite quick and easy decorating ideas.

All my favorites, all the time.

Are you ready for the gold medal summer list?

Here are all my favorite summer entertaining ideas put into categories just for you.

summer entertaining ice box cake

21 Simple Summer Entertaining and Decorating Ideas

My favorite summer entertaining desserts

For me? I’m not a cook. So summer for us involves grilling some sort of something outside, chopping up vegetables and tossing lettuce into a bowl.

And then?

Rewarding yourself with dessert.

Especially if you can make it ahead and not turn on a hot oven.

Here are three of my favorite no-bake desserts.

And the easiest recipe for peach sweet tea.

Cherry Cheesecake Recipe

CHERRY CHEESECAKE IN A JAR

click here for the no-bake recipe

summer entertaining peanut butter bars

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CRUNCH BAR

click here for the no bake recipe

summer entertaining easy desserts

ICE BOX CAKE IN A JAR

click here for the no bake recipe

summer entertaining sweet ice tea

SIMPLE PEACH SWEET TEA RECIPE

click here for the no bake recipe

summer entertaining centerpiece

My favorite summer centerpieces

Summer centerpieces are the easiest to put together.

Mostly because I just shop my yard.

I use tree branches and flowers that are in season and ivy and whatever else the yard decides to put on sale.

Looking for simple summer entertaining ideas for the table?

Here are four of my favorites.

summer entertaining centerpieces

EMBROIDERY HOOP CENTERPIECE

see the tutorial for the centerpiece here

summer entertaining summer table

GROCERY STORE FLOWERS CENTERPIECE

see the rest of the dining room here

DOUGH BOWL FULL OF FLOWERS

see the rest of the dining room here

SIMPLE SUMMER CENTERPIECE WITH SCOTCH TAPE

see the rest of the dining room here

My favorite summer entertaining dining room DIY’s

Sometimes the dining room needs a little refresh.

Nothing fancy.

Nothing that takes away from an afternoon nap and a really good book. Just simple summer projects to make your summer entertaining easier—most that you can complete in under an hour.

Here are five of my favorites.

summer entertaining diy

HOW TO COVER A BUTTON

click here for the DIY

SIMPLE POM POM PILLOW FOR YOUR DINING CHAIRS

click here for the DIY

HOW TO MAKE A DIY CHARGER

click here for the DIY

DIY MONOGRAMMED BURLAP VASE

click here for the tutorial

DIY TOPIARY WITH REAL IVY

click here to see the tutorial

My favorite outdoor dining ideas

There’s nothing like eating outside on a summer evening.

It makes everything taste fancier.

Every gas station pizza.

Looking for simple outdoor dining ideas?

Here are four of my favorites.

BLUE AND WHITE OUTDOOR DINING

click here to see the rest of the table ideas

GRAY AND WHITE OUTDOOR DINING

click here to see the rest of dining ideas

BRIGHT AND COLORFUL OUTDOOR SEATING

see the rest of the outdoor seating here

BLACK AND WHITE OUTDOOR SEATING

click here to see the rest of the post

My favorite ways to decorate for summer for FREE

Let’s talk FREE decorating.

Yep.

My favorite subject.

Ever in the history of ever.

Looking for some free summer decorating ideas?

Here are four of my favorites.

SHOP YOUR YARD

see how to decorate with branches here

SHOP YOUR REFRIGERATOR

add a bowl full of apples to the countertop

SHOP YOUR DISCARDED BRANCHES

click here to make this simple twig vase

SHOP YOUR CLOSETS

click here to make these spray painted baskets

Whew.

That was a LOT of ideas.

21 ideas to be exact.

I hope your summer is full of projects and decorating and entertaining ideas just like these.

I hope your summer is full of lazy days and lightning bugs and really good books.

But most of all?

I hope all those summer days ahead are full of blue skies and sunshine.

PS Looking for more summer ideas? Here’s one of my favorite Pinterest boards full of them.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Comments

  1. Image for Cheryl W Cheryl W

    I LOVE and appreciate your blog. And your personality! I understand the necessity of the ads. But I wish they could be corralled on a sidebar instead of being inserted between each and every photo and comment because it makes the blog so difficult to read! Even as I am typing this I get interrupted by a pop-up at the bottom of the blog and have to go back and click in the comment area to continue. Sometimes I just give up trying to find the photo to match the comment. Help!

  2. Image for Jodena Beale Jodena Beale

    Some really fun ideas for Summer. Wish it even felt like Spring here in Ohio. 😫 I like the choc cake in a jar but I think Im gonna try it with a bought small choc cake instead of grahams. Thanks for sharing daily with us. Karianne, one of the things I love about your blog is, its stuff most anyone can afford. Some of the others show their homes saying how simple it is to get your home like theirs. But then their home items are from places like Serena and Lily, 8000.00 sofa and high priced pictures. Most of us cant afford that. So thank you for being so down to earth with those of us who can only afford "down to earth living". Happy Friday Jodena

  3. Image for Mary Miller Mary Miller

    Love your house and all your ideas. Need your opinion……..I am having my living room painted and trying to make some changes to it. I have a 1980 oak pie safe in my dining room and wondering if I could use it In my living room. It has glass on top section and punched tin on the bottom. What’s your opinion? P.S. I used the bright white in my kitchen you suggested and love it.

  4. Image for Teresa Gonzales Teresa Gonzales

    Love the ideas for summer. I love to serve desserts in mason jars, actually use all size of mason jars for different individual food serving. Thanks for sharing so many ideas!

  5. Image for Kay Kay

    I have made several attempts to receive your "5 simple steps to make your life easier" And have never received it in my e-mail. Please check this for me. Thank you

Comments are closed.