Looking for some summer decorating ideas for the living room? Oh, good. This post has tons of summer decorating tips and ideas and inspiration just for you.
Do you have any decorators that live in your house?
You know.
All the people with the big opinions who eat raisin bran and wear summer headbands and never miss an episode of the Bachelorette and leave their stinky shoes under the coffee table.
Those people.
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that when I gave birth to two tiny blonde-haired blue-eyed littles with their tiny hands and their ballerina toes, one day I would be getting free decorating advice from them.
Unsolicited.
Free of charge.
Gratuitous.
And the best part?
They were pointing their toes while they were advicing it.
Here is my living room all decked out for summer.
If you have followed this blog for more than a hot minute you know that this room has been a challenge for me. I’ve painted the walls two different colors and changed out the rug and hung at least SEVEN different things on the wall and painted the coffee table and then took the paint off the coffee table.
All in a vain attempt to fall in love with the room.
Please tell me I’m not alone.
Please tell me you have a room like this.
A room that you have changed out the table and repainted the space and switched things around and added new accessories.
And after all that changing?
You can’t put your finger on it, but you just feel like something isn’t decorating right.
If you’ve ever felt like this, then you understand me when I say…
….I’m changing up this room again.
For summer my heart was wanting light and bright and airy.
Just in case you’ve never been here before? Texas is hot. Wait. That didn’t explain it properly. Texas is HOT or HOOOOOOOOOOT.
And when it’s hot?
You want your living room to feel cool.
We painted the walls SW Extra White.
They were SW Mindful Gray before and I loved it, but this room doesn’t get a lot of natural light and I wanted to bring as much light as I could into the space.
I found these incredible pieces of over-sized art and hung them on the wall and added new lamps to the tables on the back of the couch.
I love the brass frames and the delicate sketches.
I changed out the hutch that was in the corner that never really worked for me. It was so pretty, but it was too small and too fancy for the space. I found this hutch at a local thrift store on sale and transformed it into a farmhouse hutch.
And then?
For summer decorating ideas? I just shopped the house for everything else.
I brought down the rug from Westleigh’s room and switched out another rug for her space.
I added new accessories and fresh flowers and changed up a few pillows.
The vases are from the front living room and the white pieces on the coffee table are from the bookshelves upstairs.
The brass picture frames in the corner are from the bathroom.
And shopping on and on.
And when I was done?
When I had arranged the last flower and fluffed the last pillow and tucked the throws on the side of the couch, the twins burst through the door full of laughter and giggles and conversation about their day at VBS.
And mid-conversation, they paused.
And stared wide-eyed at the living room.
And then they looked at each other and back at me.
“MOM,” they said. “MOOOOOM.”
I braced myself for the unsolicited decorating advice and opinions on my summer decorating ideas. Would it be good? Would they like it? Would they turn up their nose and start fixing macaroni and cheese?”
“WE LOVE IT MOM,” they said. “Seriously. It’s the best the living room has looked. And those pictures are so pretty.”
And with that—they twirled their way out of the room.
I let out the breath I didn’t even know I was holding and smiled.
I was so happy.
They liked it.
They really, really liked it.
Sometimes unsolicited decorating advice is the best.
Especially when it comes with choreography. 🙂
PS Buddy told me (unsolicited of course) that he loves it too.
Bravo! Now pour yourself some pink champagne and celebrate this lovely room! The red and pink flowers are as pretty as you! Stay cool and cheers to a happy summer!
Gorgeous!!! I feel cool just looking at it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is blazing hot here too. You get the humidity which totally zaps you-feeling cool is so important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes have had a room that I could not get right....took me years of moving things around to get it where you are now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Congratulations you have a winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh sweet! I do love this light and airy look. I'm repainting my walls from Mindful Grey also! I'm in love with a white wall. The art is incredible and the serene feeling in the room is amazing. Believe me, I know first hand the heat of Texas. Now you just need some sweet tea and a fan blowing directly at you. Nancy
And the sweet girls are right! It's so peaceful and calming! And the pops of color in the flowers adds the perfect touch! Now can I come over for tea? With lime of course, lol!
Love, love, love it!! So airy!! So fresh!! Just a delight!! xoxo
Love the light airy look. The only thing that feels "warm" are the fuzzy sweater pillows and warm looking blankets. I might look for something a tad lighter in "feel". Hope you don't mind that suggestion. I love the pictures behind the sofa and the white walls and different rug. Perfection!
Your room looks amazing, as always. Would you please tell me where you got your fringed basket next to the striped chair? Thanks.
Oh, out of the mouths of babes! I love hearing about your relationship with your sweet girls. My sweet girl is a mother of her own two little opinionated girls. The room is lovely, but it really doesn't matter what I think or what your girls think. I am so happy YOU are HAPPY with it! Bravo KariAnne!
Love this...I have been changing the whole main floor of our house into this soothing creamy palette, but do have some black accents because kitchen counters are soapstone and there is a lot of openness visually. Today we are getting estimates to sand our oak floors (not happy about oak...they are gold looking) and putting on a clear flat finish so they are pale. That is what has kept all the rooms from looking right around here! So lovely to have your girls there as your home cheerleaders.
LOVE IT!! LOVE YOUR STYLE! LOVE YOU! LOVE that even the dog matches too! ;)
It is a beautiful space!! I love your hutch and THAT RUG!!! The pops of color from the plants are beautiful too! You always impress KariAnne!
Girlfriend, I am all about the pointing-of-the-toes while giving advice - I never get it any other way! And Buddy looks awesome as an accessory!
So lovely! What a successful shift to a cool and neutral environment that still exudes warmth🙌.
KariAnne, your room is the perfect cool relaxing room you had intended when you changed things up. Just looking at Buddy says it all, he should know, he is content with where he’s at!
Love where you put the repurposed hutch! Much better proportion for the room, IMO. I use SW white too. I think it’s just right with all the blue I have. I can’t imagine the excessive heat but we have very cold weather in the winter and the white works even then. Your room is YOU, of course until the next time you need a project! I love your projects!
Love it!
Lookin’ good!!! Like you said....sometimes it takes a few tries. Whenever I get stumped,I have to step away and take a break. I’ll be busy doing something else and ideas will come to me. Then I shop my house and make it happen. Sometimes there’s a purchase involved but I really feel good when I can re locate favorite things 💜 Awesome that you have two cute decorators for input!
I agree with the twins! It's lovely in every way. Did you do a post on stripping ypur coffee table that I missed? I've got a table and four chairs that are looking to me for some help!
I love it. I was going to purchase the blue rug from Walmart. What size rug is in your living room? It looks bigger than a 5x8. Thanks. Sue G
WOW .....BEAUTIFUL. I like this Living Room better even though I love every post you put on here. I am wondering if you ever sleep, eat, rest or just take a break. It appears to me you go constantly. I am tired when I look at your post everyday and see all you have done. It is all lovely. I live in Texas, born and raised here and it is HOT but I suppose I am accustomed to it.
I love it that you added a little VBS into the room! My girl came home and did the same thing today—VBS stories over lunch 😀
Well I had to go back few steps to see what it looked like before ....but yes I really like it. I like the rug, the pictures the paint color , the coffee table , the pillows....lets see did I forget anything ? O Yes Buddy.....you know I love him !
Yes, I have a room like that. The one that just doesn't feel right. But I know the culprit. My sofa. I bought it when my daughter was in third grade. She's now close to 30, with a beautiful baby boy. As much as I try to decorate around this dilapidated monstrosity, it still looks awful. So imagine my delight when hubby mentioned buying a new sofa. Yes, yes! He finally sees the need to replace the 1990's, sagging, perpetually dirty sofa! Yeah! So I'm looking forward to re-doing my room for summer too. But I am not soliciting decorating advice (ha). I love the light, bright look of your room. It is perfect for your hot Texas summers.
Bravo, KariAnne! You’ve pleased the teens! (No small feat!) The flowers add a wonderful pop of color. I live in Charleston SC and understand HOT (and humid!) Excuse me for adding more unsolicited free advice 🥴 .... but .... I use lots of big green plants and it really gives our rooms a cool, airy feel. Just a thought!
Yes, its hot here, too! Had I known you were going w SW Extra White in your living room, I would have copied! But just purchased SW Pure White last week during the 40% off sale. Maybe the ceiling will be Extra White. Great to get the teen stamp of approval!
okay that little grey table in the corner between the sofas. Was that an "heirloom" piece? My parents had something like that from the 1970's. It was dark maple, Early American vibe like I love lucy's farmhouse in Connecticut. laura
Trust your instincts and don't second guess yourself. The room is just right. I could be in that room for hours.
Do you have before photos? I don't recall what this room looked like...what it decorated with the blue rug, and blue accents?
Teresa, I should have added some before photos! Good idea! Here's a post from Christmas with before photos of the room. https://thistlewoodfarms.com/when-your-christmas-decorating-cant-make-up-its-mind/ Happy day friend! KariAnne
Hit send too soon! Lovely room!
Everything looks GREAT!! The only question I have is; Who helped you move all the big pieces? If the girls were not home, did your sons help? I know I move things around by sliding them on small rugs or blankets but your room size rug from upstairs to downstairs and the hutch are a bit big and cumbersome. Great job!!
It really DOES look fabulous, Mom! I would do some dancing but I broke my stupid toe yesterday. My dancing days are over for a minute. Well done, KA - looks fresh and cool and summery and divine. Now go fix yourself a sweet tea and enjoy for a moment the goodness. : - ) ♥
Love it! I’m trying to decide if I truly can go white for walls in my dining room that is the darkest room in the house. You always inspire. And those cute daughters have inherited their sweet Mom’s design gifting. So glad they loved it! What’s not to love?!!
love the prints, can you tell me where you found them?
Yes, I love it, too. But, it is so generic, and bland. No personality. I want to see what you read, who you... are with collected accessories. I am too old for these posts. I love when a home showed personality. This could be one of a thousand rooms.
KariAnne, I love your summer décor! As usual, you have done a fabulous job of decorating! Love how your twins reacted! Those gals are precious -- and you are, too! Thanks, again, for always sharing your decorating talents with us! We appreciate you so much! That picture with Buddy is so cute! Glad that Buddy is doing well. Have a wonderful weekend!
😚 I love it too! I totally understand how you wanted it to be lightened up, where I live in CA it is incredibly hot like 110 hot, I usually keep it light bright and white too. Who does all your lugging around? moving a large rug is not for sissies especially from upstairs to downstairs! no gym needed for you, you get your workout with all the creative ideas you install from your heart to your home.
So so pretty! And another example of flowers making the room. Or at least completing the room. For me, anyway. Bravo!
Beautiful! You definitely achieved that light, bright and airy look which is perfect for summer! And I love the pops of pink too. So sweet! xoxo