As summer rolls around and the days get hotter, we once again get the urge to celebrate the changing of the seasons. After all, with each one comes something different to love. For summer, it’s the long days at the beach, and the bright, sunny skies that puts everyone in a better state of mind.
And the best way to celebrate is to decorate your home for the season, though it can be hard to know where to start. Fortunately, we have 21 easy summer decor ideas to brighten up your home and inspire your own creativity.
Let’s start at the front.
1. A Summertime Doormat
A new doormat is a great way to switch things up for guests approaching your home—or even yourself after a long day of work or a trip to the store. Look for a mat with bright colors, summer foliage, or a sunny image. You can even get a customizable mat online to choose a welcome message that suits you.
2. A Floral Door Wreath
When your guests raise their eyes from your doormat, give them something beautiful to look at with a floral door wreath. You may keep flowers in your home or garden, but this is a great place for them too. And if you’re feeling up to it, this can be a fun DIY project as well.
Your guests and neighbors will certainly appreciate the summer cheer.
3. Wind Chimes
Wind chimes dangling on your front porch are another lovely addition. There’s nothing better than feeling a cool breeze and listening as they sing their gentle music.
Do you sometimes leave your doors or windows open to let in the fresh air? You can also hang wind chimes inside your home. If you do this, avoid hanging them close to your air vents. When your air conditioning works hard (as it does in the summer), you don’t want to hear them all the time.
4. Decor With Bright, Bold Colors
In your house’s main rooms, try swapping out items with neutral shades for bright, bold colors. Yellow and sky blue are reminiscent of summer, and it’s easy to include them in your summer living room decor. Even something small, like a bold blanket thrown over the couch, can make a world of difference.
5. Indoor Plants
Indoor plants are a great way to freshen up the air in your home. Although it’s tempting to stay outside in the summer, it’s not always possible. Some of us have to work indoors or have other responsibilities, and sometimes the heat is simply too much.
Adding more houseplants to your home is a great way to make it look and smell like an outdoorsy summer day.
Important: If you have pets, make sure to choose pet-friendly plants that aren’t toxic to cats and dogs.
6. A Beachy Theme
If you want it to really look like summer inside your house, why not create a loose beach theme? Add some seaside art to the walls, get a couple of rugs that look like the classic striped beach towels, or decorate your shelves and tables with seashells. Even subtle touches will remind you and your guests of lying on the sand under the hot sun.
7. Summer Pinwheels
For a creative summer decor idea that doubles as a fun craft, put some pinwheels together in a vase or pretty container. Combine yellow, white, and blue to keep to a beachy theme, or have fun with other bright colors, and place them around the house.
Pinwheels provide a similar feeling to flowers but don’t require special care—perfect for those who have bad luck with plants.
8. Paper Lanterns
Paper lanterns are fun for special occasions but also make excellent summer home decor. They are easy to make on your own, or you can buy them online.
For summer-themed lanterns, pick warm colors. A combination of soft yellows, burnt oranges, and bright reds will add the perfect contrast and match the tone of the warmer months.
9. Seashells
If you take your kids to the beach over summer break or go there on a romantic date, why not pick up some seashells and use them to decorate the house?
You can string shells up on the walls, hang them in front of windows, or use larger ones as decorative ornaments on shelves. You can also paint seashells for a fun family activity.
10. Decorative Summer Pillows
Pillows are a quick and easy way to decorate any sofa, bed, or chair in the house that you want to spruce up to be more seasonally appropriate. If you love loud summer decoration ideas, pick some sunny imagery or add to your beach theme. If you prefer a more minimalist approach, use light colors or simple patterns instead.
11. Nautical Coasters
Don’t forget to swap out your coasters for some with summer scenery. Although you can choose a bright, sunny landscape or plain, bright colors, a nautical theme is a fun twist that still feels like summer—especially if you’ve taken on other beach decor.
12. Decorative Garlands
Decorative garlands strung up around your house or patio are another great way to display flowers. This tip is particularly great if you love the cottagecore trend. Depending on the flowers and garland you choose, you might feel like a summertime fairy.
If you live with others, keep garland out of the reach of curious children and pets. It makes a beautiful addition as long as it’s out of mischief’s reach.
13. A Rose Gold Dining Set
Of course, there are summer touches you can add to the kitchen too. While most people have silver cutlery, it’s a color that doesn’t necessarily represent summer. So, why not switch to a rose gold dining set for the season?
This light, warm color will do wonders for your mood each time you prepare food to eat. (And, every dinner guest you have will envy you.)
14. A Drink Station
When you return from work or complete chores, chances are, you’ll be hot and thirsty. Having a drink station set up in the kitchen or even on a bar table where you entertain guests is a gamechanger. Water is a must, but lemonade is another summertime favorite.
15. A Centerpiece
If you often sit down to eat as a family or host guests, a summertime centerpiece for your table is another great add. Bright, fresh flowers look great, or you can design your own summer-themed piece.
If you have younger kids, let them contribute too; it’ll fill your heart every time you see it.
16. Colorful Bedding
Decorating for summer doesn’t have to be confined to the main areas of your home. Why not get some colorful bedding too? Swap your white covers for a yellow set that brings summer cheer to the bedroom. Forest green or floral prints are a couple of other fun options.
17. Blinds Over Blackout Curtains
If you have blackout curtains in your bedrooms, consider putting them away for the season and using light blinds instead. Waking up to complete darkness can feel disorienting at the best of times, and in the summer, it’s not a great start to the day.
You can still close the blinds, but some sunlight streaming through will help you wake up in the morning and make the most of the long days.
18. A New Shower Curtain
When it comes to bathroom decor, a new shower curtain is an easy way to upgrade your bathroom for the summer months (and it may be time for a replacement anyway).
Go with fun colors, or pick a curtain with a beachy or underwater picture. If you’re feeling really fun, you can get a beach-scented bathroom spray and seashell-shaped soap bar.
19. Outdoor Lighting
One of the best parts of summer is enjoying your backyard long into the evening rather than rushing inside because it’s getting too dark or cold. When these warm nights roll around, you can really spruce up your yard with the right outdoor lighting.
There are plenty of ways to light up your yard or patio to make everything seem more magical, from floodlights to fairy lights. Play with different intensities and colors to create an atmosphere that will encourage you to enjoy the outdoors more this season.
20. Outdoor Furniture
While there are many small ways to make your house feel more like summer, you might be looking for larger changes too. If that’s the case, consider upgrading your outdoor furniture.
While you might be happy sitting on the grass with a book and a glass of wine, there’s something special to be said about having a chair to lounge on and a table to set your drink on, too. For added guest value or fun family nights, set some chairs up around a fire pit or in a conversation circle.
21. A Hammock
Have a shaded spot in your yard? Put up a hammock! Not only do hammocks make great decor, but it gives you a place to lie down, drink your lemonade, and relax.
If you don’t have a shaded area, you can still put up a hammock; just be careful to use sunscreen and avoid staying out in the direct sun for too long.
Use Summer Decor That Suits Your Style
Some people love loud, busy decor and want to go all out for every season. There are plenty of maximalist summer decorations for the home, from beachy everything to bold color choices. But even if you don’t want to do too much or prefer a more minimalist style, there are plenty of softer ways to make your house look great too.
Either way, your house will feel like a summer haven in no time. The important thing is that you continue to create a home you want to live in.