Spruce Up Your Space for Summer with These Five Design Tips

Summer is an easy season to love. Who doesn’t enjoy vacations, relaxing by the water, and basking in the warm glow of long sunny days?

As you wrap up your spring cleaning and dust off the patio furniture, it’s a great time to give your home a mini summer makeover.

You’ve already packed up the blankets and thick decor that make your house so cozy in the colder months.  Now it’s time to bring a little of that summer sunshine into the house.

Here are a few inexpensive ways to brighten up your home and add a little summer to your everyday design:

  1. Go wild!

    What says summertime better than a glimpse of the wildlife that’s frolicking around in the yard? (Don’t call the taxidermist – we’re not talking about a giant stuffed turkey or a mounted deer!)  The wildlife motif is crazy popular right now, so you’ll be able to find pillows, fabrics, art and decor with just about any kind of bird or animal you like.  A word of caution – you don’t have to go crazy and cover an entire room in butterflies to make it feel like summer.  Choose a fabulous accent piece or a great pillow that you can swap out for something more seasonal when fall comes around.

  2. Live a Little!

    One of the best things about summer is how very alive everything is. The trees, the grass, the plants – they all come back to life after a long winter of hibernation. Many folks choose to move their indoor plants outside for summer – a good idea if they’ve been crowding your living space and mucking up your design. Try adding a little life to your interior design with a well-placed and nicely-potted plant, or even better, a lovely terrarium full of beautiful succulents.

  3. Make a Splash!

    It’s hard to imagine a great summer without a body of water, whether yours is a lake, an ocean or just a swimming pool in the backyard. Bring that love of water indoors with elements that remind you of surf, sand and sea. Seashells, coral, nautical decor and even vintage beach signs add a whimsical and fun touch to a room’s design, even if it’s just for the summer.

  4. Be a Flower Child!

    Live flowers are affordable and easy to find in the summer, so why not make them a regular part of your design? Use live flowers – or well-made silks – to create interesting and bold centerpieces, wreaths and swags. Don’t be boring! Choose unique receptacles and mix up the arrangements.  This is your chance to be an artist! Bright, colorful flowers will instantly liven up your space and put a smile on your face every time you walk into the room.

  5. Embrace the Rainbow!

    Color is everywhere in summer – the grass seems greener, the sky seems bluer, and the sun seems its’ brightest yellow and orange. Turn up the color inside your home with pops of bright hues that remind you of being outdoors. Choose brightly colored pillows, rugs, pillar candles or vases to instantly liven up your mood and the entire room.