10 Summer Decorating Tips

{image via}

Every year around this time, I have the major summer itch.  School is almost out and even the nights are warm.  I’m ready for cool drinks by the water and summery nights lit up by fireflies.  There’s magic to be found in the long summer days.

And of course, I always like to style my home for the seasons.  This year, I have the perfect excuse to ready my house for summer.

Next week, I’ll be participating in Gina of The Shabby Creek Cottage’s Summer Tour of Homes.

I feel honored to be sharing my summer home along with 24 AMAZING other bloggers!

Summer decorating can be a little more difficult than other seasons, I think.  I mean fall and Christmas is a bit obvious, though I love some out of the box holiday decor.

For summer, I’m hoping to create a home that feels fresh and really evokes the relaxed, lazy, and warm feelings of the season.

Here are 10 summer decorating tips that I’ve come up with that I’ll be using in my summer home tour next week!

{image via}

While I’m actually a bit tempted, I will not be redoing our entire home to be all white.

We already do have a lot of white with the all-white walls, but my goal will be to soften even more.  Though I think this all-white room above is lovely and brave.

I tend to lean toward heavy textures and dark accents.  I won’t be getting rid of them completely, but again, soften.

{image via}

I know this one isn’t revolutionary, but it has to be said.

Nothing says summer decorating like infusing your home with life.  I’ll be relying heavily on green plants to brighten and bring the outdoors in.

{image via}

When I hear summer, I think of the lake and the beach.  I think of blue waters in every shade lapping up against the shore.  Few things are more relaxing.

What better way to bring summer into your home than by bringing the feeling of cool, blue waters inside.  It works out well that blue is my favorite color.  I’ll be bringing her into my decor in multiple shades.

{image via}

On that lovely blue base I’m using in my color palette, I’m going to layer some other colors on top.

I love how this image is mainly blue, but has purple and pink layered in.   This is my favorite way to do color…in layers and textures rather than in one huge pop.

 These next two could really go together, but since the pattern is different, I’m going to separate.

{image via}

I know this trend isn’t new, not even close, but oh I still love it.

I love how it seems to bring in a pop of color organically and the splash of color against white screams summer.

{image via}

Tie dye.

Y’all know I love tie-dye.

The saturated color against white feels like summer to me, just like dip dying.  But it’s a bit more than that with tie dye.  Tie dye evokes a feeling.  Tie dye makes me think flowy, hippie, relaxed…all things that mean summer to me.

 I’ll be using the same method as my curtains and runner for a new project for my summer tour.  And this project will give me the in-progress shots that were lost in my SD card debacle, so a tutorial for all of these will finally be coming next week!

{images via here and here}

Summer decorating wouldn’t be complete without a little floral.  I used to LOVE floral.  Like I wanted a vintage floral couch, love.  Now, my love for it is a bit subtle, but I still love it in touches.

Summer decorating is all about bringing the outdoors in and nothing does that like lovely floral patterns.

{image via}

Oh that I could recreate this exact moment in my backyard.  The blog would hate it because all I would do for the summer months is this right here.

But since I can’t bring a tropical beach, palm trees, and a macrame hammock that barely brushes the water to my downtown Greenville backyard, I’ll do the next best thing.

Macrame.

I love the bright, white and knotted texture.

{image via}

I know.  Sand dollars and shells aren’t necessarily a fresh take on summer decorating, but I have a little project up my sleeve with these.   And sometimes these tried and true beauties bring summer in like nothing else.

And last, but not least…

{image via}

This one is a bit different than the others.

For me, the lake is my happy place.  You can read more about our lake house and what it means to me here, but let’s just say that this place has my heart.

So, this last point is about channeling your happy place.  Channel that place that holds the most summer memories for you. 

My sister and I grew up on the shores of Lake Keowee and when I think of summer, my heart immediately starts craving this spot.

So, I’ll be bringing in things that remind me of this place and channels the memories and spirit that it holds.

I can’t wait to get my decorating on this weekend!  My tour will go live next Thursday, but there will be awesome tours all week!  Make sure you follow along.

Here’s the amazing schedule to get you excited:

Monday, June 2nd

The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Nester
At The Picket Fence 
Thistlewood Farms
The Inspired Room

Tuesday, June 3rd

The Handmade Home
My Fabuless Life
Finding Home
In My Own Style
The Hunted Interior

Wednesday, June 4th

Inspired By Charm
Jennifer Rizzo
Madigan Made
Makely School for Girls
Funky Junk Interiors

Thursday, June 5th

Jones Design Company
Beneath My Heart
The Pennington Point
White Buffalo Styling Co.
Southern Hospitality

Friday, June 6th

At the Picket Fence (Heather)
Desert Domicile
Tatertots & Jello
Home Stories A to Z
Live Laugh Rowe