When the weather heats up, we start dreaming of garden parties, barbecues, and afternoon teas. Summer’s a prime time for entertaining, but you need to make sure your home’s refreshed and up to the task. Here are a few decorating ideas to get those feel-good summer vibes, without breaking the bank.
1. Brighten reception rooms with botanicals.
Summer beckons us outside into the garden, to enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. You can bring the outdoors in by dressing up reception areas with nature-inspired elements. Vases filled with freshly picked flowers, colorful floral prints and bowls of fresh fruit help create this vibe. Look for decorative rugs and throw pillows in botanical prints, and adorn the walls with natural drawings. You can get creative with this to match the overall décor in your home, whether it’s adding a sleek bamboo floor mat or pot of calla lilies in the corner.
2. Add splashes of citrus.
Bowls of oranges, lemons, and grapefruits look zesty in the summer months and smell divine. Citrus is a natural fit for summertime entertaining, so look for accent dishes in warm citrus hues or patterned with your choice of fruit. If you’re having friends over, you can create a small bar on a side table with glass bottles, citrus-themed glassware, and a summery serving tray.
3. Bring the sea into your home.
We’d all love to spend the entirety of the summer soaking up rays on a sandy beach. If you can’t get away, the next best thing is to bring the charm of the seaside into your home. Treat guests to splashes of an ocean breeze home fragrance in the entryway. You can also display decorative shells in your home. Try planting succulents in a larger-sized shell for a look that’s both on-trend and seasonal.
4. Create kid-friendly outdoor areas.
With children out of school, it’s important to create some kid-friendly areas in the home to keep little fingers busy and happy! You can transform a spare corner into an exciting craft area with plenty of art supplies. Kids love spending time outdoors, so you could also jazz up your garden to make it a place they’ll want to spend time in. Create a dress-up area with funny costumes, convert a garden shed into a playhouse, or create sports areas for practicing football skills.
5. Lighten up furniture.
Dark tones look great in the winter months, but we like to keep it easy and breezy in the summertime. It’s easy to mix up your furniture for entertaining with linen slipcovers or a few cream-coloured throws. Neutrals like these make your home feel more like a holiday rental rather than your everyday dwelling, and put guests in the summer party mood.
With a few tweaks to your usual décor, you’ll be able to get your home summer party-ready. Throw open the windows to air everything out and let those summer breezes flow.