Today I’m joining a fun group of bloggers for Project Design.. and today’s subject is Summer Decor Refresh. Having a deadline to share ideas here got me into gear getting the house freshened up. There have been a few things laying around, piles of winter blankets, wool pillow and a lot of clutter we just don’t need.
Summer has come upon us so fast. I noticed our local schools are out and everyone seems to be breathing a sort of collective sigh. Kids are playing in sprinklers, people are taking late evening strolls and lining up for ice cream in the evenings. This time of year goes fast, so why not make our homes have that happy vacation vibe too? Have some fun with this and think of it as ‘staging’ your home, but for your enjoyment… some ideas I’ll share.
Ways to bring a summer vibe to your home..
Bring the outside in. Get some pretty woven baskets ( I like these from Target) and drop in a snake plants or a monstera which are low care and look fantastic. I just added both of those plants. Think beach house. On my coffee table where plants tend to die, I added a faux green branch and a driftwood stick we treasure in a modern glass vase. The natural stick with the faux looks richer and gives a fresh pop to the table.
I also just got this Beaufort Tray I’ve been coveting from Serena & Lily and it was just what I needed here to lighten it and give it a California feel. I added a coral on top of these books and have some of my favorite shells scattered about. Pottery Barn also has these lovely real shells that you can add to vases or bowls.
Lighten up. Clear the floors and put away extra rugs. I love the feel of bare floor underfoot in the summer and rolled my extra throw rugs away until colder months. My faux fur throws and wool blankets got stored and we now have our linen and cotton throws by the sectional and in our basket. I love this PB throw which is perfect for a summer chair or sofa.. My wool and heavy pillows are replaced with some lighter block print and linen ones.
In my dining room I changes out a darker rug with a light colored cotton/wool Kilim style rug I’ve been saving for… which just arrived! I love as it lightens the whole house. Nice that this is a two-sided rug that I hope will last a long time!
Soften your bedding. This is a nice time to change out your duvet or heavy comforter with a cotton matelasse quilt and crisp white sheets. I’ve just taken all my older white sets out of storage and washed them with oxyclean to brighten them up. I tie them with a ribbon and place lavender sachets with them. I love white sheets in the summer. This Celeste Cotton quilt is my summer bed cover and in the winter I layer it with my duvet. Love this and it feels like a cloud.
Declutter. Go through the house and see what items can be put away for the season. Too often we live with ‘stuff’ because it’s just always there. If you walk through your home and try and put away one or two things on each surface. Summer is all about breathing room. If you must have stuff out, try basketizing things. A pretty basket can help corral mail, papers, keys and things and and looks calmer. I also switch up my books and put any summer themed books front and center.
Add in natural materials. Think island living type of materials, which give a vacation vibe. This is a good time to pull out baskets, rattan pieces, cane anything, and things with a woven feel or natural wood. I have my market baskets and hats by the door with my linen pillows I have collected over the years from Patine in Santa Cruz. I find the coolest baskets can be found at thrift and second hand stores, so keep your eyes open for those unique pieces.
I moved a floral print and a rope basket by the door. I have a faux air plant here and a chunk of coral on my books here. If you style your home as you would a vacation getaway, it will have that feel!
Don’t forget the kitchen. I love my black dishes and things, but for summer they go in the drawer and I pull out my Italian pottery bowls from Positano. Also helping with the holiday home feel are my travel souvenir tea towels, summer themed cookbooks, and a couple new plants with trailing vines. Don’t discount the produce section for decor. I love big bowls of summer peaches and apricots and baskets of tomatoes and pots of basil. They also make the kitchen smell amazing.
Give a summer welcome. Add fresh plants to your porch or entry to set the tone for your home. An easy care geranium or asparagus fern needs almost no effort and feels summertime pretty. I like extra baskets for your delivery packages or flip flops. If you need a mat, I love the look of a braided grass coir mat. You might consider adding a lantern or two with an automatic candle for that evening flicker.
I find if your treat you home like a holiday house, your summer days can feel like a vacation!
Summer home things I love…
Please go hop on over to these fab blogs and see what spring refresh ideas they have for your home. All of these women have such great ideas and style…
Kim
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Love this post and your beautiful home. Could you please share the source for the vase on your entry table?
Thank you.
Hi Sylvia, Thank you so very much! The vase is older and I think I got it at a florist. I found something similar here in two sizes at H&M..
https://rstyle.me/+ROj9BYfajODTizLd2ciVVg
Hope this helps! x
HOW lovely, Kim!! The textures are great and I love your new rug. It’s so perfect…I’d love it in our living room.
Miss you!
Mary Ann
Thanks Mary Ann. I was saving for it! I think its pulled the colors we have together! It seems long wearing too. Miss you too. Loved seeing your house! xx
Loving the summer house suggestions, Kim!! The new rug looks fab and so does the new tray!! xo
Thanks so much Tracy.. Things I was saving for! xo
Kim, I love all your summer touches throughout your home! That big floral print is very cool! xx
Thanks Annie. This entry needed something. Your friend’s shed is adorable and I wish I had that!!
No wonder you were up LATE last night!
I know because of the Instagram comment!!
Hope you got to sleep in!
You are ready for summer!!
Xxx
I know.. I had three posts this week and I am hoping to sleep in one day! xo
Love your summer looks in your home. That tray is perfect! Who couldn’t use a tray like that for anywhere in their home!
Thanks Carla! Love that tray and saved for it! Kind of a splurge, but I think I will use it for many years. I LOVE your post and the great ideas.. especially your tables. xo
Kim, your house definitely looks ready for Summer…so light and bright! Can I ask where you got the rug in your entryway? I am looking for one in those colors for our office. I scored a large coral at the Salvation Army on Saturday for $15.00. I asked this woman that was sitting by it if she was buying it and she said yes. When I was in line I happened to glance over and the coral was still there and the woman was already ahead of me checking out so I ran back and got it!
Linda
Hi Linda, Thank you! The little rug is from World Market ( I call it Cost Plus still) and is thin so my door can open over it. I do love the colors and it’s worn well. You can find it here:
https://rstyle.me/+1lI-6pPjddXE1fHptBQc5g
Yay for scoring the coral! I think they are so cool. You never know what you will find at thrift places! They are so good xo
Ahhh … what a breath of fresh air! Your home is so lovely, Kim. So California, casual and chic. I’m so into your new Serena & Lily tray. You’ve given me some great ideas for shushing up our interiors for summer. I’d better get to work! xo
Juliet, thanks.. Just a few new plants and things, but my tray does make it feel beach and summery more. xo
Hi Kim
I commented right off the bat after we posted and my comment disappeared. I am so sorry. I love every detail in your home. It is the epitome of California Relaxed Style. Your home is like a resort. You are so on brand. I love that rug in your dining room. I need to purchase some rugs but they are such an investment. With two old animals, I am kind of reluctant to do so just yet.
Cindy do not worry! I loved doing this with you all! I hear you about pets and rugs. So far, wool and wool blends have been better for me than polyester and synthetics as far as stain removal. The nice thing about my new rug is it’s reversible because at some point, I may want to flip it!
xo
Hi Kim,
Well I’m ready for a vacation and your home looks like the perfect spot. Ha ha!
Really though, you’ve made everything look so perfect for a California summer. I always change the decor seasonally, and just need to roll the wool rug up. It’s so heavy and it’s so hot today that I may need to wait to finish that task. I may go back in and reduce some of the color in y living room too, after seeing how soothing and calm a neutral look can be. I like all your special touches. You know I adore you and your beautiful home.
Great post Kim!
Xo Heidi
I rolled up my big wool one and Max says I’ll throw that in the shed…I said no way is that a going with the tools and bugs! So trying to find a spot to store mine today. I do love a calm beachy feel in the summer, but your home and all its blues is that way- so pretty. xx
Kim, I love all of your summer touches! The coral the shells, baskets, I love it all.
While we are under construction the only thing I am decorating is the outside where I spend a lot of time. I am fighting daily with the deer to leave my plants alone and each day that I wake up and there are still flowers is a good day.
I cut big bunches of herbs and whatever flower is blooming and set them in vase around the house for color and life.
I am a little weird about bedding. I cannot sleep in the winter or the summer without my down blanket. I change out the colors of the sheets and the accent pillows and quilts but I can’t let go of the down. This year I changed from winter weight down to summer weight.
I love the idea of rolling up the rugs in the summer! I am going to try that next year.
Have a wonderful week! xo
Thanks Elizabeth. Its fun isn’t it putting our summer bits out? I feel for you with the deer. We had the same issue at our last house and I wanted to scream when they ate beautiful bushes overnight! Good luck finding the right thing. I like down blankets and it’s been pretty hot, so I’ve been using the white quilt from Crate & Barrel, but I would love to see how light a summer down is.. Sometimes I want more when it gets chilly. We are lucky we rarely need AC at night. Yes the obloquy issue with the rugs is where to store them. Have a great week. xo
Everything looks so summery and fresh! I am obsessed with the beautiful blue and white peony art in your hallway-could you please share the source?
Hi Susan, I have had it a while and just moved it here. If I remember right it was a lucky find at Homegoods. Let me see if I can find anything near it. If so, I will link to it here. I just go occasionally, and always keep an eye on the art aisle.. xo
Thank you! That was DEFINITELY a lucky find! 🙂
Thanks Susan.x
Kim,
I love your summer styling! Each and every piece contributes to a wonderful look…
Hi Alice! So kind of you. Loving the white things right now. have a great weekend. xo