12 Summer Home Decor Ideas

By
Ashley Knierim
Photo of Ashley Knierim
Ashley Knierim

Ashley Knierim is a home decor expert and product reviewer of home products for The Spruce. Her design education began at a young age. She has over 10 years of writing and editing experience, formerly holding editorial positions at Time and AOL.

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Updated on 09/17/20
Bedroom with copper accents
KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

Summer is the perfect time to give your home a refreshing facelift. From bold colors to splashy prints, a few easy decor updates can make your home feel like the tropical beach or calming lake cottage you pine for. Plus, summer is the season for entertaining, and these summer decorating ideas are perfect for impressing guests at your next warm weather gathering.

  • 01 of 12

    Classic Summer Florals

    blue room with floral pillows

    Blue Bell Gray

    Floral decor never goes out of style. If you've been considering incorporating this classic look into your home, summer is the perfect time to make the leap. From wallpaper to shower curtains to the throw pillows seen in this colorful room from BlueBellGray, it's easy to add a pop of nature to any room in your house. Bonus: You won't have to worry about watering these flowers.

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  • 02 of 12

    Elegant Copper Tones

    bedroom with gray walls metal finish

    Style Curator / Forrest Glover Design

    Metal finishes instantly add a touch of glamour to any room. This bedroom from Forrest Glover Design incorporates a copper industrial pendant lamp and a chic and airy side table to give the room effortless elegance. Candleholders, coffee tables, and kitchen accessories are all other easy ways to get this look right; touches here and there keep the look light enough for summertime.

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  • 03 of 12

    Hygge for Summertime

    minimalist bathroom

    Foam and Bubbles

    Hygge is all about effortlessly cozy Scandinavian design. Sleek lines and clutter-free rooms make this look a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens. Use this season as an excuse to declutter by becoming inspired by this simplistic Hygge-style bathroom by Foam and Bubbles.

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  • 04 of 12

    Freshen Up With Green

    green bathroom vanity

    Olive Lane Design / Instagram

    Nothing says summertime better than green. The color evokes freshness and renewal, even if it's just one element in a room. Paint a wall or restore an old vanity with green paint, and you'll feel like you're rolling in summery hills all season long.

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  • 05 of 12

    On the Wild Side

    vibrant living room with peach table

    Fjeldborg

    This fresh and breezy room combines pretty and dainty details in peach, white, and aqua together with a few black-and-white animal prints. A little zebra print goes a long way on the vase, the tiger print creates a powerful print on the wall, and the cowhide accent rug draws all the patterns, colors, and components together.

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  • 06 of 12

    Vertical Gardening Indoors

    vines growing on interior wall

    Shayne Will / Decoholic

    Create your own small living wall indoors by training a vine to grow on a wall sculpture like the one on this living room found on Decoholic. Cascading plants in hanging baskets can also be trained to hang onto metal rungs on a wall sculpture.

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  • 07 of 12

    Terracotta's Vacation Vibe

    green kitchen

    About Utility Billing / Pinterest

    Terracotta is literally "baked earth." From flooring, like the one in this kitchen, to roofs and accessories, terracotta evokes images of summer vacation spots at home and abroad, and it's a perfect way to extend the outdoors indoors. If flooring is a bit too permanent, bring in terracotta planters in to your kitchen for a fresh garden vibe.

    7 Popular Planter Materials to Use Indoors or Outdoors
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  • 08 of 12

    Light and Lively Prints

    neutral backdrop and colorful prints

    Jelanie Shop

    Mixing prints and patterns is a fun way to lighten up—and freshen up—a room during summer months. The fun pops of reds, blues, and oranges in this living room lift the space up. White walls and flooring, plus neutral upholstery provide a perfect canvas for color.

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  • 09 of 12

    Moroccan Getaway

    Moroccan inspired living room

    alysestudios / Instagram

    If you can't plan a getaway from home, plan a getaway at home. Enjoy a Moroccan-inspired look inside the comfort of your home by incorporating bits of decor such as poofs, lanterns, and patterned throw pillows.

    Create a Private Retreat in Your Home
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  • 10 of 12

    Bring in the Butterflies

    Butterfly wall art

    Caitlin Wilson

    Butterflies aren't just for kids' decor. Bring these magical creatures indoors in a sophisticated way by hanging a large butterfly print to add a bit of nature to your space. As an extra benefit, the symbol of a butterfly in your home is an auspicious symbol in feng shui.

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  • 11 of 12

    Outdoor Lights

    outdoor white lights

    Bower Power

    Nothing says summertime than hanging a string of sparkling white lights indoors or outdoors. Wherever you put them, it signals the start of a cozy summer gathering. White lights come in all sizes, such as the globe lights shown here. Use tiny fairy lights outdoors in even more ways—fill mason jars with battery-operated versions, hang them in tree branches, or wrap them around candles.

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  • 12 of 12

    Summertime Textures

    bedroom with linen headboard and oars

    Decor Pad / Betty Lou Phillips 

    While heavier velvet or suede is a better upholstery or bedding choice for the cooler months, linen and cotton are summer-friendly ways to make your rooms feel airy and cool. Along with the pair of oars on the wall, the burlap-wrapped headboard and linen bedding gives this bedroom by designer Betty Lou Phillips its beach house vibe.

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