7 Simple Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like Summer

Summer is officially here — and if you have kids at home you already know it’s a mix of everything. Relaxed mornings and busy afternoons, vacation planning and camp schedules, the chaos and the joy all rolled into one season.

But what about your home? Creating a space that feels bright, cheerful and intentionally summery can actually bring a sense of calm to even the busiest season. A small refresh — nothing overwhelming, nothing expensive — goes a long way toward making your home feel like the happy, sunny backdrop your summer deserves.

The good news is you don’t need a total overhaul to make it happen. Here are 7 simple ways to make your home feel like summer starting today.

Simple Ways to Bring Summer Into Your Home

Simple touches go a long way — here are seven easy ways to bring the season inside.

1. Bright flowers

Once a week I head into Trader Joe’s for a big grocery shop. Like any traditional grocery store, TJs has flowers and plants on prominent display by the front entrance. A year ago I would breeze past this area with laser-focus on my grocery list. Now I’ve learned to stop and literally “smell the roses” and I’ve come to realize a simple pleasure of mine is having fresh flowers or a green plant in my home.

Easily brighten up any room with this small touch. Marigolds, lilies, and peonies are a few of the beautiful flowers that bloom in the summer. Purchase a simple bouquet and just throw in a mason jar for a fresh, summer vibe.

2. Summer scents

Just like pretty flowers, a fresh scent is always a mood booster (and makes a home feel more inviting. Common summer scents are citrus (lemon, mandarin orange), floral (jasmine, honeysuckle), and herbal (lavender, mint). Make your home feel like summer with these seasonal smells by burning a quality candle or using an essential oil diffuser.

3. Declutter for the season

A change of seasons often brings about a need for a refresh in many ways, including a time to reevaluate our things and what we truly need. Summer is no exception. It’s helpful to do a seasonal summer declutter a few weeks before the season really gets underway. Also during the summer months when life may slow down a bit, this is an opportunity for a few small decluttering projects.

Summer declutter ideas

• 10 minute declutter projects around the house
• Kids’ toys and playroom
• Your clothing

4. Colorful throw pillows and blankets

Yellow, turquoise, and coral are classic summer colors. Make your home feel like summer by brightening up the living/family room and bedroom with colorful accent pillows and throw blankets.

Change out throw pillow covers for brighter versions or purchase inexpensive pillows from home stores like Target, Home Goods and even Costco. Drape colorful throw blankets across the foot of beds or on the living room sofa.

5. Freshen up your bedroom

Updating your bedsheets doesn’t have to only mean flannel holiday prints in December. Crisp, fresh linen in a whimsical summer print is a fun way to spruce up bedrooms and make your home feel like summer.

This is especially fun for kids’ bedrooms, look for cute summer prints like seashells, ocean waves, or flowers. For adult rooms, forgo the prints (if you wish) and update with cool fabrics like bamboo, linen, and percale.

6. Freshen up your outdoor space

Naturally, summer means spending a lot of time outdoors. If you have an outdoor space, even just a small balcony or patio, you can easily make it summer-ready for alfresco dining and conversations.

Ways to refresh your outdoor space

• Give your outdoor furniture a good rinse and wipe down
• Wash any pillow covers (be sure to check directions with the manufacturer)
• If your throw pillows and outdoor rug have seen better days, recycle or properly dispose of them and purchase something new
• Lighting is key to an outdoor space so check your outdoor lanterns or candles for replacement batteries and necessary clean up
• Add a pop of color with flowers or an outdoor plant

7. Summer music playlist

Put a little spring in your step and mood in your home with summer music. We listen to a lot of music daily in our house, everything from reggae to pop to country. Create your own summer playlist on Amazon Music or Spotify (get the kids in on it too). Music creates a happy vibe and will brighten up everyone’s mood!

Let the Summer Vibes In

You don’t need a full home makeover to feel the shift of a new season. A fresh bouquet, a summer candle, some colorful throw pillows — small touches add up to a home that feels bright, cheerful and ready for summer. Enjoy every moment of it.