A new season is a great excuse to switch up your summer home decor, and summer is one of the most exciting. There are the long evenings to look forward to, time spent outside, and (if we’re lucky) the best weather of the year. Even when the sun isn’t shining, decor can help inject some of that summer feeling into your interior and be an instant mood-lifter. From complete overhauls to tiny tweaks, there are plenty of things you can do to transform your space this summer. Here are 6 decor ideas to help spark your imagination and brighten up your home.
Summer Home Décor Wall Art
Hanging a print or canvas up on the wall can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your space. It not only adds a point of interest to a blank wall but, with such a huge choice of prints on offer, can convey whatever aesthetic works best for you. If you’re dreaming of jetting off somewhere sunny, a large photographic print of a beach scene can transport you there in an instant. If something abstract is more your style, bold colours and botanical motifs will help bring that summer home décor feeling inside. 
When it comes to wall art, don’t feel limited to prints and pictures. Things like wall hangings and even mirrors can also have the same effect, particularly when they use natural materials, that we’ll delve into more below. If you really want to make an impact, you could even add some wallpaper with a summer-inspired pattern. These days you can find a huge selection of patterned wallpapers that are easy to apply and remove at home. It’s not quite as big a commitment and means that renters can easily join in on the fun.
Natural Materials
Driftwood, rattan and jute are all great examples of materials that evoke an outdoorsy or coastal feel, and you can use them in many different ways. You could make a statement with some rattan furniture, or simply add some small decorative items in the natural material of your choice.
For a more personal touch that will cost you nothing, you could even use items like driftwood and shells that you have picked up on your summer travels. Not only will they add some aesthetic appeal, but you’ll be reminded of good times whenever you see them.
What’s great about incorporating natural materials into the home is that you needn’t go all out to get the effect you are looking for. Natural materials pair really well with more modern finishes like metal and glass, creating a beautiful and eye-catching contrast that will instantly update your space. Plus, thanks to their neutral colours, they won’t look out of place any later in the year when the sun has long since disappeared and autumn or winter is upon us.
Soft Furnishings
Switching up the textures and colours of soft furnishings is another inexpensive way to bring a summer home decor feel to your home. This could be as easy as swapping out your sofa cushions, adding some new bedding or buying new towels for your bathroom. If your existing colour scheme is quite neutral, it’s the perfect canvas for adding some summery soft furnishings. This approach is great if you like to change your interior often as it doesn’t require too much of a commitment.
However, if you’d like to keep that summer feeling all year round, maybe it’s time to consider updating your sofa or armchair. These items play a key part in the overall aesthetic of your living space, and one simple switch can completely transform the room. If you usually go for a more pared-down palette, consider some upholstered pieces that will add a bit of summer colour. Better yet, go for a piece with a removable cover so you can update your decor as the seasons change without any of the extra hassle.
Plants and Flowers
What better way to bring the outside in than to introduce some greenery into your home decor? In recent years there has been a huge surge in interest for houseplants, resulting in more options than ever before. However, it’s worth doing a little research before you take the plunge.
Things to consider when purchasing plants for your home is how much light and shade the plant will get, how often it will need to be watered and what temperatures the plant can withstand. There’s nothing worse than splashing out on a beautiful plant only for it to wither away in a matter of weeks. Think realistically about how much time you will have to maintain it and what kind of plant will best suit your lifestyle. Fortunately, there are plenty of hardy options around for those of us looking for a low-maintenance plant.
Alternatively, there are some really convincing fake plants around these days, giving you the desired look without any of the responsibility. If you prefer a more colourful look, a simple bunch of fresh flowers in a vase can make a big difference to the look of your space. Why not try a flower subscription service so you’re never short of some beautiful new blooms?
Summer Home Décor Colour
The use of colour is intrinsic in conveying a sense of summer. For more pastel tones, think turquoise or pale greens and pinks. Bolder summer colours can include shades of orange and yellow or punchier tones of blue and green. Combining new colours into your interior can feel like a daunting prospect, but there are a few simple guidelines you can follow to help you along the way.
First up is the 60-30-10 rule. This concept dictates that 60{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} of the room should be decorated with the same colour, 30{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} in a second, complementary colour and the final 10{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} in a contrasting colour that helps to break it up. The 60{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} should generally be a neutral colour to avoid being too overbearing. That leaves the other 30{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} and 10{477b05d2bc2f78b2ae981e3c31a288385e62cd4fcbdd4bd436917efc0e86eaaa} to introduce some summery colours that will bring your space to life.
If you aren’t sure about how a colour will fit in, start off with something small like a cushion or a vase. Live with it for a couple of weeks and see how you feel after that. It might be that you’ve decided it doesn’t fit in with your decor or that in fact, you just aren’t so keen on the colour after all. It’s better to proceed with caution than to invest more time and money into something you might regret.
Light
Embrace the feeling of the summer sun by introducing more natural light into your home. There are a few different ways that you can achieve this, but mirrors are one of the best. Mirrors help to increase the natural light by reflecting it around the room, also working to make your space appear bigger than it actually is. Mirror doors are a great choice for utilising a large space, as they tend to be bigger than traditional wall or floor mirrors.
Other reflective materials can also help to bring in more light, and bringing in more metal or glass elements can have a similar effect. This can be in the form of accessories, or for a more permanent solution, in the form of reflective glass tiles in the kitchen or bathroom.
If your home is slightly lacking in the natural light department, then it’s best to go for lighter summer shades when it comes to picking colours. Darker shades tend to absorb light while lighter hues will help to reflect it. Pair lighters colours with some mirrored surfaces and you won’t believe the difference.
Conclusion
Summer home decor is a fun and vibrant way to change your home’s interior. Thanks to the huge range of decor options, there really is something for everyone when it comes to creating your ideal summer look. Whether it’s a few small items that bring a sense of seasonality or a bigger design change that alters your whole aesthetic, we hope that we have given you some inspiration for your next summer decor.