Bring the Beauty of Summer Indoors; Decorating with Shells, Coral & Coastal Treasures; Summer Tablescapes for Indoor & Outdoor Entertaining; Creating the Perfect Picnic Basket; Seasonal Wall Art & Summer Accessories; Fresh Flowers & Garden-Inspired Decorating; Vintage Finds That Add Summer Charm; Light Layers for a Relaxed Summer Bedroom; Decorating with Patriotic Touches; Books, Collections & Summer Living; Nature-Inspired Summer Decorating Ideas
“Bringing the Summer Indoors” by Linda Harbrecht
We wait all year for it: that season of abundant farmstands brimming with picture-perfect fruit and sunflowers, sunny days and velvety evenings, and that “school’s-out” feeling that we never seem to grow out of. Bringing bits of that fleeting summer feeling into the home doesn’t have to require much time, effort or money – just a little imagination. Consider the following possibilities:
1. Fill bowls with shells, surround tall white candles with small shells in glass hurricanes, decorate with pieces of coral and seaglass and other gifts from the sea. Although I have items like these sprinkled around the home in summertime, I also create a larger display in an antique pine corner cupboard, which I fill with these items and arrange them on weathered old books to add a little interest with varying heights.
2. Display an arrangement of shell boxes. I’ve been collecting these for years and some – particularly those that are old and actually signed by the artist – can be more difficult to find. But there are many that are widely available at thrift stores, flea markets and antique shops. A grouping of them on a table top can be an impactful addition to a summer room.
3. Find new ways to use old pieces when entertaining. The rules can go out the window when it comes to tablescapes in summer since everything is more casual. An old red and white quilt can be a great foundation for a table of mismatched blue and white plates, a vase filled with field flowers and napkins fashioned from old bandanas. On the other end of the elegance spectrum, tables set for summer nights can be ethereal, layered with filmy fabrics, white tapers in glass candle holders and layers of plates in shades of cream and white. Neutral additions can be rattan-covered glassware, rattan napkin rings and placemats and creamy roses in a weathered silver pitcher.
4. Take advantage of last-minute opportunities to dine alfresco by readying a picnic basket stocked with all the necessities. You can be ready to go when the time comes for an outdoor summer concert, an impromptu dinner with friends or a simple wine and cheese moment while watching fireworksin a public park.
5. Temporarily replace paintings in deeper and darker tones with those that embrace summer themes: gardens, seascapes, florals or lighter subject matters.
6. Greet visitors with a door decoration that signals summer. I love an old bike basket brimming with hydrangeas, but the possibilities are endless. I usually start with something lighter for the first half of summer and then hang a sunflower wreath closer to August.
7. Stack up vintage picnic baskets for an interesting seasonal display. I collect vintage picnic baskets whenever and wherever I see them, and often use them as containers for gifts. In some cases, they cost the same as a nice gift bag, but make for a much more striking presentation. As a result, I have plenty to choose from for storing entertaining essentials like flatware, napkins, votive candles and containers, and summer is the ideal time for them to have their moment in the sun.
8. Put away the heavy comforters and blankets and dress the summer bed with lighter layers. It’s also a great time to display old quilts and coverlets in softer summer colors and fabrics, such as seersucker and ticking stripes.
9. Embrace fun summer colors and patterns in tablescapes, plates, coverlets, pillows and fabrics. Summer is an ideal time for playful patterns like polka dots, bandana prints, blowsy florals and bold stripes. And when used outside, there’s no concern with clashing with more staid and traditional interiors.
10. If patriotic themes have appeal, try working in the red, white and blue in subtle ways. I like to drape an old, well-worn flag banner over our Federal mirror, which offers a nod to the patriotic holidays of the summer season without dictating a color scheme for the entire room. Of course, tiny flags can add a little spark to summer bouquets of sunflowers and hydrangeas, or can be bundled in small containers as part of a summer vignette.
11. Work a little bit of that vacation home feel by pulling out board games, displaying a jar of old marbles, setting up a vignette with dominoes or a collection of old baseballs in a wooden bowl.
12. Switch out design books that might be on display from cold weather to warm weather topics: gardening, the sea, summer décor and travel.
13. Take advantage of all that nature offers this time of year. A large vase filled with an exuberant arrangement of sunflowers, hydrangeas or humble roadside goldenrod can make for a dramatic statement.
Linda Harbrecht is an award-winning former journalist and communications professional who now focuses on freelance writing and editing, primarily for home and design publications. Through her Instagram account at @stonecottage2250, Linda indulges her passion for interiors, gardens, food and historic homes. She has a particular fondness for cottage style, artful living and a nature-inspired seasonal approach.
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