If you’re longing for a summer beach resort, but are spending some of your summer days on a staycation at home, then it’s time to start updating your home to give it a more relaxed atmosphere. Summer decorating doesn’t have to be a big job — you can even add some of these tips with just one trip to the garden center or home improvement store. Whether you live in an apartment, a stand-alone home, or are dreaming about how to decorate your new home, you can transform your space into a relaxing abode for yourself and your family and friends.
Subtract instead of adding
When you think of home decorating the first action that might come to mind is going to the home improvement or homewares store. However, as any real estate agent or home stager will tell you when selling your home, creating a clean slate can do more for the calmness of your home than filling it with more stuff. Before you start your summer decorating project, you’ll want to assess what you have in your home to see what you can subtract. If you are focusing on your living room, you can start by going through your bookcase to see if you have books, magazines, or decor items that are creating clutter instead of being items that you actually use. Decorative items like blankets on couches or reading chairs can also be stored for the summer to make way for a fresh look.
Pick a neutral color palette
Nothing says summer more than white and adding this neutral tone to your home is one way to give it an instant summer glow. You can put a white slipcover on your couch for the summer, or update your lamp shades in white or bamboo. Any light that you add to your home, whether through decor or by removing heavy drapes, can bring it into the summer season. In the kitchen, a white tablecloth and bowl of shells can prepare the space to hold summer gatherings.
Make your outdoor space an oasis
During the last two years, patios and backyards became true extensions of indoor living spaces. You can turn these areas into an oasis by making changes that are both inviting and relaxing. Adding outdoor plants, comfortable cushions, and lighting for evening gatherings can create a welcoming atmosphere. Think of your backyard or patio as an outdoor living room with coordinated pillows and perhaps a centerpiece with candles or found objects from the beach.
Add more green
Plants aren’t only for the outside of your home, bringing more green inside can also help to increase staycation vibes. Just be sure to add live plants, which have the added benefit of adding more oxygen. If you know you don’t have the time to water plants, opt for succulents that require less care than other types of houseplants.
Summer decorating doesn’t have to break the bank, with a few small changes you can give your home a refresh that you’ll look forward to coming home to.
