12 Easy Décor Swaps That Will Get Your Home Ready for Summer
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Shop these editor- and interior designer-approved products for your home before the season starts.
Courtesy of Bloomingdale's, Target, Frontgate
Ah, summer: The days are longer and warmer and the air feels lighter—and so do we. While spring may be the season of cleaning and organizing, the hottest months of the year are a time to work in vibrant and energetic essentials that highlight that easy, breezy lifestyle.
By making a few strategic, affordable home décor swaps, you can easily put all of the qualities you love most about summer on display: think bright colors, nature-inspired textures, and entertaining-friendly accents that will encourage you to spend more time with friends and family. To help, we asked interior designers to share a few products that make subtle yet impactful changes in your home—and set the scene for your best summer yet.
Related: 12 Easy Ways to Prepare Your Backyard for Summer Entertaining
Anthropologie Papillion Vase in Dark Green
Courtesy of Anthropologie
Looking for an easy, cost-effective way to invite summer into your space? Choose a seasonally inspired vase and fill it with fresh flowers from your cutting garden. We love that this footed ceramic piece feels like a garden scene covered in fluffy peonies, buzzing dragonflies, and textural grasses. Pop it onto your mantel and watch how fast it becomes a conversation starter.
Price at time of publish: $44
Frontgate Jupiter Beaded Drinkware, Set of 6
Courtesy of Frontgate
High temperatures and an extra hour or two of daylight means that we're outside more than ever—and we definitely need something to drink. Whether you're sipping on water or sangria, make sure your glasses work this season, says Cameron Johnson, a design expert and the founder and CEO of Nickson Living. Look for a set that can be used inside and out, which is a "budget-friendly way to upgrade your drinkware," he says. "Al fresco drinkware can be found at many retailers and will add a fresh pop of color to your tables and make your drinks taste that much sweeter."
We love this textural set from Frontgate, available in a handful of shades. They'll add texture and a pop of color to your indoor—or outdoor!—dining table this summer.
Price at time of publish: $63.20
Villeroy & Boch French Garden Placemats, Set of 4
Courtesy of Bloomingdales
While you're updating your drinkware, go ahead and think about the rest of your table settings, too. Though you may use a single-tone or dark-hued tablecloth during the colder months, be more playful in the summer. We love this whimsical, French-garden-inspired placemat set that gives plenty of wiggle room when it comes to complementary flatware, drinkware, and napkins. Leave them out even when they're not in use so you maximize their décor potential.
Price at time of publish: $70.40
West Elm Sheer European Flax Linen Curtain in Natural Flax
Courtesy of West Elm
One of summer's best qualities is its warm, natural light—it makes you want to throw open your windows and listen to birdsong as you sip your morning coffee, says Lyndsey Moore, the principal designer at Lynden Lane Co. To brighten your space and add some elegance, she recommends choosing lightweight fabrics that allow for natural ventilation and a breezy ambiance, while still maintaining privacy on a hot summer day. This European flax linen curtain from West Elm is understated and effective and does an alluring dance when it meets the wind.
Price at time of publish: from $90
Divine Home Ikat Throw Pillow
Courtesy of Wayfair
As the sun comes out, it's natural to start daydreaming about parties (hosted both inside and out) with family and friends, says Ashley Macuga, the founder and principal designer at Collected Interiors. To get your entertaining space ready for summer—and make your setup more vibrant—she recommends adding a few decorative throw pillows. Whether you go with a punchy, arrow-inspired pattern like this one (we love the sunny yellow accents and it can be used inside or outdoors!) or something in a trendy terra-cotta or ultra-bright pink, the idea is to infuse more color into these rooms.
Price at time of publish: $61.99
Kirkland's Teal Metal Round Planters With Stands, Set of 3
Courtest of Kirklands
When decorating for summer, making a few home décor swaps is key—especially when it comes to your houseplant collection, Johnson says. "Depending on where you live, odds are your landscaping will be in full bloom. Bringing a bit of that freshness inside will help mirror the outdoors, but also provides pops of color and fresh scents," he says.
Whether you want to plant flowers that only last a season or have a thriving variety that's ready to be repotted, find a visually interesting planter in a seasonal color and make the switch. We love this set of three in an eye-catching teal that allows for plants in different heights and brightens up unused corners of living rooms or kitchens.
Price at time of publish: $143.99
Novogratz Poolside Gossip Outdoor Penelope Cart
Courtesy of Raymour Flanigan
If you look forward to hosting backyard gatherings, happy hours, and other spirit-forward events at your home, consider investing in a stylish bar cart for the summer, says Kevin Cimini, the founder of Designer of Gair. You can fill it with seasonal goodies, like Aperol, fresh herb clippings, lemons, and more. "Having a well-stocked bar cart will inspire you to create refreshing summer drinks and encourage you to invite friends and family over for summer festivities," he says.
Best of all? This cheerful yellow piece works just as well inside, too. Consider tucking it into your sunroom if you're hoping to infuse this space with some additional sunshine this season.
Price at time of publish: $114.88
Zafferano America Poldina PRO Rechargeable LED Lamp
Courtesy of Martha
Want to upgrade both your home's exterior and interior lighting for summer, but don't love the idea of investing in the same thing twice? Put this sleek, double-duty, Martha-approved table lamp on your radar. Rechargeable, versatile, and lightweight, this indoor/outdoor piece has a 13-hour battery life and can be moved from your living room to your al fresco dining table with ease. It's the ultimate summer home décor swap.
Price at time of publish: $169
Nourison Essentials Rug in Green Ivory
Courtesy of Target
Think about the colors surrounding you during the summer: a bright blue sky, puffy white clouds, hot yellow sun, and lush greenery. Home accents should match the scene unfolding outside, Quarnberg says. A vibrant rug, like this affordable green design (which reminds us of a freshly mowed lawn and is outdoor-friendly), will match the trees, bushes, and grass of your outdoor living space. "Don't let color scare you—have some fun with it," she says.
Price at time of publish: from $34.99
Buena Onda Handmade Wool Aqua/Ocean Rug
Courtesy of AllModern
We found you a rug inspired by a freshly mowed, manicured lawn—but if you'd rather trade turf for sand this summer, consider this ocean-inspired floor covering, instead. Handmade by skilled artisans in India, this wool rug with modern waved edges is also stain resistant, so it can hold up to all kinds of seasonal messes (whether that's tracked-in sand or pet paw prints).
Price at time of publish: $60
Anthropologie Nostalgia Candle in Beach Trip
Courtesy of Anthropologie
What does summer smell like to you? Is it the salty scent of crashing waves, the lingering whiff of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers, or tropical coconut? If the latter two stand out, put this candle (which comes in a pretty, minimal holder) on your radar—it will make your interior smell like you're spending a summer weekend at a verdant seaside cottage.
Adding the right candle does more than bring your favorite outdoor scents inside: "Adding some seasonal candles to your home will add an immediate boost to its ambience," says Johnson.
Price at time of publish: $16.80
Boll & Branch Signature Cotton Bloom Sheet Set
Courtesy of Boll & Branch
Your bed absolutely can be a design moment—so don't overlook its summer potential. For a pretty pop of floral texture (and to prevent overheating at night during the hotter months), consider this cooling cotton set from Boll & Branch. It comes highly rated and features a subtle print that speaks to summer's garden vibes. Pro tip: Always choose bamboo or cotton sheets for this season, says Malory Quarnberg, the founder of Dorothy Jean Decor.
Price at time of publish: from $238
