4 Summer Hobbies Perfect for Anyone Under the Sun

Summer is the perfect time of year for so many things—dining outdoors, hosting events, and reconnecting with nature. Thanks to longer days and warmer weather, the coming months are also ideal for finding a new activity or rekindling your love for something you haven’t had a chance to do in a while.

In our quest the find the perfect summer hobbies, we turned to some of our favorite home and interior experts to find out what they suggest.

Make String Art

Embroidery and knitting have made a huge comeback lately, but Melissa Van Zee, a California-based interior designer of Van Zee Design Interiors says she prefers another yarn-based craft: string art.

You can find some beautiful kits to help you get started, or you can DIY it entirely—and Van Zee says one of her favorite places to incorporate string art decor is in a more utilitarian area, like your pantry or laundry room.

“An inexpensive, kid-friendly, and summertime DIY project to make these spaces really say something is with some 70s-inspired string art,” says Van Zee, who suggests using large-scale letter templates to spell out words like eat, play, or wash.

"Lightly affix them to the wall. Then, outline each letter with large-headed copper or brass nails," suggests Van Zee. "Finally, grab some yarn and wrap away! Instant charm.”

Create Your Own Home Fragrance

Home fragrances are one of the best ways to note a seasonal transition, and according to Lorriane Anderson, a spiritual teacher, entrepreneur, and author of the book The Witch's Apothecary—you can very easily make your own.

The first step, according to Anderson, is to create your own at-home apothecary, featuring quality herbs and plants, concentrated essential oils, and a selection of bottles and jars to store your creations. Anderson suggests experimenting, mixing, and adding ingredients until you’re pleased with your new scent.

But why is summer the best time to take up this hobby? Anderson says it’s because everything is in season, and that’s one of the most important things about at-home fragrance making.

“It’s always better to use fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables, and flowers," says Anderson.

For some inspiration, Anderson says her personal seasonal favorite is neroli—more commonly known as orange blossom.

“It's floral but still a little spicy while still having a woodsy and somewhat herbaceous undertone,” says Anderson. “It's a really complex fragrance that has so many natural notes, making it pretty universal and pleasing to most noses.”

Plant a Garden

Tending to your vegetable patch is already a beloved summertime hobby, but Van Zee says you can take it one step further. Don’t just plant any old assortment—plant a themed garden! For example, a salsa garden works especially well if you’re planting in a small area because you can use a vertical planter or smaller pots to keep all your spices and herbs in one area.

“Plant a variety of tomatoes, cilantro, jalapeño, garlic, scallions, and even red peppers for a colorful harvest,” says Van Zee.

Helena Brana of Brana Designs agrees, noting that herbs are a particularly great place to get started if you’re new to gardening. “Experiment and learn from your experiences,” she says, encouraging newbies to enjoy the process as much as—if not more than—the results.

“Gardening can be incredibly rewarding and a great way to connect with nature. This hobby also helps me to cope with stress.”

Take Up Antiquing

According to Kendall Knox, Ben Knox, and Laura Sotelo, the co-founders of Olive Ateliers, summer is the absolute best time to start antiquing. Flea markets open their outdoor areas in the warmer months, and even garage sales are a great place to spot what the trio calls “objects with old souls.”

To get started, the Olive Aterliers team recommends doing some research and planning to maximize your route to hit the best spots early before things have been picked over.

“Pro tip: TikTok is an amazing resource for identifying estate sales. We often post roundups of our favorite destinations for curious living and vintage decor shopping on our Tik Tok,” they say. “The early bird most certainly gets the worm. And fuel up, it’s important to plan your coffee shop stops.”

Once you’ve hit the best flea markets and estate sales in your area, the co-founders tell us it’s time to end the day in the more traditional antique retailers nearby.

“Oftentimes, the ambiance is a little slower and you can really spend time chatting to the owner and learning about the history of each piece,” they say. 

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