Summer in the south will be upon us in no time, and with the gorgeous weather comes the urge to entertain. Hospitality meets casual comfort during the summer, and nature provides us with an abundance of inspiration. I caught up with Southern Home Editor Lynn Lee Terry to provide a few tips for decorating your home for the season.
1. Lighten up, and change out accessories like pillows and rugs. Replace the wool rugs with sisal or jute and add colorful linen pillows.
2. Entertain outside while the weather is nice. Set the table in bright linens and pick up a fresh bunch of flowers like zinnias or daisies for a fun, casual vibe.
3. Nothing says “summer” like fresh ferns, inside or out. For inside, I really like maiden hair ferns. Roosevelt ferns are great for screened porches because they don’t shed, and autumn ferns are perfect in the garden.
4. Summer is a visual feast with fruits and vegetables in full bloom. They can provide an instant color boost to any tabletop. Fresh cut lemons, limes, or cucumbers in a pitcher of cold water is both beautiful and refreshing. Additionally, lemons, limes, oranges, peaches, and even tomatoes, can make a bold centerpiece.
5. Change up candles with lighter colors and fragrances.
6. A large container filled with summer annuals sets the stage to welcome friends and family into your home.
7. In the summer, we often entertain guests. The perfect guest bedroom offers fresh linen bedding, fresh flowers, a decadent treat, fluffy towels, and, of course, a copy of Southern Home magazine.
8. Light paint colors provide an airy feeling to any room and they’re a perfect backdrop for almost any décor. The cover of the summer issue of Southern Home (design by Rivers Spencer), is a great example of how light and soothing a cool, calm palette with just a slight injection of color can be.
9. Blue and white porcelain is the perfect accessory and provides a jolt of color that is both sophisticated and timeless.
10. Hydrangeas and sunflowers are in their full glory during the summer. Take advantage of these beautiful flowers for instant impact. As an added bonus, hydrangeas last a long time, and can be dried to last all year!
Do you have any tips for summer decorating?
