Summer vacations might be grounded for the time being but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a getaway—even if it’s just at home. With longer days and warmer nights, transform your home and its outdoor spaces into a summer oasis with these simple design trends.
Forget about neutrals and whites, take a plunge into the playful world of statement colors. “While we will always and forever love a neutral palette, we’re seeing the pendulum swing back to more color-infused spaces,” says Havenly’s design lead Heather Goerzen.
Bringing color into the home doesn’t have to mean repainting every room, it could be as simple as swapping out blah decor, textiles, and accents with brighter hues.
Having all of the color wheel at your disposal might feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Heather’s seeing “vibrant primary hues,” like bold green, blue, red, and yellow accents in some homes. Bring in bold moments with playful word pillows, or geometric pattern accents.
If that sounds too bright for your space, “relaxing desert pastels,” are also making a comeback. Think New Mexico gallery and try terra cotta, dusty blush, soft yellow, and sage green into your home decor. Bring desert chic home with light cotton throws, color block pillows, and woven textured accents pillows.
If you’re looking for a summer getaway feeling, take a cue from Scandinavian—where there are nearly 24 hours of sunlight during peak summer. Keep things light, bright, and airy in your home. Swap heavier drapes or window treatments for light, natural fabrics that let the extended daylight hours seep through.
Brighten up dark spaces. Use mirrors to reflect natural light, or paint the walls a lighter tone that’ll reflect light instead of absorbing it. In spaces with little natural light, bring in warm lighting fixtures to make it feel like the sun never sets in the space.
Go au naturale with your summer home design—think natural finishes and stripped, raw textures popularized by Leanne Ford’s Crate & Barrel line. Embrace the imperfect beauty of plaster, woven rope, rattan, cane, or wicker. The laid-back but sophisticated air these materials lend to your home can make for a high-end, yet relaxing vibe in your home.
Bring the outdoors in this summer with simple natural texture design swaps. Replace an old metal lamp with a woven rope one, or add a terracotta bowl with greenery to the dining room table. Try a natural art display with a few woven grass baskets on the wall.
From backyard barbeques to evenings outdoors, the right lighting in the backyard space can make it more inviting than ever. “With outdoor recreation still a little more limited this summer, now’s the time to create your own patio oasis,” encourages Heather, “complete it with the twinkling of string lights above or a scattering of lanterns.”
But even backyard whimsy needs a little design direction. Try arranging lanterns in asymmetrical groupings of different heights, Heather recommends. Put two in the corner, group three overhead, and a large statement one on its own.
If permanent lighting is too involved, you can achieve a similar feel with votive candles. Scatter them on surfaces across the backyard, grouping complementary patterns, and varying heights together.
To extend the life of your outdoor oasis, consider a gas firepit to replace the standard patio set coffee table. “There are countless modern designs on the market now with clean, contemporary lines and a natural finish,” Heather explains. “With wider edges, there’s still plenty of room for your happy hour cocktails.”
With weekend getaways and summer vacation on standby, bring travel home with bohemian design and accents. Create an escape at home with richly-designed rugs, artisan-crafted pillows with intricate patterns, and art from across the globe.
Heather loves splurging on pillows and rugs from Citizenry, a favorite brand for investment items with a globally-conscious mission. Throw in a natural texture rattan chair to make it feel like you’ve traveled across the globe, just by traveling through your living room.
Summer’s the time to shed your layers not only when it comes to your daily dress, but also home design. Embrace a few new trends to refresh your rooms, making it feel like you’ve gone somewhere else when you’re really just enjoying warm days at home.
Not sure what design inspires you? Check out Havenly’s quiz to figure out which style speaks to you.