These summer living room decor ideas will help you create a light, airy, and effortlessly stylish space you’ll love all summer long.
As the days grow longer, there is no better time to give your living room a seasonal refresh. Summer living room decor is all about creating a light, airy, and inviting atmosphere, perfect for lazy afternoons, impromptu get-togethers, or simply enjoying the season’s slower pace.
You don’t need a complete overhaul to make your space feel like summer. With a few intentional updates, you can transform your existing living room into a relaxing summer retreat.
Below, I’m sharing expert design tips and easy tricks to help you bring summer indoors, effortlessly and beautifully.
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Summer Living Room Decor Ideas That Interior Designers Swear By
1. Declutter
A shift in seasons is the perfect time to take stock and declutter. Summer living decor is more relaxed, and your living room should reflect that ease. Take time to clear out anything that feels heavy or cluttered.
Designer Tip:
Leave intentional negative space. A few open surfaces or sparsely styled shelves make a room feel breathable and calm, perfect for the laid-back summer months.
2. Lighten the Palette
One of the easiest ways to signal a seasonal shift is by changing up your color scheme. Trade dark, cozy colors for breezy, lighter hues. Think crisp whites, sandy neutrals, soft blues, sage greens, and blush tones.
Designer Tip:
Swap out throw pillows, blankets, and area rugs for lighter fabrics like linen or cotton. If you have dark upholstery, consider a light slipcover for the season—it’s a designer secret that instantly brightens the entire room.
3. Embrace Natural Light
Summer is all about sunlight, and your living room should reflect that. Maximize natural light by keeping your windows unobstructed and dressing them with sheer curtains or light-filtering bamboo shades.
Designer Tip:
Place a mirror opposite your largest window to bounce natural light around the room. It not only makes the space feel brighter but also visually doubles the room size—a classic interior design trick.
4. Bring the Outdoors In
My favorite way to decorate for the seasons is to switch out greenery. Nothing says summer quite like bringing the outside in. Incorporate nature with houseplants, fresh-cut flowers, or even a bowl of lemons on the coffee table.
Faux flower stems are a fantastic way to bring the outdoors in without the upkeep of fresh blooms. Faux stems can be incredibly lifelike and bring lasting beauty to your space all season long. Look for stems with realistic petal textures, natural-looking color variations, and wired branches you can shape. Stick to in-season favorites like peonies, hydrangeas, wildflowers, or greenery sprigs for an authentic look.
Designer Tip:
For a breezy, seasonal look, opt for vases and planters made from natural materials like terracotta, glazed ceramic in soft pastel tones, woven rattan baskets, or clear glass with a subtle texture.
5. Refresh Your Accessories
Swap out heavy winter-themed decor and textured accents for pieces that feel soft, breathable, and seasonally appropriate. Lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton in subtle summer prints—think pinstripes, botanicals, or tone-on-tone patterns—add a refined yet relaxed touch.
Trade dark wood or metallic decor for light oak, ash, or bleached wood accessories that instantly brighten the space. Even simple updates like switching a velvet pillow for a crisp striped one or replacing a metal tray with a woven or wood version can make your living room feel airier and more in tune with the season.
Designer Tip:
Group seasonal decor on trays to create easy-to-update vignettes. Swap heavy coffee table books for ones with light colored book covers and themes like outdoor living, summer entertaining, or tropical escapes.
6. Swap in Seasonal Textures
Light throws in cotton or chambray add softness without warmth, while woven baskets and open-weave textiles introduce a casual look. You can swap to season textures through throw pillows, throw blankets, baskets, rugs, and curtains.
Designer Tip:
Don’t be afraid to use outdoor textiles inside. They’re often more durable, fade-resistant, and great for homes with kids or pets. Try an indoor/outdoor area rug for a fresh foundation.
7. Introduce Scent
Design isn’t only about what you see—it’s how a room feels. Summer scents like coconut, eucalyptus, and citrus can completely transform a space. You can do this through the use of candles or an essential oils diffuser.
Designer Tip:
Think beyond candles, and integrate scent into your decor by making it part of your styling. Place a beautifully labeled room spray or essential oil dropper bottle on a decorative tray alongside a small vase and a book on summer living. Or style a diffuser with ceramic reeds in a niche or on a console table.
8. Easy DIYs and Budget-Friendly Updates
If you are looking for an even bigger impact for your summer living room refresh, try one of these easy DIYs or affordable updates. Refreshing your living room doesn’t have to be costly. Small, intentional changes can make a big impact.
Paint a thrifted side table or frame in a bright summer hue.
Make no-sew pillow covers from fun summer fabrics.
Rearrange your furniture to create a better flow or open space.
Paint your room a fresh new color.
Designer Tip:
Even moving a chair to a sunnier corner or swapping out a lamp for a woven pendant can shift the entire feel of the room.
Final Thoughts
Summer is the perfect season to pare back, lighten up, and embrace simplicity in your home. With just a few strategic updates, like switching textiles, playing with natural light, and bringing in organic elements, you can make your living room feel like a summer escape. Start small, experiment with what you already have, and enjoy the process of refreshing your space.
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What to Read Next:
Summer Entry Table Decor
Spring Decorating Ideas
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