Bringing Summer into Your Home

It is time to bring the feeling of summertime into your home! The sweaters have been stowed away for next year as we unpack the shorts and flip-flops. This is the time to set up the outdoor games, fire up that grill, and plan those fun social gatherings!

What words would you use to describe summer? I would use warm and fresh. Feeling the warm sunshine on your skin and experiencing the taste of fresh fruit. Summer is the time for farmers’ markets, spotting wildflowers in the mountains (at least for us here in northern Utah) and enjoying evenings on the porch. This is the season for picnics at the lake and trips to the local ice cream parlor.

Summer Senses

In this post I will take you through two exercises before I explain how to bring summer into your home. Take the time to really engage here, immersing your mind into the season itself. Here are the steps we will take:

Step 1: Finding your vision of summer (exercise 1)

Step 2: Giving your vision life (exercise 2)

Step 3: Bringing summer into your home

Step 1: Finding your Vision

What makes you think of Summer? I have an exercise for you, the same one I have for each season. The purpose of this is to get you to visualize this season and what connects you to it.

Close your eyes and envision yourself immersed in Summer. Now go through each of your senses. What do you notice? What do you see, feel, taste, smell, hear?

Now write these down on a list. Just a few words is all you need, like the table below.

Touch	Scents	Tastes	Sounds	Sights
Feet in the sand	Sunblock	Fresh Fruits & Veggies	Flowing Creeks	Green Mountains
Grass	Citrus	Cocktails	Laughter	Wildflowers
Sunshine & summer breeze	Grilling & Herbs	Salads & Sandwiches	Lawn Mowers	Crystal Lakes

Step 2: Give your Vision Life

Let’s go even more in depth and write out a small paragraph for each of your senses. Think about how these things make you feel. In the section below, you will find my own description of summer, to paint you a picture of what you are looking to achieve here. Of course, your vision will be different from mine.

Touch

It’s finally flip-flop season and our feet are freed from the constricting closed-toes shoes of the cooler months. We realize there’s nothing quite like the feeling of texture beneath our feet. It seems possible to release all the day’s stress in a single moment as we wiggle our toes in the grass, water, or sand, for that freeing feeling of summer. Pair it with that warm sunshine and summer breeze and you have a perfect moment.

Scents

What does summer smell like to you? I smell whatever delicious meal is being made on the grill. The meats and vegetables seasoned with fresh herbs and citrus are quite the mix to engage our senses. Toss in the scent of fresh cut grass and sunblock to top it all off. That’s what summer smells like to me.

Tastes

Summer, where so many fresh tastes are combined. The produce is at its peak and we can finally enjoy the large array of fresh fruit and vegetables. A nice juicy watermelon, or a roasted ear of corn truly bring the tastes of summer to life. Pair them with a cocktail and light salad or grilled meat to enjoy a refreshing yet filling meal. I find that summer foods help to encourage healthier eating and the layering of fresh flavors.

Sounds

When I think of summer sounds, it’s a mix of noisy and fun. Of course, there is the relaxing and peaceful quiet of being near a lake, soaking up the sun.

Although, since we live right across from a park, I do tend to relate summer to more noise overall. We hear the lawn mowers in the mornings and the people playing softball late into the summer nights. Although it’s a bit loud at times, it’s nice to be able to sit on the porch and watch people running around, having fun. I take the noise of summer as an overall positive, because it is often filled with much joy and laughter. People are happy to be enjoying the outdoors, the pleasant weather, and quality time with others.

Sights

I picture mountains and lakes, covered or surrounded with wildflowers. Summer is wildflower season in the mountains of northern Utah, and it is a magical display that often hits its peak in July. While it is warmer where we are, a mountain escape is the perfect summer treat on any given weekend. The grass and the aspen trees are vibrantly green. All you need is a picnic basket and your hiking boots.

What does summer look like to you?

Step 3: Bringing Summer into your Home

So, now you have your vision for the season, the feelings and what it is like engaging all of your senses for Summer. Now, let’s discuss how you can bring these feelings into your home.

The Feel of Summer

By now you have (hopefully) stashed away the bulky blankets and heavy bedding. Summer is the time for light and airy fabrics. Think simple throws on the couch and wispy sheer curtains for the windows.

Summer is when we let the light in and allow basic fabrics to add an element of simplicity to our homes. Think about adding in white, cream, or light blue fabrics to keep it bright yet low-key, adding pops of more vibrant colors in the smaller things like vases and throw pillows. Summer is perfect for bringing in woven baskets and bright green plants to add texture to any room.

The Scent of Summer

Added Aroma

Citrus scents. Think about using citrus scented cleaning products, soaps and candles for this season. The bright fresh scent of citrus is the perfect universal smell for a summer home. I always light a lemon scented candle that smell like lemon bars. It’s refreshing while making your mouth water all at the same time. Whatever smells like summer to you, be sure to send this aroma throughout your home.

Summer Grilling

Summer is everyone’s time for grilling. If you do not own a grill, get creative with your stove. We grill all of our vegetables and meats on the stovetop during the summer. It makes the house smell good while heating it up a lot less than the oven would. Remember, you don’t need a grill to have some delicious roasted summer food.

The Taste of Summer

Fresh fruit is a great visual display in a summer home. Adding them to a basket not only counts for edible décor, but it encourages you to eat the healthy food in front of you. Consider keeping bowl of fresh fruit on your counter for the season to add color and flavor to your kitchen.

Think of recipes you can make without having to turn on the oven. Salads filled with fresh vegetables or no-bake desserts are perfect for summertime. Consider trying some new recipes that fit the theme of the season and allow you to experiment with different herbs and spices to enhance the natural flavors in your dishes. Plan a picnic this summer that incorporates a few of these new recipes!

The Sound of Summer

Fun & Games

So, I know I related lots of noise from softball and lawn movers to summer. And no, those are not the sounds I would want in my summer home. However, I would encourage the sound of laughter in our home, any time of year.

Summer is the perfect season for games and laughter. Yard games like ladder ball, Jenga, and corn hole are great additions to your summer parties. You can also bring the card and board games outside to the porch for some added fun.

Summer Tunes

Think of what music you prefer to listen to during summer. Is this music different than other seasons? For some reason summer is when I listen to more pop and what I would consider my flash-back songs. I’m in my early 30’s now, and growing up, we had a lot of parties during the summer. The music that we played then was a lot of early 2000s hits. So, I often enjoy a bit of reminiscing during the summer months by listening to what was popular growing up.

Is this the same for you? Think of what your summer playlist would be made up of. It’s easy to think of songs that talk about summer, sun, parties, boats, etc. I believe this season’s party playlist can come together pretty fast.

The Look of Summer

Added Life

Summer is full of light and greenery, so bring it into your home! Hopefully, anything you planted this spring is thriving in your yard or on your patio.

Inside the home, this is the perfect time to bring in live plants. Herbs add color and fragrance, making adding fresh flavors to your dishes so easy! Indoor trees, ferns, and vibrantly colored flowers all add to the look of your summer home. Try using these to add a pop to a dull space or a forgotten corner of the home.

Pictures on the Wall

Consider changing out the photos in your home for ones that fit the season. Look at your favorite summer memories. Vacations to the beach, road trips, all the fun and adventure that summer holds. Put these in your picture frames for the next couple of months.

Be sure to go on at least one trip this year (even if it’s just a few hours away) so you can put those pictures in these frames next year. If you need some adventure ideas, check out my post on how to Connect with Where you Live.

Focus Your Decor

I like to have a few main focal points for our summer décor. I go all out for fall and winter, but tend to keep spring and summer much more low-key. If you want to learn more about creating focal points in your home, read this post here.

A Clean Summer Home

Think about the best spots for you to place small touches of summer décor in your home. I tend to let my home stay light, airy, and simple during this season. I embrace a clutter-free feeling with minimal decoration. The beauty of these warmer seasons is that you don’t seem to need much for décor. I find a simple yet tidy home to be the perfect fit for summer.