I’m sharing some ways to freshen up your home for summer, linking up with some of my favorite decor blogging friends.

Think simple, light, and coastal for the summer and decorate at those locations in your home that make the most visual impact. For example, a coffee table or ottoman tray, the fireplace mantel, a breakfast room or dining room tabletop and the foyer/entry can be nice places to focus on to create the most impact.

Most of what I do has to do with accessories and flowers/plants, so that is what I’m sharing today.

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1) Summer flowers and plants liven up a home’s Decor

So much of my seasonal decor involves flowers and plants, so let’s start there.

I try to get to our Trader Joe’s once a week, they have good deals on fresh flowers, but if I don’t or I don’t see anything I want, I will just go to my garden and do some clipping.

I love including a few caladium leaves in the bunch as nothing says summer like caladiums. All this came from my back yard and I used this vase that I thrifted for $3, so not a costly look at all!

Garden clipping in a thrifted vase make for a fun summer arrangement that lasts a long time. | carlaaston.com

The nice thing about clippings is that they tend to last a long time and it helps the plants to trim a bit too.

I saw these little mini crocks in an antique shop and I love small things like this in multiples. Pop some summery flowers in a few for a big impact.

This collection of mini crocks holds a few fresh flowers makes a big impact. | carlaaston.com

A summery bouquet in my foyer from Trader Joes. | carlaaston.com

I ordered an airplant from a vendor on Etsy and it looks so sculptural in this round brass container sitting on my ottoman tray. I paired it with lots of shells for a summery, light look that will last all season!

My ottoman tray is filled with shells and a gorgeous airplant for a summery look in this neutral environment. | carlaaston.com

BTW, I have several of these pedestals or risers in different styles and use them often to boost a container or vase to add height or just make it look more special and important. I recommend getting a few to keep around, they work well in bookcases, on tabletops, coffee tables, etc.

This one has a rustic look. You can see it has some water damage from some vases but it doesn’t really show under the container except from this angle. :-)

The brass bulbous container benefits from the lift that a wood riser can give. The airplant has such a sculptural look. carlaaston.com

Here’s my little antique table at my entry now with a vase full of Trader Joe’s snap dragons. They look a bit more “fancy” on top of one of my more traditional risers. :-)

2) Add Shells or Coastal Items for Summery look

We’ve been to many beaches over the years, some particularly remote ones, when we lived in Australia and Norway. We have a nice collection of shells, driftwood and seaglass which always provide a coastal, summery vibe. While I keep many shells out year round, I have a box with small ones that I bring out for summer time. I recently filled this small horn bowl with some we found years ago.

Small shells in a horn bowl in my living room have a fresh look for summer. | carlaaston.com

This small decorative bowl holds a collection of seaglass we picked up on the pebble beaches of the island in Norway we lived on for 3 years. carlaaston.com

I purchased a pack from a home store for my upcoming bookshelf styling to fill a glass jar for their bookshelves. They love the beach and will add to this base with some of their own shells.

Small shells in a glass vase makes good bookcase filler and adds a touch of a summery look. | carlaaston.com

I saw this wide glass bowl in a spa lobby once and thought it was a great idea. The base was filled with sand and some large shells and driftwood placed on top.

Summer table centerpiece idea, a wide low bowl filled with sand and shells. | carlaaston.com

Here’s my mantel currently, decorated pretty much the same as always, but I added fresh flowers and a few shells. The ottoman tray decor usually gets changed out once a week but with this sculptural airplant now, I likely won’t tire of it for awhile.

My fireplace mantel with a few changes for summer. Some fresh flowers and shells do the trick. carlaaston.com

3) set a Summery Table - Add Wicker!

If we have anyone over for a meal, you can bet my table is set for the season. While we typically have family gatherings during the fall and winter, when we do entertain in the summer, we tend to eat inside. It is soooo hot in Houston in the summer.

I keep things looking fresh and summery with seagrass and wicker, some pretty textiles, and around July 4th, some red, white and blue.

This table is ready for a summer brunch. The turquoise and white color palette feels fresh and light. | carlaaston.com

Glass floats make a perfect low-key centerpiece for a summer brunch. | carlaaston.com

Red, white and blue is always a summer favorite. I always feel like they are the colors of July.

I used a grouping of small blue and white glass vases to hold red and white flowers for a July 4th brunch with friends.

Basic white plates, coir woven placemats, cobalt blue glassware and special napkins from the Basque region of France make for a colorful summer tablescape. | carlaaston.com

I found this fun wicker tabletop decor at Highpoint Market this past fall in the Suites. They make for a fun, summery tabletop.

Woven tabletop accessories lighten the look and give a summery vibe. | carlaaston.com

The pool cabana in the Pasadena Showcase House of Design had a pretty summer tabletop with some woven placemats and beautiful print textiles. Designer of this space was The Art of Room Design.

Lovely, casual tabletop for summer in the pool cabana, designed by The Art of Room Design.

Summer Brunch Tabletop

And here’s another summer tabletop in my home, this one going for a country living type of vibe for a casual brunch.

The chickens were part of my MIL’s collection and the white pitchers are from my own gatherings over the years. I love adding little collectibles on a table for a personalized look.

White snapdragons look really fresh and summery on this table with a “picnic look” blue tablecloth, some seagrass chargers and napkin rings. The bamboo flatware is fun, light and makes it really feel like picnic. They are dishwasher friendly and an inexpensive Amazon find! They would be great poolside too.

BTW, when you have a round table you really need round or oval placemats. I love these seagrass ones as they go with everything.