Simple Summer Decorating Ideas
16 July 2010
Author: Kara Ward
Before you know it, the mercury in the thermometer has risen, the kids are home from school, and the house smells of sunscreen. The season has changed, and so must the home décor. Summer is a wonderful time to bring in bright colors and to lighten up the fabrics in your home. There are numerous summer decorating ideas to add “summer flair” to your décor, and they do not have to be complicated or cost a lot.
Summer treats fill our refrigerators and also our decorations.
- Create a whimsical, watermelon wall clock. You will need a round clock for your base. Buy an inexpensive one that you can remove the clock works and the cover. I find mine in the wood section of the craft store. Cover the face of the clock with red patterned paper or cardstock. Place green ribbon or paper around the frame of the clock. Ribbon works well in the space between the clock face and the frame because it can curve around the clock’s shape. Use number stickers, rub-ons, or chipboard to mark the time on the clock. If you are daring, use watermelon seeds for the number spots or a tear shaped punch and black cardstock. Place the clock back together and hang it in a timely spot. A small desk clock that is round can also be altered into a watermelon. When you check the hour, you will know it is still SUMMERTIME!
- Create a watermelon slice felted pillow for your favorite chair. Cut two triangles from wool felt with a slight curve at the watermelon’s rind. Using your felting tools and wool roving, felt the watermelon’s rind and pulp. Accent the pillow with black buttons, and stitch the pillow together using a running stitch or a blanket stitch. Leave one side of the watermelon open for adding the stuffing. Then close it up and enjoy your new watermelon pillow.
- Save those delicious ice cream sticks from the ice cream man and create a house with a thermometer on it. Place 4 sticks into a frame shape for a base. Glue the other sticks vertically to fill in the base. Create a roof with two sticks glued at the top of the base to create a house shape from Popsicle sticks. Paint your ice cream stick creation and add doors, windows, chimney, or anything to make it look more like a house. Add a small thermometer and place on the fridge. You are recycling the remains of a favorite summer treat.
Summer toys aren’t just for the kids; they are perfect finds for decorating.
- Bring out the Perler fuse beads and choose your favorite bright summer colors to create a garland. Have each family member create a pair of flip flops that reflect their personality from the Perler beads. Cut out the letters in your family’s last name or simply spell out the word summer on 4 x 6 inch pieces of cardstock. String together the fused flip flops and the letters on the cardstock with a piece of ribbon. Alternate each flip flop with a letter, or create your own design. Hang the garland over a mirror, doorway, or on a fireplace.
- I loved tying pinwheels to my bicycle when I was little and watching them whirl. Create your own pinwheels from double sided patterned paper and a brad center. Place them on a painted dowel rod or a colorful drinking straw. Fill a sand bucket with florist foam and hide it with a little shredded gift bag filler. The pinwheels make a fun table centerpiece that is sure to get the party started or the conversation flowing. The pinwheels are also fun glued to a wreath form. Create your own form by cutting a doughnut shape from the lid of a pizza box. Cover the cardboard with paper or paint it. Add a large bow, and you have an inexpensive wreath for your inside door, mirror, or wall.
Summer lends itself for travel and vacations. Our cherished memorabilia can take center stage in our home.
- Display a favorite family destination in a shadow box. Make sure to use a meaningful photo that represents the trip and real items such as postcards, ticket stubs, or even a sea shell or two. Journaling can be displayed for all to read, or it can be tucked into a bottle like it was found on the beach.
- Create an inexpensive glass jar vacation memento. Bring back a little sand from the beach, and I don’t mean in your swimsuit. (When traveling home, put the sand into a shampoo bottle.) Once home, find a large, glass jar with a lid and dump your sand into it. Add rub-ons to the outside of the jar with the name of the location you visited. Add seashells, starfish, or even a little plastic plant for color. Place a copy of your vacation photo in a cardboard frame and decorate it with beach stickers. Add an ice cream stick to the frame and secure the stick into the sand. You just created a lovely accessory for an end table display and a fun way to remember a wonderful trip.
- With a tree branch, some paint, a little glitter, a vase, marbles, ribbon, cardstock, and vacation photos, you could create a vacation tree or a summer fun tree. Paint a dead tree branch and sprinkle the branch with glitter while the paint is wet. Use a vase or any glass jar and fill it with marbles or dragon tears from the floral department in a craft store. Place the glittery branch into the vase, using the marbles to keep the branch in place. Place vacation photos onto colorful cardstock and punch a hole in the top of the cardstock. Then string the ribbon through the hole and hang photos onto tree branch like you would ornaments. Write who, what, where, why, and when on the back of the cardstock. This tree could represent many vacations by having a collection of different travel photos on it. It could also have summer type photo such as swimming, baseball, or family barbeques. Make sure to use copies of your photos.
- Craft a vibrant mirror with tropical stickers. Wrap an
inexpensive mirror in crinkled tissue paper and cording for a beachy
look then add summery dimensional stickers for a quick and easy decor
piece that is sure to please. Tuck in seashells, post cards or other vacation memorabilia or even apply this idea to a photo frame filled with vacation memories.
- Arrange a collection of vacation photos onto a canvas. Add bright summery embellishments for a memorable work of art.
- An old suitcase makes an interesting display with postcards and photos decoupaged to the outside of it. The suitcases can be stacked to create an end table, or open and filled with mementos from favorite destinations. I can picture a Disney decoupaged suitcase with mouse ears, souvenir t-shirts, pins, and even a stuffed Mickey or two.
- Whip up a quick and easy wall hanging. Create a simple scrapbook layout and mount it onto chipboard. Then just add ribbon and hang!
Bring your imagination and plan to have fun as you create these sizzling new summer decorating ideas for your home this season.