10 Ways to Summerize Your Home
We prepare for the long, cold winter months by surrounding ourselves with warmth. We turn up the heat, use our fireplaces, and caulk windows, anything to block out the cold. Our home decorations reflect this desire to be warm and cozy. We surround ourselves with things that say “warmth” like candles, throws, and an abundance of pillows on our beds and sofas that invite us to sink into the warmth. Now that summer is here, I get hot just thinking about this.
As the temperatures rise, we seek a feeling of lightness and coolness in the way we dress, the foods we eat, and the decorations in our homes. It is time to summerize your home; get rid of the heavy clothes, the layers, and the preference for warm colors. Now is the time to think light and cool. It is the perfect time to look at your home with new eyes. What makes it feel hot and heavy? What simple changes can be made to improve the way it feels?
Here are 10 Tips to Summerize Your Home…
- Eliminate excess. Pack away many of your knickknacks. Clear away anything that feels cluttered or “hot.” Favor simplicity and lightness.
- Remove dark colored pillows from the bed and sofa and pack them away for now. Or if you prefer, replace them with cool colors or cover them with slipcovers.
- Replace heavy scent candles with fresh floral scented ones for the summer or consider packing away the candles for use next season.
- Roll up any area rugs or throw rugs that you can live without to open up and lighten the room.
- Pack away your winter comforters and replace them with lighter weight comforters in cooler colors.
- If you have an excessive number of plants, take them outside for the season to open up your spaces. You don’t want your house to feel like a tropical jungle.
- Do your curtains and drapes feel too warm and heavy? Consider taking them down and leaving the windows bare. If that’s too shocking for you, put up some lace curtains, sheers, or other lighter material.
- Wash your windows or have them washed. There’s something quite pleasing about clean windows on a sunny day.
- Consider giving your house a face-lift with new interior paint. Paint is inexpensive and can dramatically improve the look of a room. Home decorating trends favor using color instead of the conventional off-white.
- Decide where you will store the off-season items you have taken down. You can store them in containers under beds, in available cabinets and closets, or in an off-season storage area in your basement. Large trunk-style plastic containers with lids work well. Label them with the contents (e.g., Winter accessories). If you use clear containers, you can even see what’s inside.
I think you’ll enjoy this uncluttered summer look, and you’ll find it’s easy to keep clean. For more ideas contact L’IMAGE Design Studio, we’ll be happy to create the “look” that’s right for your lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!

Refresh, Brighten and Cheery