The lazy days of summer are perfect for tackling some fun decorating projects around the house. With extra time on your hands, you can finally get to those DIY home accents you’ve been pinning and dreaming up. We’ve rounded up 9 easy yet impactful decorating projects that are fun for lazy summer days.
Refresh Your Furniture with Paint or Fabric
Breathing new life into tired furnishings is one of our favorite decorating projects for summer. Look around your home for pieces that need an update – an old dresser, flea market chair, or garage sale table are all great candidates. A fresh coat of paint in a trendy hue instantly modernizes worn furniture. For chairs or sofas, new upholstery fabric can make the piece look brand new. This is an affordable way to spruce up your space without spending on new items. YouTube has endless tutorials on painting or reupholstering furniture to help you through it.
Create Your Own Wall Art
Blank walls are the perfect summer canvas for do-it-yourself art projects. You can make trendy geometric designs using painter’s tape or create your own abstract wall hanging with canvas and acrylic paints. String up a photo clothesline in your hallway or get artsy with oversized wall decals. Another fun idea is to use thumbtacks or small nails to hang up items that reflect your personal style – sea shells, potted succulents, vintage mirrors or your kids’ artwork. The options are endless when creating original wall decor all your own.
Upgrade Kitchen Cabinets with New Hardware
Replacing old, dated hardware with modern cabinet knobs and pulls instantly upgrades the look of your kitchen. Spend a summer afternoon switching out all the pulls, knobs and hinges to ones that match your desired aesthetic – opt for sleek bronzed metal or whimsical glass knobs. Installing new hardware is an easy DIY project that makes a huge visual impact. Get inspired by browsing sites like Anthropologie, West Elm or Etsy for unique hardware to elevate your kitchen style.
Build Your Own Backyard Fire Pit
S’mores, anyone? Constructing a fire pit is a fun weekend project that will make summer nights in your backyard extra cozy. You can purchase pre-made fire pit rings or blocks and simply arrange them on a flat patch of ground. Or flex your DIY skills and use bricks, stones or pavers to form the pit circle. Make sure to follow safety guidelines such as keeping the fire 15 feet from structures and having a fire extinguisher on hand. Once your pit is complete, enjoy flickering flames and starry nights all summer long.
Inject Color with Fresh Throw Pillows
An easy way to instantly change up your decor is by adding new throw pillows around your interior spaces. Use colorful or patterned pillows to complement your existing scheme or go bold with totally different hues to liven things up. Mix textures like velvet and linen for depth and interest. Affordable floor pillows are another fun way to create a lounge vibe in your living room or bedroom. Add tasseled fringe and tassels to fancy up basic pillows. Update your throw pillows each season to keep your home looking fresh.
Display Your Collections
Summer’s slower schedule allows time to curate and organize your favorite collections so you can properly show them off. For shell lovers, install floating shelves or a cabinet to nicely display gorgeous seashells, corals and starfish. Show off vintage pottery or everyday antiques in a glass front cabinet or on open shelving. Build or buy display boxes to neatly arrange small items like rocks, coins or stamps. Use creativity and personalized style to highlight your unique collections in clever ways.
Update Tired Lampshades
Yellowed, torn or outdated lampshades can make a room look drab and dated. The good news is, it’s easy and affordable to switch out shades for an instant room refresh. Look for replacement shades that complement your home’s style – drum shades for clean modern spaces or scalloped edges and tassels for traditional rooms. Cool tone black or white shades add contrast. Have fun pairing metallic sheens like gold, rose gold or silver with your base lamps and decor. The options are endless for finding new lampshades to shine a light on your home’s style.
Craft Mini Gallery Walls Throughout Your Home
Gallery walls are a fun way to decorate using family photos, art pieces and other beloved items. Why not create mini gallery walls in unexpected spaces? Cluster framed photos, artwork or plates above a hallway console table or bathroom vanity. Arrange favorite prints down a stairwell or in a kitchen nook. Experiment with mixing frame sizes, colors and orientations. These small vignettes show off your personal collections around the home in an artistic way.
Refresh Outdoor Cushions
Patios, porches and decks get a lot of wear and tear, so freshen things up by sewing new covers for outdoor cushions. Choose brightly colored, weather resistant fabrics like canvas, denim or acrylic. Measure carefully so the new covers fit snugly over the cushion foam. Trim with ties, buttons or pom pom fringe. New cushion covers instantly spruce up faded outdoor furniture. Consider covers that can be easily removed and laundered as outdoor cushions tend to get dirty more quickly.
Enjoy the slower pace of summer by tackling these 9 easy yet rewarding decor upgrades. With a relaxed schedule, you can finally make progress on DIY projects, redecorate on a budget, display your favorite collections and refresh your space with colorful accents. Don’t let the lazy days of summer slip away – take advantage of extra time at home to check decorating projects off your list. Get inspired by summer trends and have fun putting your personal stamp on every room. Your home will be picture perfect and Pinterest worthy before you know it!
