Summer decor trends are all about bringing joy and sunshine to your home. From decorating with exuberant botanical prints and vibrant tones, to adding in some key accessories and a few fresh flowers, introducing summer decor trends is a great way to capture the magic of the season and to put a spring in your step.
If you’re lucky enough to live in warmer climes or have a vacation home, then embracing these summery looks will help create that uplifting summer feel year-round. However, you don't need to have a place in the sun to enjoy summer decor. While it’s impractical to totally redecorate from season to season, introducing a few on-trend summer pieces is a wonderful way to breathe new life into your home, be it switching up scatter pillows for more vibrant designs or replacing heavy curtains and throws for lightweight, cooling linens.
So, whether you’re embarking on a new project and looking for the latest summer color trends, or simply want to inject vitality with some new accessories, we’ve rounded up an array of summer decor trends to get you inspired, alongside tips from interior designers and a host of the latest on-trend summer buys.
1. Fruit prints and homeware
From juicy lemons and oranges to trailing strawberries, decorative pomegranates, this summer it seems the interiors world has developed an appetite for fruity prints. Increasingly we’re seeing fruit motifs gracing walls, used as an alternative to florals, but this season there’s also a whole host of fruity homewares and accessories available. Used over fabrics and wallpapers they’re a wonderful way to make a statement and inject energy and vibrancy.
‘Fun, fruity prints are the zest your space needs – perfect for sunny kitchens, cheerful breakfast nooks, or powder rooms that crave a splash of playful charm,’ says Courtnay Tartt Elias, founder of Creative Tonic Design. ‘Let the light pour in and bring the outdoors inside!’
If a full-sized fruity feature wall is a bit too much to live with, why not try squeezing in some zesty homeware for a more subtle take on this summer decor trend? Alternatively, if you’re planning a summer garden party, citrus table linen and tableware paired with a fruity summer table centerpiece make a fabulous and vibrant table theme.
Covered in a vibrant pattern of trailing lemons and leaves this fun fabric would make a fantastic feature headboard in a summery bedroom. Alternatively, why not use it on kitchen blinds for a fun color pop in a kitchen?
Covered in sculptural raised lemon branches, this statement vase would look fabulous in the center of a summer dining table or entryway filled with lush greenery, but would also look wonderful as part of a decorative vignette.
Evoke the magic of a Mediterranean orange grove by decorating with bunches of greenery bursting with oranges. Use these stems to bring life to an entryway table.
2. Blue and green
Blue and green is a color combination we’re spotting again and again this summer, and for good reason. Appearing together in nature, these colors make an effortless pairing, and when used in mid and light tones, they are guaranteed to bring a bright and breezy feel to interiors. Here, the sage green and blue color combination brings freshness and vitality to this entryway by Katie Davis Design.
‘People always love blue and green, they’re easy to live with and never go out of style,’ says interior designer Katie Davis. ‘I use them constantly. Whether it’s a soft sage or a bold navy, they bring in a natural calm but still feel full of life.’
Classic with a fun little twist, this tassel-edged linen pillow cover brings a light-hearted color pop without being overpowering. The zesty chartreuse linen has a wonderful texture, perfect for a relaxed summer look.
Fans of the ornate Arts & Crafts-inspired prints will love this stylized bird and flower wallpaper. Brought to life in blues and greens, it's perfect for bringing a fresh and pretty feel to a bedroom or powder room.
Block print continues to be hugely popular and these block printed napkins are a wonderful way to inject artisan charm to tablescapes. We love this on-trend blue and green design spotted on Amazon.
3. Classic gingham
Conjuring farmhouse kitchens and harvest scenes, decorating with gingham is a great way to evoke a summer feel. While gingham never really goes out of fashion, this season gingham seems to be a big summer trend and we’ve been spotting it everywhere from interior design projects to high street buys.
‘Gingham always feels fresh in the summer, especially in lighter weights or smaller scales. I love it for curtains, breakfast nooks, or playful kids' spaces, it’s cheerful without being cutesy,’ explains Katie.
For a timeless coastal decor idea, pair gingham with stripes in a palette of neutrals and blue, and finish with rattan accessories. Alternatively, pair gingham with florals for a pretty bedroom scheme.
Covered in neutral gingham this armchair is a timeless piece which would sit comfortable in an array of looks. The chair features a swivel and forward backward glide making it a flexible seating option which works particularly well in nurseries.
This gingham bed linen would sit beautifully in a neutral coastal or country scheme. Made from natural, breathable flax, the bed linen is great for regulating body temperature at night during the summer months.
This timeless tablecloth from The Six Bells oozes country charm. Teamed with classic white china, it makes a wonderful backdrop to a pared-back summer table, but it can easily be styled up for autumn and spring, too.
4. Rattan
Rattan has been topping the summer trend charts for a while now and shows no sign of abating this year. Bringing a dose of organic warmth as well as relaxed, vintage vibes, rattan, cane, and wicker pieces are beloved by interior designers and can be incorporated in all manner of ways, from a simple plant pot to a sunroom dining set.
‘When we think of summer, we always tend to think of outdoor spaces. Our favorite? The sunroom, especially this one we designed on the cape, which brings the outdoors in,’ says Meg McSherry, interior designer and founder of Meg McSherry Interiors. ‘Rattan furniture gives the room coziness, while the brick floor gives the room more warmth. It's the perfect place to appreciate ocean views, play board games, and still make the most of summer.’
Interior designer Allison Babcock is also a fan of rattan furniture and often incorporates pieces into her beach house projects. ‘Rattan furniture has made a strong return to interiors this summer, and it is not just for the sun porch,' says Allison Babcock. 'We are using it for multiple furnishings in the family room and in the living room, from vintage curved coffee tables, side chairs, and sofas to game tables. It's sturdy, durable, and works perfectly in weekend homes. It has the perfect casual elegance that sets the tone you want for gathering with family and friends.’
If you're hosting a garden party this summer then give your rustic summer bakes a beautiful pedestal with this fun rattan cake stand. Available at The Six Bells, the stand will bring warmth and texture to a summer table and we love the on-trend scallop edging.
Bring warmth and texture to neutral interiors with this fabulous cordless talbe lamp. Practical and stylish, it can be moved anywhere around the home to bring pockets of light when you need a soft glow.
Featuring a beautiful curved frame of hand-wrapped rattan, this Antica armchair is guaranteed to turn heads. Perfect for a sunroom it comes with a rope-trimmed cushion.
6. Warm, earthy colors
Warm, earthy colors, from rich paprika and terracotta through to more gentle peach and plaster tones, continue to captivate the interior world this season. If you’re daring with decor, a rich shade wall-to-wall will evoke the summer heat year-round; alternatively, a rug, throw, or accent chair in an otherwise neutral space will add welcome warmth to a bedroom or living room.
‘A sun-drenched summer isn’t always on the cards, but you can bring in your own warm glow with some wonderful Californian-inspired shades. The hot spice of Bamboozle offers huge amounts of warmth. For something slightly less intense, try Setting Plaster or Templeton Pink,’ suggests Patrick O’Donnell, Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball.
‘Terracotta is the color of the summer due to its warm, earthy tones that evoke feelings of comfort and connection to nature,’ agrees the team at Main Street Home. ‘Reminiscent of sun-baked clay and rustic landscapes, the color adds a vibrant yet soothing touch to outdoor and indoor spaces. Its versatility allows it to complement a wide range of colors, making it ideal for summer palettes.’
Bring richness and warmth to a bedroom or entryway with this pretty accent chair. Featuring an on-trend skirt for a dose of nostalgia it is pictured in the Rose Vintage Velvet but also comes in Citron, Denim and Navy.
Featuring on-trend ruffles and a rustic texture, this pretty scatter pillow would instantly soften a neutral bed or sofa. This sunbaked brick hue would work well layered with terracotta and cream textiles.
With its warm colors and folksy abstract patterns, this characterful rug is a great way to embrace relaxed, boho style without overpowering a room. It comes in multiple sizes and in a round shape, too.
7. Tropical florals
Wallpapers and fabrics covered in exuberant prints that celebrate the flora and fauna of tropical climes will instantly bring a room to life. Statement wall murals of exotic vistas are proving popular with wallpaper brands this year, and used wall-to-wall can transform spaces into a paradise.
They make a fabulous statement in a dining room; alternatively, for a tropical twist in an everyday space, why not choose a chinoiserie kitchen backsplash or a jungle-inspired wallpaper in a powder room?
‘Tropical prints always feel like summer to me, they’re playful, a little nostalgic, and bring that instant sense of escape,’ says Kara Adam, Dallas-based interior designer and founder of Kara Adam Interiors. ‘I love using them in coastal homes or places where indoor-outdoor living is part of everyday life. In a kitchen or sunroom, they bring such great energy. It’s like adding a little sunshine to the walls, fresh, fun, and not too serious.’
Give your summer table a joyful color pop with these painterly floral napkins. Featuring an array of pink, green, and yellow tones on oatmeal ground they're the perfect starting point for a tablescape color palette.
Evoke the grandeur and luxury of tropical climes of yesteryear with this stunning chinoiserie mural. Featuring meandering branches and tropical birds the design will transform a room into an exotic escape.
Set the tone for a vibrant summer celebration with this tropical tablecloth bursting with birds and flora.
8. Cool cotton and linen textiles
While winter decor is all about creating cozy, cocooning environments, summer decor trends are all about keeping rooms cool and breezy, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep things looking layered and welcoming. Just like in winter and autumnal rooms, fabrics always play a role in creating texture, and summer rooms are no different; plus, they can help to keep a home cool.
Think about switching thick, heavy bedding, pillows, and throws for lighter fabrics for a cooler night's sleep. Replace wool, velvet, and fur with lightweight, textural linen and cotton, and replace heavy woven and lined curtains with summer window treatments such as delicate sheers.
‘There are several design changes that can be implemented that add quite a bit of impact and can alter the feel of a space seasonally,’ explains interior designer Allison Babcock. ‘In the primary bedroom suite of a vacation home in the Hamptons, we enhance the summertime feeling of comfort and ease throughout the whole space. For the seating nook in the summer months, we take away the sheepskin rug and replace it with a sisal rug, cotton and linen throws, and cotton and or silk upholstered pillows.
‘Light fills this space beautifully in the morning, so to give it a fresh new feel, we update the bed linens with a few sets of crisp white bed linens in Egyptian cotton and bamboo with accent blankets in different shades of blue.’
Woven from high-quality Portuguese linen this bedding is wonderfully cooling and breathable for summer and gets softer with age. Available in crisp white or a warm flax, it will sit happily in any summer bedroom scheme.
Boasting a beautiful, relaxed ruffled texture, this Turkish cotton fringed throw is ideal for layering in a summer bedroom. Available in five gentle shades, it's perfect for replacing heavy wool and fur throws as part of a relaxing summer bedroom refresh.
Switching heavy curtains for more lightweight sheers and voiles is a great way to keep rooms cool and create a relaxed, floaty feel. These Lena cafe curtains are ideal for tapping into the cafe chic trend.
Whether you’re looking to create a joyful space where the sun shines year-round or you’re simply looking for a little summer reset, this season, there are plenty of summer decor trends to inspire. Decorating with sunbaked hues or happy sunshine shades is a wonderful way to capture that warm summer glow, whatever the weather. Alternatively, this season we’re seeing lots of fresh and zingy blues and greens paired together, paying homage to the natural world.
