There's something about the sunshine that just makes everything a little bit more beautiful. Colors feel more saturated, fragrant scents hang around a little longer, and textures become slightly more noticeable against your softly sun-kissed skin.
And then, of course, there is the innate optimism that comes with the season, which feeds through to all the latest, greatest, and trending summer decor ideas.
Whether it's stylish pieces to set on your table, discerning decor that feels one-of-a-kind, scents specifically selected for the season, or lighting you can carry both indoors and out, I've searched high and low to find all the best homewares to buy this summer.
Yes — these are the items I've got saved in my own shopping cart (if not already styled in my own home), the ones that get shared on the Livingetc team Slack channel, and the latest releases to hit my inbox this month.
Table Talk
Setting the table has taken on a whole new meaning in 2025. For many, the new telltale of true taste is as much about what's on the table, as it is about what's on the plates.
Cutlery, glassware, dinnerware, and platters are no longer mere utensils — they're conversation starters. Themes are no longer tacky, but a form of storytelling. Just like one would expect a fully immersive experience at a restaurant, so too now goes when hosting at home. These days, the table talks, so tell a story that counts.
Embroidered details are the *it* thing for table linens right now, and this cocktail napkins set, with its silly goose, is the perfect balance of playful and polished.
I've been on the hunt for a water jug that can double as a flower vase, and I think this one even triples as a work of art. So cool. I can already hear the ooohs and ahhhs when I set this down on the table this summer.
When it comes to cutlery, you can't get more classic than French brand, Sabre, in my books. This trippy set is already on my wedding registry (and it's the only thing I've planned so far).
Glass tumblers with decorative motifs have gone absolutely mainstream right now, (and tbh, I'm not sure how I feel), but this colorful 'je t'aime' design toes the line just right.
There's something so polished about placemats — the all-to-often forgotten detail on the table. But they're foundations, they set the scene, and this woven scalloped design from Rebecca Udall is a scene I want to be part of.
Got people coming over? Get a tin of PERELLÓ olives. With packaging this iconic, you don't even need to decant them — straight to the table.
You can't go wrong with classic dinnerware, but when you mix two classic Chinese chinoiserie patterns together, it's magic. I first saw this design in Stockholm, and have been obsessed ever since.
Stripes — they're classic, sure. But are we talking cabana? Pinstripe? French ticking? They all have a place, but all say completely different things (if you ask me, anyway). And this pretty striped linen tablecloth says effortless.
I strongly believe your choice of cutlery can completely change the way your food tastes, and there's nothing better than bamboo. Substantial, stylish, so good.
Dress to Impress
Gone are the days of Pinterest-perfect interiors. Now, it's all about curating lived-in spaces that speak to who we are as individuals — where we've travelled, the things we've collected, the design eras and styles that speak to us best.
When it comes to the decor we dress our spaces in, it's all about unique, hand-crafted pieces that tell a story about where they come from, of tradition and craft, and odd quirks that draw the eye in.
When I think about it, I don't really have that many framed photos of people around my home — it's hard to make it not look a bit cheesy. But this stone standing frame... this is how.
I've developed a bit of a habit of buying myself grocery store flowers since moving to London, and this sculptural vase would be the perfect place to put them.
I'll be honest, I struggle with art. I want something that feels hand-painted and authentic, but I can't quite commit to the price point right now. This piece feels like a happy medium.
I don't like decor that feels mass-produced, but this trinket from Zara Home looks exactly like the pieces I saw while in Marrakech a few months ago. (And you don't have to stash it in your carry-on for the flight home.)
Here's a top tip for you: H&M Home's bathroom section. Most of it is made from 100% cotton, but it's a fraction of the price you'd find elsewhere.
You can drink it, of course (and it's delicious), but the Clase Azul ceramic bottle feels like somewhat of a status symbol when styled on the shelf — quiet luxury at it's finest.
SELETTI know a thing or two about conversation starters, and this trippy vase would look just as good as is, as it would filled with my grocery store flowers. Love.
I once lived with a trestle table as a dining table for six months. My trick: covering it in a beautiful linen tablecloth. No one was the wiser. (I even hosted dinner parties on it.)
I've been seeing plates scribbled with sentences everywhere lately, and the selling point feels two-fold: something for the table, sure, but it would work just as well styled on the wall.
Light It Up
Lighting is far from being just functional these days. Whether suspended from the ceiling, resting on a console, or being carried between indoors and out, it's a source of light, sure — but it can also be a moment of sculpture if you choose the right piece.
Case in point: Tabitha Bargh's lighting collection, shown above, which I discovered at Clerkenwell Design Week this year. Crafted from recycled cardboard, it's proof that even something simple can become special through the lens of design.
I was instantly drawn to Tabitha Bargh's cardboard lights when I saw them at Clerkenwell Design Week last month. They're clever, yes, but also feel ridiculously expensive.
It's summer so we can't ignore to convenience of portable and rechargeable lamps right now. But while some feel like something you'd take camping, this one is utterly stunning.
Paper lanterns were (no...are) a big thing in the lighting space, which is why this silk option feels slightly less trend-led, more timeless. Plus, the black contrast trim is just yum.
Kartell's Teresa lamp by Ferruccio Laviani is meant to resemble unfurling petals, which feels summer-coded. It's available in a range of colors, and made from recycled plastic, which is cool, too.
This lamp has been on my wishlist for upwards of a year now. It's chocolate, it's glossy, it's got bows (or ribbons, at least) — all the best trends from the last year without feeling 'trendy'.
I know, I know, I sort of threw shade on paper lanterns before, but there's a reason they're popular. And honestly, I love them. In fact, I own one. (Not this one — but I'd like to.)
Scent of Summer
Scent has an incredible way to slingshot you back to a specific time and place. And for summer, it's all about light, fresh, vibrant scents that make us think of time spent well outdoors. Think bergamot, citrus, or fresh ozonic accords.
While the best home fragrance is, of course, subjective, I've asked the Livingetc team to share the scents that remind them of summer the most (but also look ridiculously good while they burn, of course).
Honestly, I was first drawn to this candle for the vessel. But then I read it's scent is inspired by Mimosa (the tree, not cocktail — that would be far too sickly). It's a bright, sweetly perfumed scent that reveals aquatic and juicy notes of melon over time.
The tomato scent trend was hot last year, and for good reason. It's subtle, fresh, earthy, wholesome — a fragrance that won't overpower, but will make you feel like you're spending time in the garden (even if you're far from it).
But with all the scents that sum up summer — sunscreen, bug spray, dinner parties, etc. — sometimes it's best to go fragrance-less when it comes to your candles. This ribbed style adds character without clashing.
Sh*t happens, sometimes it rains in summer. But my gosh, there's nothing I love more than the smell of petrichor hitting the hot footpath. And this Byredo candle captures it. Yum.
Perhaps for you, summer is synonymous with going on holidays. In which case, a scent like Diptyque's best-selling Figuier is perfect — think the scent of sticky fig trees in the sun.
Yes, tomato again, but look how elegant it is, mimicking the silhouette of a regal candlestick holder and stick all in one. Rather than the fruit, this scent captures the leaves — think fresh, green, with a delicate touch of cassis berries.
Take a Seat
Summer is for lounging, it's for reclining in the sun, getting ready to go out and catch up with friends, for dinner parties... all of which is best done seated. So let's find some stylish perches to do it on, shall we?
When it comes to the hotter months, it's important to look for fabrics that are extra breathable (that means no leather, corduroy, velvets...) — think cotton, wicker and rattan, and of course silhouettes that recline or leave you with room to move, rather than snuggle into.
This vanity and chair set has gone, understandably, viral lately. The chair tucks seamlessly under the table and the mirror folds down, and it just scratches the certain design itch you can't quite explain.
Yes, I know, it says it's a side table, but why couldn't you sit on this as a stool, too? Need an extra perch at the end of the dining table when your friend shows up with an unexpected plus one? Voilà.
Okay, this woven paper rope chair and footstool set looks so much more expensive than its price tag. The chrome tubular frame and woven, low-slung seat... yes, please. Plus, it's currently 30% off right now.
As an Australian... this feels like the perfect outdoor lounger to me. It's canvas seat is breathable yet sturdy, it's solid wooden frame timeless, and the built-in sun shade — well that's just genius. It's giving safari-meets-St Tropez.
LALA Reimagined's x Anthropologie has to be one of the better collaborations I've seen in the last year. Yes, it's expensive, but each piece — including this clever triangle ottoman that fits in awkward corners — feels utterly bespoke.
As you can see, I have a thing for 'sort-of stools', furniture that can easily double as a piece of decor, as well. I also happen to have a thing for tapestry fabric, so this particular stool ticks all my boxes.
Let's Take It Outside
If there is one thing that sums up the summer season more than anything else, it's being outside. In 2025, we're treating our outdoor space like an outdoor living room; giving it the same considered design treatment as we would inside.
Whether that means refreshing your seating situation, or reviving your garden beds that haven't fared to well over winter, just because people often associate it with 'working' in the garden, doesn't mean you can't make your garden accessories look good, too.
Livingetc's design writer Olivia Wolfe introduced me to the concept of a mattress roll, and now I've seen it on TOAST, I'm sold. Padded enough to sleep on, but so much more stylish than an inflatable bed — plus, you can take it out side and chase the sun.
'What on earthy are these', you ask? No, they don't belong in a laboratory, they belong in your plant pots where they'll slowly drip water into the soil as and when it's needed. Self-regulated watering that oozes style? Yes, yes, yes.
Are these H&M outdoor chairs giving you Hay, as well? I can see the sleek silhouette, iron composition, and not-quite-white color lasting season after season. (Both in terms of style and make.)
Even something as simple as a watering can can be a thing of beauty if you look hard enough. This style, made from glass, looks delicate but still does the job. Reviews also mention how the thin spout makes it easy for watering smaller house plants.
I recently overheard a conversation on the tube about how bird-watching is becoming more popular with the younger generations. (That makes me sound old.) Anyway, what better way to watch birds than in your own garden?
Further proof that practical can be pretty. This garden tool set is made from carbon steel and oak, and is basically begging to be hung up on display somewhere when it's not in use. Stunning.
It's frankly incredible how one small piece of decor can completely lift, shift, brighten, or lighten the entire look of your space. And the start of a new season feels like an appropriate time to take stock of what you've got, and what might be missing.
Looking to make a bigger impact? These summer color palettes could spark the inspiration you've been looking for.
Until next season.
