Bring the colors and feelings of summertime into your home with these best tips and tricks from Better Homes & Garden — everything from furniture arrangements to the smells of the season.
Let the Light In!
Throw open the doors and windows, pull back the curtains, and get rid of pieces that are dark, gloomy, or fussy.
Natural Living
Set a Colorful Table
Consider buying accent dishes to add splashes of summertime color and pattern to your next dinner party. Mix bright floral, tropical, or nautical-theme dishes with your everyday plates and bowls.
Light up the Night
String paper lanterns on tree branches around an outdoor patio to allow gatherings to last well into the night hours.
Summery Scents
For a continuous seasonal aesthetic in your home, switch out scents as the seasons change. Gingerbread and evergreen are great smells for winter months, but in the summer many people crave fresh scents, such as ocean breeze or cucumber-melon.
Garden Fresh
Interject bright, summery colors in your home with freshly picked flowers. To make the biggest impact, stick to arrangements featuring warm colors — such as bold oranges, radiant yellows, or vibrant pinks — and save rich reds and deep purples for other seasons.