Summer is officially here, which means it’s time to refresh our spaces for the long, hot days ahead. You probably know the easy fixes—packing away any spring decor (and any heavy blankets still hanging around!) and ridding your rooms of anything overly pastel—but there are a few more swaps you can make to ready your living room for the season ahead. Below, I’m sharing four designer-approved ways to quickly refresh your living room for the hottest days of the year.
Incorporate Lightweight Textiles
Come July and August, it’s time to lean into soft ocean blues and fresh whites. Step one: remove any thick throws and woolen textiles from your living room, replacing them with lighter layers—think gauzy cotton throws and crisp cotton throw pillows—that feel seasonally appropriate. Don’t love the look of classic cotton? You can still incorporate texture by repurposing vintage grain sacks or sailing flags into fun decorative pillows.
And don’t overlook your floors! In this coastal living room, a blue-and-white flat-weave rug is layered over timeless sisal carpeting. If you love the layered look, opt for a lightweight rug with little to no pile to ensure the space doesn’t feel too heavy during hot weather.
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Lean Into Outdoor Materials
Nothing says a fresh new look like a good old-fashioned furniture swap. This summer, if possible, move your bulky upholstered pieces out of your main living area to make room for furniture pieces with a lighter, airier feel—think rattan- or bamboo-framed sofas and chaises. And, while rearranging your entire room may not be an option (storage is an issue, after all!), even swapping out an accent chair or two—or removing slipcovers to expose legs and frames—will do the trick.
You’ll still want some upholstery to maintain the comfort of indoor living, so look for pieces that have removable cushions covered in performance fabrics. Who knows—you may want to adopt the outdoor furniture year-round!
Decorate with Seasonal Sights
Did you collect seashells by the seashore? If so, now is the time to put them on display! Take a page from design author and shop owner Nora Murphy’s design playbook and use large shells as decorative coffee table additions, while corralling small shells under cloches and in bowls. For Nora, particularly beautiful shells get a place of honor in her corner curio cabinet.
RELATED: Tour More of Author Nora Murphy’s Collected Coastal Cottage
Not near the ocean? No problem! This approach works just as well in lakeside homes. This colorful Wisconsin cottage references nearby ducks with a decoy on display, along with a scale model of a canoe, reminding visitors of the fun that awaits them just outside the slamming screened door.
Make Your Own Ocean Views
Even if you live miles away from the water, bring the summer retreat feel to your living room by refreshing your walls with some ocean-themed art. Salty seascapes like those pictured here are a designer favorite, but portraits of weathered sea captains also add much-loved quirk. When in doubt, nautical knots or sailing flags also bring a summery feel without feeling too on-the-nose.
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Anna Logan is the Deputy Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
