101 Ways to Refresh Your Home for Spring and Summer: The Complete List
The warming weather provides the perfect opportunity to update your home. However, a full spring/summer overhaul can be a daunting task. As the vernal months approach, you may be wondering, what types of interior design are on-trend for the season? How do I "springify" my space in the most stylish way possible?
If you want to make chic, seasonal upgrades to your home, you will love this list. This comprehensive guide to upgrading your home for spring and summer offers 101 tips to refresh your home for warmer weather. Every suggestion is made with style in mind, and recommendations from the newest arrivals in bedding, furniture, and home decor. Even better, the post is organized by room, so you can focus on each section of your house individually.
The below Table of Contents allows you to skip to the section of the house you are most interested in updating for spring.
Lets dive right in!
Table of Contents
The Primary Bedroom: How to Prepare Your Bedroom for Warmer Weather
1. Choose cotton, linen, and other light bedding options
As the weather gets warmer, you may want to replace heavier silk or bamboo bedding with lighter, more breathable cotton and linen duvets and shams. 100% cotton percale and lightweight linen are the most cooling materials for your spring and summer bedding
Crisp white, light grays and baby blues are the perfect shades to heighten the cooling effect. Choose duvet covers, coverlets, and blankets in light colors to reflect the brighter light of spring and summer. The light colors will also signal to your brain that you are in your summer environment.
2. Keep it playful with brightly colored throw pillows
Playful throw pillows in bright colors like green, pink, blue, and yellow can add a seasonal pop of color to your spring and summer home. Designers like John Robshaw and Designers Guild create stylish, current designs that will elevate your master bedroom.
3. Drape a Chic Throw Blanket Over the End of the Bed for a Relaxed Feel
A stylish cotton, wool, or cashmere throw blanket draped diagonally across the end of the bed creates a casual but elevated bedroom look. See the John Robshaw bedroom below for throw blanket draping inspiration!
4. Replace wintery fleece or sateen sheets with crisp percale sheets
The tight weave of sateen sheets can make them slightly warmer than a more crisp percale style. Trade out your winter sheets for a fresh spring sheet set in a long-staple cotton percale. Percale is a type of cotton that is extra crisp and matte, rather than shimmery sateen.
Bestselling sheets for warm weather include:
- Sferra's Giza 45 Percale Sheets
- Matouk's Luca Hemstitch Percale Sheets
- Peacock Alley Lyric Percale Bedding
5. Use a Neutral Area Rug to Keep the Room Soft and Cozy
Neutral does not have to mean sparse and cold. A neutral area rug helps to add texture and depth to your spring and summer bedroom.
6. Create a Clean and Fragrant Vibe with Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers feel like a gift to yourself every time you enter your room, plus, they smell great! Purchase fresh flowers weekly from your local florist, flower market, or even the grocery store to liven up the bedroom.
7. Use a Diffuser to Fill the Room with Your Signature Scent
Nothing says spring like Prosecco! Celebrate the season with a lively, unique scent from Antica Farmacista.
A diffuser is great alternative to a candle or a room spray because the scent is longer lasting and more permeating in the room.
Benefits of Using a Scent You Love in Your Bedroom:
- The sense of smell is the sense most associated with memory. Choosing a positive spring and summer smell will help you associate positive memories with your bedroom and make it a calming space where you want to spend time.
- The smell of spring will help you let the sunshine in this spring season
- A scent that you love can help lift your self esteem
8. Switch Up Your Lighting Scheme with Wall Sconces
Take the weight out of your lighting scheme for the spring and summer seasons with wall sconces. Because they do not rest on the floor or table, sconces take up less space than traditional lamps. They look stylish and sophisticated on either side of the primary bed.
9. Use Decorative Tissue Box Covers to Make Every Part of the Room Fabulous
It's no surprise that Bustle quoted our CEO, Carlin Van Noppen, in an article on easy fixes to common eyesores in the home when she said that tissue box covers are essential. Chic tissue box covers in lucite, acrylic, wood, or cotton show an attention to detail thats in style, no matter the season.
10. Add Floral Soft Furnishings to The Room to Prepare for the Spring and Summer
Aside from just fresh flowers, keep your interior design up to date this spring and summer season with floral throw blankets and flowery decorative pillows. These bold accent pieces are easy to switch in and out with the changing of the seasons.
Some ideas for incorporating floral soft accents include:
- Toss a floral decorative pillow on the chaise lounge at the end of your bed or the armchair in your reading nook
- Drape a floral throw across the quilt at the end of your bed
- Use a floral silk scarf as a table cloth on your bedside table
The Primary Bathroom: How to Add Spring/Summer Touches
11. Choose a Crisp and Cool Shower Curtain
Changing your shower curtain for spring and summer can make a huge difference in the look of your bathroom. Select something light colored or patterned for an extra seasonal pop.
12. Use a Floral Room Spray to Freshen Your Bathroom for Spring
Infuse your master bathroom with the fresh, spring and summer smells of orange blossom, lilac, and jasmine. Choosing a different signature scent that you love for each room in your home will make the space an olfactory symphony as you move from room to room.
13. A Naturally Inspired Bath Rug Adds an Extra Summery Touch
A plush bath mat shaped like a leaf, stone, or crashing wave by Abyss and Habidecor creates a gorgeous natural feel in your largest bathroom. The high quality and GSM threads make these bath rugs extra soft and fluffy. Shop naturally inspired Abyss and Habidecor bath rugs below.
14. Choose sleek lucite bath accessories to keep it light
Transparent bath accessories like the Ice Clear Lucite Bath Accessories by Mike + Ally look sleek and sophisticated. They allow light to travel through them, emphasizing the bright sun of the spring and summer season.
15. Give your towels a refresh
There's no time to upgrade your bathroom game like the warmer months. Use the excuse of spring to upgrade from your older, threadbare towels for a new fresh and plushy style. What's the softest towel available? Abyss and Habidecor Super Pile towels are our top pick year after year.
16. Step up your robe game with an airy cotton gauze robe
Cotton gauze is the material of summer 2023: it's light, it's airy, and it's unbelievably soft. Ditch your wintery terrycloth robe for a light, summery cotton gauze robe.
17. Keep Organized and Store Your Toiletries in a Summery Dopp Kit
If you like to travel in the spring and summer, you'll love storing your toiletries in a floral makeup bag. Not only is a pouch an adorable way to accessorize your bathroom, but it's pre-packed for the next time you decide to get on the road.
18. Use a guest towel with embroidery for a pop of color
Decorating for spring and summer is all about brightening and lightening your space in the small details. Choose a fingertip towel with a design you love; we have everything from Lion Fish guest towels to geometrically designed tea towels. The small hand towels offer an excellent opportunity to show off your personality in the master bath.
19. Replace your hand soap and hand lotion with a summer-themed scent
Refresh not only your home, but yourself with crisp, fresh-smelling hand wash and hand soap in the primary bathroom. Get a whiff of summer every time you wash your hands.
20. Terry flip flops will keep your feet cozy for the season
As the weather gets warmer and the plants begin to sprout, your terry slippers or sheepskin slippers may feel a bit warm. Keep your toes off the cold bathroom tiles with something more seasonally appropriate: a terry cloth sandal.
The Living Room: Brightening Your Living Space for Spring/Summer
21. Woven throw pillows are your new best friend
A natural colored, woven decorative pillow like the Woven Sand Throw Pillow by John Robshaw (pictured above) is sophisticated, simple, and summery. Pair with a white sofa to create a beyond gorgeous focal point in your living space.
22. Use a cotton throw for a cooler decorative touch
A casual cotton throw is the perfect weight to drape around yourself with the air conditioning on. Lay across the couch when not in use for a casual yet sophisticated vibe.
23. Switch out your lighting for a sleeker pendant lamp
In the living room, a pendant lamp (the kind of lamp that hangs from the ceiling) creates a dazzling effect. Warm overhead lighting saves space on your coffee tables and side tables, while creating an attractive lighting scheme.
24. Keep it textural with a white faux fur foot rest
A low white faux fur ottoman adds dimension, texture, and brightness to your spring living room without making it too busy. The fabulous furs piece is the perfect summer addition because it can be used as additional seating for children when you are entertaining.
25. Light a SAINT candle to reset your home's energy
Spring is the time to release old attachments and invite in positive energy. Limited edition SAINT Candles offer the perfect opportunity to give back while bringing beautiful floral, minty, and saldalwoody scents into your home. Money is donated to St. Jude's children's research hospital with every purchase.
26. Style your tissue boxes with a pop of color
All the living room home decor recommendations to this point have been fairly neutral colored. Use the small stuff, like a tissue box cover, to bring in a bright and unexpected shade.
27. Take "Spring Cleaning" literally
Having the brightest, most stylish space for spring means nothing if your living room is still covered with a layer of winter dirt and grime. Focus on dusting, vacuum, and deep cleaning your space. If you need some motivation, reference the video below from Angela Braniff which includes a step-by-step spring cleaning checklist!
28. Integrate a pattered area rug
An area rug with a simple but striking design can add visual intrigue to a neutral colored living room. Now that there's no snow to track in, the springtime is the perfect time to update.
29. Add a gold wall mirror to create dimension and light to the space
A gold or silver mirror on the wall can help to make a dark room appear brighter and bigger by reflecting all natural and artificial light around the room.
30. Add some greenery
Ashley Knierim of The Spruce writes "It can be hard to keep plants alive when the air turns crisp and the daylight fades away. If you've sacrificed a few houseplants to the winter season, replace them with new greenery." This is especially important in the living room, where you and your family are sure to be spending lots of time this spring.
Update the Guest Bedrooms to Reflect the Season
31. Update the bedding to something white with a crisp and clean band
White bedding with a clean band is often entry-level price point, but looks polished and sophisticated. For spring and summer, try out something with a more fun, brightly colored band.
32. Brighten the room with bold wallpaper
In Good Housekeeping, Amanda Garrity and Monique Valeris write that bold stripes can help to bring the room alive during the spring. It can give the home a coastal feel and add depth to the space. A bold like this works best in a space like the guest room, where you are not spending so much time that you will become bored of the look.
33. Try rearranging to bring some new life the space
Rearranging is a great way to turn your house into a whole new home for spring! Since your guest room is likely in less use than most rooms, try swapping some furniture with elsewhere to create a whole new house.
34. Enhance the natural light in your guest room
To enhance the natural light in your space, angle your key furniture towards where the natural light comes in. You can also emphasize the light with a large standing mirror facing towards a window.
35. Add a diffuser with a surprising scent for your guests
A spring-themed scent diffuser like the Aperol Spritz diffuser from Antica Farmacista will make your guests feel welcome in the warmer months.
36. Choose a side table with open space
A side table that has lots of open space through shelves is perfect because:
- It lets light stream through
- Creates a sense of space in the room
- Allows you extra sneaky storage for books and decorative objects you can't fit in more often used spaces
37. Use a boldly colored alpaca throw to brighten the room
Bright pink, yellow, and green throw blankets from Alicia Adams Alpaca are the perfect way to add some spring brightness to your guest room.
38. Switch out the art
Art can be an easy and inexpensive way to update your home. Try hanging up something new, or switching what's in the guest room for somewhere else in the house.
39. Paint the walls a crisp and light color
A clean coat of paint can go an incredibly long way in making the room feel fresh. Choose something light that you will still love in the winter and fall.
40. Try decorative pillows with a simple, geometric pattern
Within the busy wallpaper, bright colors, and art you've added to this room, keep it easy with your decorative pillows this spring. A geometric throw pillow adds some visual interest without making the room busier.
Decorating Your Powder Rooms for Spring and Summer
41. Choose patterned hand and guest towels
This spring, save yourself all of the spring cleaning with patterned hand towels and fingertip towels. A pattern will help obscure dirt and be more resistant to fading in the wash than solid towels.
42. Light a lemon-grass scented candle to brighten the scent of your powder room for spring
New season means new scents for the home and the powder room should be a priority. Impress your guests in this high-traffic area with a lemon grass and ginger scented candle from Nest New York.
43. Go for minimalist design
Spring and summer are the times for minimalist design in the home. Keep the powder room simple with clean lines and narrow hardware.
44. Swap out the lampshades
Changing the lampshades on your sconces, floor, lamps, or table lamps in the powder room is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to update your home for spring. Choose something bright and light-reflecting to make your powder room look effortlessly cool.
45. Use a monogrammed linen guest towel
Linen is perhaps the most iconic material of the spring and summer season. Personalize the look with a modern monogram embroidery in your favorite shade.
46. Bath Accessories Made of Natural Materials Enhance the Whole Look
Clean lined, sustainably produced soap pumps, soap dishes, waste bins, and towel trays in beautiful patterns like the ones from LaDorada elevate your entire space.
47. Open the Windows
Keeping the windows open allows circulation to flow through the home pushing out stagnant, winter air.
48. Replace the Mirror with Something More Modern
The clean lines of a modern, rectangular mirror will compliment the minimalist design of your new spring powder room!
49. Remove Excess Furniture
Removing a piece of furniture can open up space and breathe new life into a room. If you have a small table, chair, or cabinet in the powder room, try removing it to celebrate summer and spring.
50. Break Out the Color with Bright Curtains
Spring is the best time to warm up your space with color. Curtains are a fun way to add a pop of color in an otherwise neutral powder room.
Upgrade Your Kitchen For Spring
51. Try Remove Any Carpeting
“A lot of times freshening up your home has more to do with what you take out than what you add,” Los Angeles Interior Designer Mark Cutler points out for MyDomaine. He states that “the bare floor look will make your home feel cooler, larger, and give all your existing pieces a whole new look.” This spring and summer, celebrate the hardwood floors or tiles of your kitchen!
52. Add Leafy Green Plants to the Edge of the Sink
In the spring, the kitchen is the best for leafy, non-flowering plants like pothos, snake plant, and monstera. Placing the plants by the kitchen sink will emphasize the natural side of your space.
53. Brighten things up with a colorful tea towel
A colorful cotton tea towel like one from Le Jacquard Francais or Yves Delorme is a great way to add a pop of color and sophistication to your kitchen. Plus they are extremely functional.
54. Use a unique chandelier to add fresh light to the room
A chandelier is the best way to spread spring and summer light throughout your kitchen. Upgrading your light fixtures will keep the room fresh and bright.
55. A fresh lemon hand soap and lotion combo are perfect for the kitchen sink
Forget about your dishes, keep your hands clean! A fresh smelling soap and lotion by the kitchen sink will make you feel like spring all year round.
56. Use a chic soap pump for your dish soap
Pour your dish soap into a beautiful soap dispenser to take away the eye sore of the plastic dish soap container.
57. Revamp your kitchen storage
Use innovative kitchen storage containers like tall, labeled glass jars to make your kitchen look cleaner.
58. Choose New Decorative Objets for Your Shelves
Just as much as it is a functional space, the kitchen should be an intentionally designed space. Use beautiful decorative objects to upgrade the look of your kitchen for spring and summer!
59. Use bright yellows and blues
Bright colors can help to energize us in the new season. "The use of yellow can create a mellow and uplifting interior all at the same time. It transports us back to long, sun-drenched days in the Mediterranean and brightens us up on gloomy days. It works brilliantly alongside blues, teals, greens, and reds, and for crisp freshness – pair with white" says Martin Waller for House Beautiful. Use yellow tea towels, yellow aprons, and yellow tablecloths to integrate the bright shade this spring and summer season.
60. A fresh eucalyptus and mint diffuser goes a long way
The spa-like scents of a eucalyptus diffuser will make you feel refreshed and remind you of the warmth outside as you cook your favorite meals!
Designing the Dining Room for Spring
61. Find a bright white tablecloth
Vogue refers to the white tablecloth as both "refined and a little dangerous." With a white tablecloth as your base, you can add any colorful napkins, bright placemats, and patterned plates without making the look too busy.
62. Patterned, floral napkins elevate the look
Sweet floral napkins remind us of the spring flowers sprouting outside while adding a sophisticated touch to the inside of our homes. Shop John Robshaw Table Linens for more ideas.
63. Butterfly Napkin Rings Bring a Playful Touch to the Table
A playful, spring-themed napkin ring like these John Robshaw butterfly napkin rings makes your table setting whimsical and seasonal!
64. Elevate the table setting with a modern candleabra
Spring and summer are about romance and whimsy. What's more romantic than a large candleholder? A modern candleholder allows you to concentrate your candles in the center of the table without interrupting conversation.
65. A bright table runner takes the table to the next level
If you've had the white tablecloth look all winter, switch it up with a variety of colorful table runners. A linen table runner in pink, green, yellow, or blue is the perfect way to jazz up your tablescape without committing to an entire colorful tablecloth. Switch them out for every meal to keep it interesting.
66. Rattan Placemats Bring A Summery Touch
A chilled raffia placemat is perfect for celebrating summer in a sophisticated but casual way.
67. Light colored chairs will keep the room bright and summery
White, light colored, or translucent chairs will reflect the light in your dining room. Light colored chairs take up space without looking too domineering.
68. Have the chef wear a bright and seasonal apron
Celebrate your accomplishments in the kitchen with a high-quality cotton apron that is just as beautiful as your food. Can be worn in the kitchen, in the dining room, or at the grill!
69. Create a beautiful spring centerpiece
Layers of fabric and paper mache flowers, fruit, and garlands will help set a spring and summer tone for the dining room. Reference Country Living's article on Spring Centerpieces and Table Decorations for more ideas.
70. Use colorful candles
Long, elegant candles can become the main color in a spring tablescape. Choose brightly hued tapered candles to emphasize certain colors on your tablescape and in your dining room.
Prepare the Patio or Sunporch for Spring & Summer
71. Simple indoor/outdoor pillows elevate the porch
Choose pillows that can transition easily between indoors and outdoors to take your patio to the next level. Change your sunporch or patio from just a space to soak up some rays into a fully furnished extension of your home.
72. Wrap Yourself in a Cotton Throw for Breezy Spring Nights
If you like to eat outdoors in the spring, a cotton throw will be your new best friend. Simply wrap up in the blanket to feel warm and look sophisticated!
73. Use a Stylish Straw Basket for Porch Storage
A straw basket is the perfect place to store blankets, pillows, and other materials for outdoor activities. Choose an extra cute one with a sweet design!
74. Add a dining area to your covered porch
Protect your family from extra-bright sun or spring showers with a table in chairs under a sheltered area.
75. Integrate Plants of Varied Heights
Staggering the heights of your plants by choosing different heights of plants and different sizes of pots makes your porch feel like a beautiful forest getaway right outside your home.
76. Paint a Lush-Colored Backdrop Wall
Homes & Gardens recommends a dark green patio wall to compliment foliage and patio furniture. Everything stands out more against the rich hue of the wall!
77. Spruce up your sunroom with a coffee table
A coffee table with books and magazines can help your three season room feel more inviting.
78. Make the most of the natural sunlight with light colors
Using light colored pillows, blankets, cushions and furniture emphasizes the bright light of the spring and summer!
79. Add some stripes
Striped designers are perfect for spring and summer. Integrate striped throw pillows, cushions, blankets, and furniture to bring out this seasonal pattern.
80. Integrate a Porch Swing
If you have a covered porch, a porch swing is the perfect way to make your porch a comfortable place to spend time!
81. Create Dreamy Ambience with Candles
In Real Homes, Trends expert Nick Drewe says: "Why should your spring porch only be seen in the daytime? By incorporating some bold candles in glass holders on either side of your door, you can keep your porch lit throughout the night too."
Preparing The Pool for the Spring and Summer
82. Opt for More Colorful Beach Towels
Brightly colored beach towels will add brightness and visual interest to your poolside.
83. Treat Your Guests with Terry Beach Pillows
A terrycloth beach pillow is a great way to prop up your head while sunbathing. Use on a lounge chair for extra comfort.
84. Shelter the Pool with Tall Privacy Plants
Tall trees and bushes can be planted or placed around the pool to help create privacy and keep the space safe.
85. Add a Backyard Fireplace or Firepit
Take your outdoor entertaining to the next level with an outdoor fireplace to bring the festivities into the evening. An outdoor firepit will be especially helpful in the spring when it is cool outside.
86. Upgrade your Poolhouse with an Outdoor Shower
An outdoor shower allows your guests to quickly rinse off after a dip in the pool and protects your main house from chlorine, saltwater, and other pool chemicals.
87. Make Tanning a Group Experience with a Foutah
A foutah is large cotton beach towel that fits two people. If you like sunbathing with a friend or partner, the foutah will take your spring and summer activities to the next level.
88. Choose Canopied Outdoor Furniture
Canopied outdoor chairs and couches create shade in style without forming a mass of furniture.
89. Focus on Picking the Perfect Lighting
Outdoor lighting plays a huge role in the ambience of your poolside area. Take time considering different lighting options to best brighten your pool for spring and summer.
90. Upgrade your poolside wear with a breezy Kaftan Dress
A breezy kaftan dress works as a perfect bathing suit coverup or outfit for outdoor entertaining. Wear alone as a dress or throw over leggings to wear as a tunic!
91. Create a unique, colorful vibe with tropical flowers
Planting tropical flowers around the pool helps to bring the energy of the islands to your home.
Creating the Perfect Entryway for Spring/Summer
92. Use a notable signature scent
The entryway to your house is the first experience guests have when they enter your home, so you should try to make it as interesting as possible. Ensure your foyer is memorable with a fresh scent for spring.
93. Invite guests in with a striking floral arrangement
Beautiful fresh flowers are irresistible. Add some to the table in your foyer to welcome yourself and your guests.
94. A light colored runner rug keeps the space light
A long and narrow runner rug again makes your space feel extremely welcoming. Opt for something simple with a minimal pattern to keep the focus on the design.
95. Choose a fun, seasonal welcome mat
A new cute welcome mat with a cute slogan or pattern celebrating the season is the best way to ring in spring and summer!
96. Repaint with a light and airy color
This article is all about letting the light in, and in the entryway is no exception. Celebrate light in your space by painting the walls a light color that will reflect the spring and summer rays across your home.
97. Use a springy tray to bring in some glamor
A gold tray on the table in the living room can bring a sense of grandeur to your foyer or entryway.
98. Feature a chandelier for some grandness and drama
A chandelier light is the best way to project light across your entryway space. Choose something you love to set the tone for your home this spring and summer season.
Getting Kids Rooms Ready for Spring
99. White twin bedding with a simple band is chic and seasonal
The color adds a fun pop that your child will love while the white will offset the business of toys around the room. In the price range you love.
100. Use a Faux fur rug for something they'll love
A fun, ultra-soft faux fur rug adds an extra something that your kids will love! The bright color reflects all that gorgeous spring and summer light.
101. Use bright and bold throw pillows to accentuate their personality
Maybe your child loves zoo animals, flowers, trucks, zebras... whatever it is, celebrate it with a pillow this spring!
We hope you enjoyed this comprehensive list to redecorating your home for spring and summer. Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments.
Sophie Edwards is the head content writer at Fig Linens and Home. She is a bedding, linens, and luxury homeware expert with an interest is the intersection of interior design with fashion, travel and culture. She has a BA in creative writing and sociology from Sarah Lawrence and an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography.
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