Get Ready for Summer! (Ideas for Decor and More)

Happy weekend and welcome to the Saturday Spotlight! Well, it’s officially summer so I’m sure you’re as busy as I am.  Between planning vacations to preparing for summer events, it’s definitely a hectic time of year…in a good way!  So, grab a cool drink, sit back and relax for a few minutes.  Today, I’m sharing some of my ideas to help you get ready for summer!  

*For your convenience, please note that this post may contain affiliate links.  If you make a purchase after clicking my links below, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you).

Get Ready for Summer – Decorating Ideas:

Summer House Tour…

Recently, I joined 27 bloggers to share our summer home tours.  For my tour, I started in the foyer and continued in the adjoining rooms...

Since I try to keep things light and airy in the summer months, I decorated with plenty of white this year.  Of course, I also threw in a bit of blue and some coastal accessories.  Last summer, I displayed some of the same coastal pieces too but I styled them in different ways..  No need to go out and buy a bunch of new things when you can repurpose!

Speaking of coastal decor…

No one does coastal like Serena and Lily.  Last week, I stopped in their Summit, New Jersey store to admire all their beautiful summer decor.

In my opinion, if you had a beach house with a bedroom decorated like that, your guests would never leave!  Even though their wallpaper isn’t cheap, you could really make an impact just papering one wall.  Hmm…this has me thinking about doing something similar in my bedroom.  *(By the way, Serena and Lily is having a Tent Sale going on now!)

If you love a beachy aesthetic, here’s another pretty room in the store.  To me, this one almost feels a bit like an updated version of the iconic Something’s Gotta Give house.  

Don’t you love the light fixture? I think it totally makes the space.  If it appeals to you, here’s the exact one.  For a smaller version with a similar look, this one is beautiful and for an even better price, this one is also very pretty!

Are your outdoor spaces ready for summer?

If you’re looking for outdoor ideas, read my Backyard Staycation ideas!

Whether you have a large patio or a small backyard, I hope some of my ideas inspire you to get outside and enjoy the warm weather!

Summer House Events:

If you’re like me, you could tour houses all day…one of the best ways to get new ideas!  Every June, my best friend and I attend the Spring Lake Historical House Tour at the Jersey Shore.  Usually, the event includes about 8-10 private homes and historical buildings.  Unfortunately, they don’t allow photography inside the homes, so here are a few of the exteriors…

At the Jersey Shore, you’ll see many historical houses with lovely wrap around porches.  

Most of the homes turned their outdoor spaces into living areas to enjoy the ocean breezes.  Wouldn’t you just love to sip a glass of wine on that outdoor sofa?  Or maybe an early morning cup of tea as the sun rises…simple summer pleasures.  (Yes, that’s me in the above photo putting on my booties for the house tour.)

Sure, these homes were “historical” but most had all the modern amenities you could want.  For instance, this backyard had a gorgeous pool and lounging area.  Instead of concrete or pavers, they surrounded the pool with composite decking.  Such a good idea that I’d never seen before.  Like I said, attending house tours are great ways to get fresh ideas for your own home!

Funny story on this pool area… Since we knew photographs weren’t allowed inside, we weren’t quite sure if we should be taking pictures in their backyards either.  After all, we wanted to be respectful of the homeowners’ privacy.  So, I just quickly snapped a couple photos while walking around the pool. 

Well, I wasn’t watching where I was going and I tripped over the pool skimmer cover.  Seriously, if I didn’t catch my balance, I would have flown right into the pool!  Could you imagine?!!  So, I guess it serves me right for trying to break the no photography rule.  All day, we laughed about the stories people would tell about how the clumsy woman fell into the pool!  Obviously, I’d never be able to show my face again at any of these annual house tours!  Haha!

Anyway, if you have a summer home tour in your area, I highly recommend attending it.  Besides being a perfect opportunity to get decorating ideas, it’s also nice to walk around a neighborhood and enjoy the great outdoors.  Just watch where you’re walking!

For more peeks at some outside areas in Spring Lake, read my garden tour blog post where I highlight ideas for every budget.

Get Ready for Summer Recipes:

Simple Salad Ideas…

If you’re looking for health tips for summer, here’s a simple one…eat more salads!  Here are 3 of my favorites featuring arugula!

Is it just me, or does everyone crave healthy foods in the summer?  Well, healthy foods…and ice cream!  Here in the northeast, most of the ice cream stores only open in the warmer months, so it’s even more of a special treat!

Speaking of special treats, here’s an adult version of an ice cream truck…

As I mentioned above, we recently attended the annual Spring Lake Historical House Tour.  At one of the houses, this adorable mobile bar was sitting out front.  Don’t you just love it?  That day, they offered free fruity mocktails to everyone on the tour.  

If you live in New Jersey and would like to book them for an event, here is their website – The Wander Bar Co.  Apparently, they provide everything except the booze.  Such a cute idea and a great way to welcome the summer season!

Shopping Ideas to Get You Ready for Summer:

Some summer finds for you and your home…

If you’re looking for a sun hat, this straw hat is packable and it has a pretty pearl detail.

Not only are straw hats great to wear in the summer, they also look cute when you hang a group of them on a wall!  If you’re decorating your home in a coastal or summer cottage style, consider hanging a few!

*Update – Since that exact straw hat is so popular, it’s sold out at the moment!  For another packable straw hat, this one is pretty and also comes in a variety of colors.  If you had your heart set on a pearl trim, this one is a nice alternative and this one has a pretty bow in a variety of colors!

 

If you’re looking for classic white sheets for summer, we just bought these sheets – and we love them!

Besides being a nice quality, but they’re inexpensive and have tons of positive reviews!  Check them out!

 

Since a water bottle is one of my summer essentials, I’m always looking for a nice one.  For those of us who are attracted to Lilly Pulitzer prints, this pretty water bottle is perfect for summer sipping!

After all, Lilly Pulitzer accessories are made for summer!

 

If you’re searching for a good book to add to your summer reading list, 28 Summers looks entertaining!

If you’re familiar with Elin Hilderbrand, then you know her books are great beach reads.  In fact, I have this one on top of my night stand and I can’t wait to dive in!

Now, here are some more finds to help you get ready for summer!

• If you want to make your own summer decor, try this tutorial to make wood buoys!
• Enjoy the warm weather with a patriotic tea in the garden!
• This summer, put organizing on your to-do list with these free printable planners!
• Since summer can be the perfect time to try a new recipe, here are some tropical menu ideas!
• If you’re hosting a 4th of July party, try this red, white and blue sangria!  Cheers to the beginning of summer!

Hopefully, I’ve inspired you with ideas to kick off the summer months.  If those aren’t enough, here are a few more…

• If you missed my ideas for the month of June, here they are – Goodbye May, Hello June!
• As a reminder, here are some tips for being a great house guest this summer!
• Since summer is an excellent time for home improvement projects, here are some ideas!
• Get ready for the 4th of July with these budget ideas!
• If you’re heading to the beach this summer, pack these in your beach bag!

How are you preparing for summer?

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