Adding Summer Decor to Your Tiny House
Are you adding summer decor to your tiny house (or large home) for the upcoming season? These apartment summer decor tips may be a little surprising.
ADDING SUMMER DECOR TO YOUR TINY HOUSE
Today, I’m super blessed to be participating in the Bloggers’ Best Summer Home Tour, hosted by my dear friend Kelly from The Tattered Pew!
This week, we have 30 amazing bloggers sharing their summer homes for your enjoyment and inspiration! Be sure to come back each day and click on the links below to see the complete tour!
A big shout out to all my MWA family visiting today, and if you are visiting from StoneGable welcome-welcome! Yvonne and I are dear friends and kindred spirits. She is my blogging and decorating hero (and I bet she’s yours, too!) Thank you so much for visiting, and if you are inspired by what you see here, please feel free to subscribe by clicking on the button below.
Why Should I Decorate My Home for Summer?
Do you ever wonder, “Why should I decorate my home?”
We have been created to appreciate beauty. Creating a space of loveliness and comfort often brings a sense of peace and refuge to you AND those living in your home.
We have also been created in the image of God… each one of us! And God is the ultimate Creator! Since we have been made in His image, it stands to reason that we have been made to ‘create’. And adding decor to our homes is one way to do just that!
Whether you own your home, rent an apartment, or live in a dorm, these summer decor tips and tricks will inspire you to create a lovely living space during these oh-so-hot months.
What Makes a Perfect Home?
Well, it’s not decor!
Nope, not only does meticulous decor NOT make a perfect home… because there will ALWAYS be something that can be changed or improved upon!
This is my new tiny office space. It includes a double-drop-leaf table with drawers on both sides (it’s perfect for a small home office) and a comfy captain’s chair.
As you can see, this is still a work-in-progress. I STILL need to paint the kitchen, as seen by the two colors on the wall behind the chair. And, the plan is to use the back of my baker’s cabinet as ‘office space’ and make it look lovely at the same time!
This is only one of the imperfect aspects of my home. (I’ll point out more as we go along this tour!)
Go Big or Go Home… Sometimes
My summer decor includes a bit of a coastal touch (I know… surprise, surprise). A large piece of faux coral was part of the original decorating plan, but after taking some photos, I realized it was too big for my little living area.
Although one large statement piece can often be the perfect addition to your decor, sometimes a medium-sized decor piece is a better choice.
Adding a coastal sandpiper was the perfect element for my ‘faux mantel’.
“Filler” is always a great way to add some inexpensive decor to your home, and it can be reused if you store it well.
Designer Tip: If you aren’t sure about your decor or vignette, take a photo of the space. A picture is worth a thousand words and often give you a fresh perspective of the area.
Adding Fresh Elements is Always a Win
It seems that every summer, fresh fruit is all the rage… for eating and decor! And this year is no different.
Adding fresh lemons and limes to a large ironstone bowl, and then ‘sprinkling’ them around the kitchen, was a fun ‘first’ for My Wee Abode.
But be careful. If your home is lacking air-conditioning, like mine is, your fresh fruit can over-ripen… FAST! Ask me how I know this! 😉
Shop Your Home Before Purchasing New
If you’ve been around My Wee Abode for any amount of time, you may recognize some of my summer decor from past seasons.
This metal orb was used in a Pinterest Challenge kitchen vignette, and since then it’s been in my bedroom.
By adding some sea glass shards, it gave it a bit of a coastal summer vibe.
These black lanterns are always hanging on the wall, but their contents change every season. Adding a bit of white rope to the top gave them a coastal spin, as well.
The candle holders on the left of my media console are a ‘staple’ in my decor. I actually purchased a gorgeous new set of candle holders, but they just didn’t work for summer. Which brings me to my last tip for today…
Buyers Regret? Keep the Receipt!
Yep… those beautiful candleholders are going back to the store, along with the large faux coral piece (and several other items, as well).
Remember, you can always buy, take home, and see if the decor works. Be sure to keep your receipt. If it doesn’t work, return it. If you love it, keep it! But, I bet you knew that, right?
However, if you use the decor for any length of time, stay honest and don’t return it if you are simply ‘done’ with it. Just sayin’. 😉
More Summer Decor Inspiration
Here are a few more summer decor photos that just might inspire you!
Do you like the ‘wreath’ above the TV? It took about 10 minutes to make! Are you interested in a tutorial for it? Let me know in the comments.
You can use this ‘wreath’ over and over again for each season!
The kitchen got a ‘light’ touch for summer!
The lemons add a nice burst of color!
It’s always fun to use my vintage-look scale… and using some sprigs of fresh greenery adds another summer touch.
By the way, feel free to mix faux and fresh flowers and greenery. The boxwood in the bowl is ‘fake’, and the lemon and leaves are real.
Oh… and did you happen to get a sneak peek of the artwork on the side of the baker’s cabinet?
You can get these printables for your own home for free! Just become part of the My Wee Abode VIP list by clicking on the button below!
And, if you’re looking for something fun and different that you can change out each season (or even each DAY), take a look at these summer letter board quotes for some great ideas!
Thank you so much for joining us on the tour today. I hope I will see you again soon!
Before you go, be sure to pop on over to White Arrows Home. My sweet friend Kristin literally lives in a cabin in the woods and shares her love of vintage decor! You won’t want to miss her tour!
And remember to come back and tour six more bloggers’ homes each day this week! We have lots of styles and lots of inspiration for you!
Blogger’s Best Summer Home Tour
This week I’m joining some of my blogging friend’s for the Bloggers Best Summer Home Tours! All week long we are welcoming you into our homes. You can visit each summer home tour by clicking the links below.
Monday’s Tours
The Tattered Pew / Stonegable / My Wee Abode
White Arrows Home / Fiddle Leaf Blog / Dabbling and Decorating
Tuesday’s Tours
The Flowering Farmhouse / Sanddollar Lane / Cottage In The Mitten
Up To Date Interiors / Bricks ‘n Blooms / Cottage On Bunker Hill
Wednesday’s Tours
Open Doors Open Hearts/ Pasha Is Home / Shiplap and Shells
A Blue Nest / Cloches and Lavender / Simply 2 Moms
Thursday’s Tours
Cassie Bustamante / First Day of Home / Midwest Life and Style
County Road 407 / She Gave It A Go / Robyn’s French Nest
Friday’s Tours
The Ponds Farmhouse / DIY Beautify / Follow The Yellow Brick Home
I so much enjoyed seeing My Wee Abode decorated for summer. I am so excited that you now have an office to enjoy! I love the wreath that you made and yes to wanting to read a tutorial on how to make it. Decorating your kitchen with a lemons and limes theme for summer is perfect. I love how you decorated the side of your baker’s cabinet with the lemon and limes canvases. I hate to admit it, but you are 100% correct that your baker’s rack needs to be painted. The way you styled it for summer is perfect!! It is always a pleasure to tour My Wee Abode!!
Wow! Even YOU think my cabinet needs paint! LOL! That means it REALLY does! 😀 The canvas prints came out better than I expected! Took about 10 minutes!
Your tiny home looks gorgeous and not tiny at all in these beautiful photos. Great tour.
Thank you, Rachel! I appreciate your sweet words. 🙂
I love seeing how you decorated for summer, Julie! The lemons and limes are cute bright touches! Mostly, though, I love your authenticity and wit! It’s always a pleasure to read your posts!
Oh, thank you so much, Leen! I love visiting your blog, too!
Everything is so beautiful, Julie! I always love how you make the most of your space, and you know I’m loving the lemons!😉 Pinned!
Hehe… lemons are a wonderful addition to summer decor! 😉 I still need to go visit your post! Looking forward to it!
Julie thanks for the tour of your place! and AMEN we were definitely created to create! You do such a good job with your space and I would LOVE to see a tutorial on your wreath! It’s so creative. I also loved the lemons you popped in your kitchen. It brought so much color in all the right places. Thanks for joining me this week my friend,. Pinned!
I loved touring with you, and I’m so thankful that you put this together… AND that we are friends! You are a blessing, Kelly! Hugs!
It’s all so beautiful Julie! The lemons are such a fun summery touch!
Thank you so much for popping in, Ana!
Your bakers cabinet is beautiful! The wood is nice and in my opinion it doesn’t need to be painted. It looks great just as it is. It ties in with your kitchen cabinets. I know that wood isnt your favorite style though and whatever you do will look nice.
I think I would love the wood more if it weren’t so yellow/orange. 😉 I love both painted furniture and natural. (I actually would love to paint my kitchen cabinets white… then I would leave the wood natural.) LOL!
Love your pops of yellow for summer! So fun to be on this summer tour with you!
Thanks, Jennifer! Right back at ya!
Your home looks so pretty for summer. Love how you used the art on the side of your cabinet.
Your wreath needs the tutorial.
Lemons scream summer.
Cindy
Thanks, Cindy… both the wreath and the canvas prints were SO easy… took about 10 minutes. 😉
Julie your tiny home is so beautiful. I love every detail from the cute bird to your tray of fruit. Loved it my friend!
Thank you, Ann… your tour was so lovely, too!
I have never thought of decorating or “creating” like that before but I love it! I am made in the image of God so it stands to reason I love creating. And oh how true that our homes will never be done or perfect. I laughed at the buyers remorse tip. I think that’s only happened to me once or twice, thank goodness! Your summer decorated home looks sweet. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Yes… the love of creating comes in many ways, too… some in the home, some with our hair, makeup, or fashion. The Lord give us many venues and opportunities to bring glory to Him. You probably only have returned items or had buyer’s remorse a couple times because you buy vintage so much! AND, because you are a better designer than I am! 😉 Love ya!
I rarely ask questions like this, but could you tell me where you got your table? My apartment is very small and I have been searching for one like that! Thanks so much. I enjoy very much reading your posts.
Thanks for asking, Karen! I STILL love my table, even in my larger-small apartment! It’s the Norden from IKEA. It comes in natural and white! Thank you so much for the kinds words, too!
Hi my wonderful friend! I love what you said about because God creates we are creative too. And He loves beauty so it follows why we would, right? Your home is so fresh and pretty Julie! I love your touches of fruit. Did you get them off a tree? Oh I just am in love with California! How smart to create a workspace using the back of your beloved Hoosier! I can’t wait to see what you do with it! Thank you for your very lovely introduction, my friend! xo
Thank you, Yvonne! I did not get the fruit off a tree… picked them up at the local grocery. I’m hoping to take your tip and add some wallpaper to the back of the cabinet to make the “office space” a bit prettier! Love you, dear friend!
Your home is adorable! I especially love the kitchen and that vintage scale with lemons!
Thanks, Cassie… it was fun to add some pops of color for summer. 😉
Love all the coastal, summer-y touches, Julie! I especially love how you use real citrus fruits in your decor. Great advice on keeping the receipts too! I always find myself returning things. I do hope you do a tutorial on the summer wreath. It looks perfect there. Hugs, Crissy
Thank you, dear friend. I think I may do a quick tutorial on the lemon canvases first. I know you know how to do them… but, I think others will like to see, too. 😉
I love all your little vignettes, Julie. The burst of lemon color is just right for summer. The pieces of sea glass in the orb is a great idea. Can’t wait to see what you do with the baker’s cabinet and using the back as part of an office.
Julie your home looks so pretty and I love all your vignettes! You are so creative! Can’t wait to see what you do with the baker’s cabinet! xo
Thank you, Stacy! Your outside living area is lovely tour! So fun hopping with you! I’m looking forward to getting to the cabinet, too. 😉 Someday!
Julie, your home looks lovely and you shared some great tips! The scale with lemons is perfection! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Oh, thank you so much, Cecilia… that scale was a steal at Michael’s! I really enjoy using it! 😉
I love all the simple ways you brought a summer vibe to your home, Julie! Love that new office space! Having a pretty place to work is so nice. Can’t wait to see how you continue to transform your space!
Thanks, Anne! It’s always a process in our homes in one way or another, right? Always enjoy touring with you!
Loved your tour Julie! You always add just the right touches to make it warm and welcoming! Love the little bursts of yellow here and there with the lemons and the flowers. I’m excited to see what you do with your baker’s cabinet.! Have a great week.
Thanks you so much, Denise! You are always so kind and a great support! Hugs!
I love how you’ve decorated for summer Julie! So many fun details in your kitchen. I display lemons and limes in bowls too, but I use faux when it gets too hot! I’m so sneaky. Always enjoy hopping with you my friend.
HI!
Always love your blog.
So fresh and inviting.
Can’t wait to see your Hoosier and bathroom
redo.
Thanks, Su! I know… those two projects are taking me some time! I’m stripping the floors of the bathroom this weekend, so hopefully the floor will be laid by mid July! Then we should be done!
I am actually returning the fauxs I got from Hobby Lobby, because I ended being able to use the real ones. Next year, I get the fauxs again! 😉 (The real were already an investment!)
You have such a wonderful, homey space! I just love it! I wonder if you would give us an idea of the actual layout of your home, since it’s small? Some of us will graduate to a small home behind our children, and I’d love to see how you make the whole space work. Your kitchen, living room and coffee nook are perfect! And please share how to make the wreath.
Thank you so much! Here is a link to another post that shows My Wee Abode’s floor plan. https://myweeabode.com/install-wireless-ceiling-light/ I will put together the wreath tutorial soon! Hugs and hearts!
I’m going to have to come and steal that little sandpiper from you!!!
LOL! I see a few things I want to steal from you, too! LOL! (It’s a Hobby Lobby find!)
Julie your home looks so fresh and bright for summer! I love all the little touches you have added to making it so happy and welcoming. The fresh lemons and limes in the bowl are the perfect simple and natural accents.
So happy to tour with you this week. Happy summer!
Always love touring with you, too! Thank you for the love!
Such great decorating tips and ideas Julie! I love all the green and yellow. Oh and that baker’s cabinet is going to be stunning once painted!!
Thanks, Cindy… You either love the natural wood finish or you want to paint it. I’m definitely wanting to paint it. 🙂 It’s a bit too orange for me.
I love reading your posts. You are very creative and down to earth. May I ask what printer you use? When I go to print out the images. they always look washed out when they come off the printer.
Hi, Darlene… so glad you enjoy the blog. I use a regular color printer, HP is my favorite brand. I would go to Printer Options and select ‘best’ for the printing quality. Also, using heavier weight paper helps. Hope that is helpful to you!
Julie, your wee abode looks so pretty and ready for summer. I love the lemons and the printables looks great! How exciting that you now have an office?! So happy for you! Thanks for sharing all your decor ideas!
Thank you so much, Kim! You are always so kind!
I just came across your site and find it totally refreshing and down to earth. You are able to laugh with yourself at yourself which is quite admirable. I am a 70 year old Canadian who lives in a small town named Lindsay, Ontario with my husband of 49 years. We have two grown children – a daughter, Sarah and a son, Chad.
I have two granddaughters – Lexi who will be sixteen in August and Ella who will be eleven in July. I like to quilt, knit, crochet as well as read. We have put an in-law-suite in my son’s basement as he has lost both legs below the knee to type one diabetes so I know what living in smaller quarters is like. The one thing I did figure out was that you do not need all the bells and whistles to be happy and content. I really like your wreath and I am going to try to recreate it. Hopefully we can talk again as I find you a very interesting and talented person. God bless – Linda
Oh, I’m so glad you found My Wee Abode, and thank you for sharing your life with me! Living in a basement can be a challenge, but I’m sure you are making it your own little haven. 🙂 You have your hands full! I’m sure your family is blessed by you! Hugs and hearts, Linda!
Those are great decorating tips, Julie! Love that little sandpiper and the lemon art is so pretty! It’s fun to be touring with your again. xoxo
Thanks, Kathryn! It was a fun tour for sure!
Julie, How did you make the canvas lemon printables on your baker’s cabinet? Are they adhered to a canvas? They are so pretty! I
Hey, Nancy… I’m going to be doing a tutorial for those canvases… hopefully next week! It’s super easy!
Julie,
Love the tour of your apartment and all of your summer decor, especially the one with the vintage scale. I am a sucker for those.
Congratulations, you are being featured on TFT. I hope you stop by.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2021/07/thursday-favorite-things-party.html
Hugs,
Bev
Thanks so much, Bev! Really appreciate it!
Love your little sandpiper! SO cute – and yes, lemons=summer for some reason to me too…maybe the association with refreshing citrus flavors like lemonade!
Yes… I love that sandpiper, too! Hoping to set it out soon, in the new MWA! 😉
J. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things.
I hope you stop by.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2022/05/thursday-favorite-things-party_0388177731.html
Hugs,
Bevulie,
Great ideas. I love using lemons and limes
Thank you so much, Beverly! You are so sweet!
I love your summer home tour! The lemons, shells and adorable lanterns are wonderful. You did such an amazing job getting your home prepared for summer. Homes are always evolving! Everyday I think of a new idea for a room. Never ends but is so much fun. Thanks for sharing your post. I enjoyed it so much. Have a wonderful week.
Thank you so much, Meagan! I couldn’t agree with you more about our homes constantly evolving… I, also, am always thinking of something new to do in MWA!