How to Easily Create a Beautiful Breezy Summer Mantel
What happens when summer is upon us and we want to spruce-up the style of our homes? Sometimes it’s as simple as adding easy summer mantel decor, even if you don’t have a mantel!
Today you get to see all kinds of ideas for decorating your home for the season!
Summer is here, and our first Pinterest challenge for the season is being brought to you by Cindy at County Road 407! Thank you, girlfriend, for putting this all together!
And, if you are hopping over from Paula’s blog at Sweet Pea, welcome! Her coastal summer lantern decor is right up my alley!
My Wee Abode, along with TWELVE more bloggers, are sharing ideas inspired by this photo from Kelley at Kelleynan.
Simple, but oh so beautiful! Be sure to visit Kelleynan for her whole summer home tour!
The inspiration points I took from Kelley’s photo are:
- A lantern that makes a statement
- Natural elements (moss) that add texture
- Neutral tones that compliment every style
- Simple elegance (no clutter)
- Hearth as a foundation
ADDING EASY SUMMER MANTEL DECOR (even if you don’t have a mantel!)
Are you thinking, “Julie, you don’t HAVE a mantel in your tiny house!”
Or maybe you’re thinking, “Julie, that’s a hearth, not a mantel…”
You are SO right! I don’t even have a hearth OR a mantel.
But, I can totally fake it!
You wanna know what I use for my ‘mantel/hearth’?
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Easy Summer Mantel Decor on a Window Seat
Yep… I use my window bench!
Often, I add details to my solid wood window bench when I want to add some seasonal decor to my home. If I need to use it for extra seating, I just set the items on the floor in the corner!
You can fake a mantel or hearth, too, whether you use a window bench, a bookshelf, or a wall shelf over your sofa!
Here are some ‘faux’ details for simple, affordable, and easy summer mantel decor.
- Use neutral colors to keep it fuss-free and elegant
- One statement piece goes a long way
- Add interest and texture by using natural elements such as dried fruit (faux or real), dried flowers, pods, moss, etc.
- Adding candles to most any decor adds a cozy touch… even in summer (think cool LED candles!)
- And, little pops of summer colors are a great way to add your own personality!
Let me show you how you can incorporate these tips into your summer decor!
Neutral Colors for Simple Elegance
Use blacks, white, greys and beiges as foundational colors in your home. You can always add pops of color to add some personality (we’ll talk more about that as you read on.)
The neutral foundation for this summer decor is a warm wood-tone window bench (it always photographs way more orange than it is!), grey walls, white blinds, a black lantern, and a large cream-colored candle.
Using a Statement Piece – Go Big or Go Home
The longer I live in my small home the more I realize that less is more and bigger is better! So, when adding easy summer ‘mantel’ decor to your home, start with a big piece like this black lantern I picked up at HomeGoods.
You could also use a demijohn, large vase, oversize candle holder, a large white pitcher or bowl as a statement piece.
If you are looking for a similar lantern, Amazon has a couple that are quite pretty, HERE and HERE.
Add Natural Elements for Interest and Texture
Pick up a bag of filler from your local decor store…
… and sparingly place the filler around your statement piece in a casual way. With this lantern, I placed the filler inside the hurricane (I was inspired by the moss in Kelley’s photo).
You can find some pretty filler HERE and HERE, too.
Add Candles for Some Cozy
Now don’t just add a pillar candle to the lantern… you can add a couple votives to ‘dress things up’ a bit to add some ‘real’ candlelight, too!
Add a Touch of Summer Color
As you can see, throughout these photos there have been touches of green and yellow.
By using pieces of the yellow and green filler, yellow votive candles, and even my aqua and citron dandelion pillow on the bench, there are just touches of color to bring in that summer glow.
And, I’m gonna sneak in a couple more photos that I just thought were cool!
And one more of MWA’s summer living room!
Now It’s Your Turn
Now first, y’all be sure to go by A Heart Filled Home and see Leslea’s lovely summer lantern decor! She has a beautiful blog!
Then tell me, what statement piece might you be adding to your mantel or hearth… or window seat? 😉
What a great idea to “do with what you have” Julie…I love the way you used your window bench. A perfect substitution. I always admire how you use your wee space to do so much. Are you going to Haven this year? Chloe and I are going.
Kari
Thank you for the sweet words, Kari! It’s a challenge to decorate without doing too much, and then photography… whew! And YES, I’m going to Haven! I can’t wait to give you and Chloe a hug! So excited! I was just thinking the other day, “I love Kari’s writing…I would so like to meet her in person.” Well, if God doesn’t just give us the little desires of our hearts, right?;-)
Julie you did a great job. Enjoying this challenge. Your lantern is very pretty.
Enjoy your day
Cindy
Thank you, Cindy! Hope you enjoy all the inspiration from all the posts! Hugs!
Julie your lantern interpretation is so very clever. I adore the aspects of nature in your vignette.
Thank you, Laura! I love the coastal style you shared, too! Such pretty colors!
It’s very pretty, Julie!
Aw, thanks so much, Jeanie!
Julie what a pretty lantern you used for this challenge. I love the style and how you have it displayed. Very pretty.
Thanks, Terrie! It was a very fun challenge, and I enjoyed ‘hopping’ with you!
I love how you incorporate pieces from nature. I have such a love for wood, shells, nests, rocks etc. This sparks creative ways to incorporate those natural pieces of nature.
Thank you, T! I got your letter! Wow… it was very thoughtful of you to spend so much time in writing that, and I really enjoyed reading it! Love you!
Fake it til you make it (a mantel), right?! LOL. Love how your lantern turned out. Especially like the natural elements you added. The entire room looks so cute. Thanks so much for joining us.
Thanks, Cindy! Yep… my newsletter said, “I’m faking it, again!” 😉 It’s a challenge to decorate and photograph a tiny home, but I’m enjoying it more and more (always the decor… and the photography is becoming a ‘friend’!) Thanks for putting our hop together!
I love seeing how you decorate My Wee Abode for the seasons. Your bench is a perfect mantle substitute and you have the advantage of your decor being at eye level when you are watching tv. You found a great lantern that will be useful for decorating in any season.
I mean mantel, not mantle!
(Google says they are interchangeable now! The teacher in you just HAD to correct it, right?! ;-))
Thanks, Paula… I actually really enjoyed this challenge, and the photography was fun, too! It’s becoming easier for me, though I still have a long way to go to be KariAnne or Yvonne or Suzy or…. LOL!
Nice post, Julie! I have a weakness for lanterns – these are some lovely ideas for using them!
I know… I love lanterns, too! There is just something about them… versatility? style? structure? LOVE! Thanks for the sweet words, Janet!
Love all your great decorating tips in this post, Julie! And love your pretty and fresh summertime living room. Hope you’re enjoying your summer!
Thanks, Lora… Summer seems to be just beginning, and I’m looking forward to swim days with the fam! 😉 Have a wonderful week!
Julie, your sentence about not having a mantel or hearth cracked me up! What a great way to show that you can still have a fabulous faux hearth with the same effect! I love the way you explain your thought process with your color scheme and accents. The lantern is the perfect complement to your milk bottle decor on the wall, too. Girl, we could do some damage at Home Goods together. LOL! Pinning this!
Tell me about doing damage! Wonder what we can do in Atlanta together next month??? 😉 Hugs, sweet friend!
Such a cute idea! We don’t have a mantle either, and sometimes I just have to get creative! Love how you used your window seat, such a great blank canvas to decorate 🙂
Thanks, Tiffany! It seems ‘odd’ for home decor blogs to not have mantels. I’m glad I’m not the only one! We can both be ‘fakers’ together! LOL!
Julie, I love your new lantern!!! It has that old fashioned look but totally modern ~ very pretty here with the citrön and yellow pillow and candles! I’ve gleaned a bunch of ideas from everyone on this month’s lantern tour. Thank you!
Happy summer,
Barb 🙂
Yes, this month’s tour was lovely! I’m really enjoying the citron, as well!
So pretty and creative Julie! I’m new to your website and Tuesday Turnabout, but love them both already! Thanks so much for hosting such a great collection of inspired posts!
Thanks, Barbara! So glad you found MWA and our link party! Looking forward to seeing you each week!
Julie, you are so creative to sub your bench for a mantle!! I am a big believer in using what you have one hand and you certainly did that!! Blessing to you!!😊💗
Thanks, Cindy… I see some gray wash happening to that wooden bench in the future! 😉
Julie,
What a wonderful vignette! I love your lantern and the way you put everything together!
And your photography!
YOU GO GIRL!
Karianne
Always the cheerleader, KariAnne! You always make my day when you visit! Less than two weeks, my friend! Hugs!
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Pinned and shared.
Great tips! I always love toincorporate a candle in my decor
Thanks, Mary! Yep… candles always make a home more comfy to me! 😉
I love how you tied in the natural touches of yellow and green as the filler in your lantern and also the pretty yellow and green decor in the room! It looks so refreshing and relaxing with positive vibes! The window bench is beautiful by the way!
So happy to join you for this challenge. Happy summer Julie!
Thank you so much, Amber! Love hopping with you, too!
Your summer home is so elegant and inspiring! I love the bench by the window, it makes a great statement piece and brings the gorgeous vintage vibe to space. Also, the textures and layers you’ve added bring warmth and personality to space. I can go on and on, but the truth is, I’m in awe with every detail and corner of this area, just like every time you showcase your amazing styling skills.
Thank you so much, Katarina!
That is a beautiful lantern and what a fun idea for making a “mantle” too. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Summer Fun party. I pinned all the posts you’ve left with us.
Thank you so much, Joanne! And thanks for hosting! Feel free to link up to our Tuesday Turn Abouts on Tuesdays at 5pm CST! Hope to see you there!
Thank you for sharing at #ThursdayFavoriteThings. I have Pinned and shared.
Go big or go home is an EXCELLENT decorating motto! And one I share as well! Love the lantern, Julie, and your great unfussy styling is just perfect!
Thanks, Janet… funny… I think I need a BIGGER lantern! LOL!
Julie,
Your home always looks so lovely. Lanterns and candles – two of my favorites.
Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2023/05/decorating-on-thursday-favorite-things.html
Hugs,
Bev
Thank you, again, Bev… sorry… I’ve been a bit busy these days so my replies are a little late!