15 Summery Decorating Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

Summer brings with it the urge to simplify and relax — schedules, wardrobe and the home all get a bit more laid-back at this time of year. To help your home embrace that easy, breezy beach house feeling, give one (or more) of these 15 budget-friendly ideas a try.

1. Wake up the bedroom with a wide-stripe wall. This is a moment to go bold with color — think tangerine, coral or aqua blue. You can find wide-stripe wallpaper, but for a quicker and less costly DIY alternative, carefully tape and paint colorful stripes on a white wall. Keep the rest of the decor simple with seagrass headboards and white linens.

How to Paint Perfect Stripes Every Time


2. Replace the books (or plates) in your cabinet with seaside treasures. If you have a bookcase or glass-front cabinet filled with china you rarely use, consider clearing it all out to make way for an airier summer collection.

Place a few large shells or pieces of driftwood inside to get the arrangement started, then continue to fill in with your own seaside finds as the season goes on.


3. Hang your hats. A cluster of straw hats and bags on wall hooks is both beachy and practical — when you’re heading to the shore, just grab a sun hat and a bag and go! Including a few other objects, like the oversize beaded necklaces shown here, adds texture and interest to the arrangement.


4. Display a beach-themed vintage collection. This collection of antique sand pails looks charming displayed on a leaning white ladder, and it’s easily switched out come fall.

Choosing an object to collect can make visiting those summer flea markets and antiques fairs more fun, so why not come up with your own item to collect? Enamel pitchers, blue glass bottles, toy boats, seaside-themed art … the options are limitless.


5. Turn memories into unique art. If you like the idea of scrapbooking but rarely find the time to complete an album, this could be a satisfying project to undertake.

Choose a photo with personal meaning for you (use a copy if you’re worried about damaging the original), a map of an area related to the photo, crafts store letters and a few small, meaningful objects.

Arrange and glue them onto card stock, or place inside a shadowbox for a unique display.


6. Paint some signage. Just about any piece of old wood can be transformed into a fun, beachy sign with a bit of paint and time on a lazy afternoon.

Give your board a coat of color and allow it to dry, then pencil on your word or phrase before tracing with paint in a contrasting hue. Wondering what to write? Try the name of your favorite beach or vacation spot, or come up with a beach house name for your own pad (even if you’re landlocked), like “Mermaid Manor.”


7. Give sofas a quick makeover with summery textiles. Almost anything is fair game, as long as it’s big enough: a tablecloth, a quilt, even a pretty sarong or fringed fouta-style towel can work.

If the textile won’t cover the entire sofa, fold and drape it over the center section, or wrap only the bottom cushions.


8. Frame beach finds. Shells, sand dollars, sea glass and small pieces of driftwood take on special significance when mounted on smooth linen in a big frame. If you’re using your own finds, consider including a small, neatly written label at the bottom with the place and date you found your treasures.


9. Replace fussy fixtures with barn lights. Barn lights are simple, sturdy, undeniably cool, and they can be found at every price point. If you rent, don’t assume you can’t change the lighting — some landlords are happy to let you switch light fixtures, as long as you replace the originals before moving out.


10. Cover an interior wall with trellis. Trellis used for decorative purposes is known as treillage, and it can be a surprisingly affordable way to bring architectural interest to an interior room. Try it in a breakfast room or sunporch to enhance the indoor-outdoor feel.


11. Paint your wicker. Wicker chairs, love seats and tables can be found for bargain prices at yard sales, but they’re not always in pristine condition. Consider giving your wicker pieces a fresh update with a coat of colorful paint. Spray paint will provide the most even coverage, but it’s messy: Be prepared with a drop cloth, painter’s face mask, gloves and ample outdoor space.

12. Put an indoor-outdoor rug in the living room. Indoor-outdoor rugs come in all sorts of fun colors and patterns, and they typically cost less than their strictly indoor counterparts. Plus, outdoor rugs are usually stain- and fade-resistant, which makes cleaning off all of that summer sand and muck a breeze.


13. Replace towel rods with nautical rope. Tired of your ho-hum towel rods? Unscrew them and tie up some rope for a seaside-inspired bathroom makeover.

Tip: Check out a knot-tying book from the library to learn how to tie a secure (and cool-looking) knot worthy of a sailor.


14. Fill recycled jars with sand and candles. No instructions required. For your next gathering, make a bunch of these easy DIY lanterns and cluster them around the house for instant ambiance. No sandy beach nearby? You can pick some sand up at a crafts store instead.


15. Deck out a backyard tree. Like something straight out of Gilligan’s Island, this tree is overboard — but in a delightfully good way. Drape a tree with lengths of rope, vintage buoys, bunting and even a surfboard for a free-spirited decoration that will last all summer. Kids and party guests will love it!

More:
So Your Style Is: Coastal
Browse Beach-Style Accessories in the Houzz Shop

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