Summer Decor and More!

When you think of transitioning from spring to summer decorating what is the first thing that comes to mind?  Lemons, sunflowers, patriotic decor?  If you’re like me maybe all of those things?

  Yep, I do them all! 

This summer I’m doing a little blog hop called Early Summer Decor Home Tour with some talented ladies who are ready to share with you some of their inspirational summer decor ideas. Make sure to check out all of their beautiful blogs! You won’t want to miss it! If you’re coming over from Wendy’s beautiful blog – welcome, and thanks so much for stopping by! By the way is Wendy talented and creative or what?

For this post I’ve decided to share my patriotic decor for Memorial Day…..some of which I will leave up till the Fourth of July. Usually I’ll at least remove my flags out front and put them back out for the fourth.  But, this year I think I may just leave them out.  I’m not sure yet.  So far we’re still rocking the flags around here!

I have to say I don’t spend a lot of money on my patriotic decor and a lot of what I use are flags, flags and more flags.  There’s just nothing more impactful for patriotic decor than the good old American flag. 

Don’t you agree??

Take for instance my breakfast nook table.  Not only did I use flags in my centerpiece I removed the flags from the flag sticks and used them as placemats.  Worked like a charm!  They are the perfect size and literally cost me nothing.  My hubby got them through his office so no money spent here.  The other flags were inexpensive and cost practically nothing.  But, they make such an impact! 

Yep, the simple use of flags goes a long way.

You’ll notice I’ve just popped them into various places around my home….like this arrangement in my kitchen…..simple, but affective!

And this basket on my stairs.  Just a simple touch is all that’s needed to make the statement needed. 

Out front I did the same thing to make the impact I wanted……which is “I love my country” and I’m proud to claim it!!  All I did was add flags around my bed leading up to the porch, but boy what a statement it makes!

On the porch I used this sign from Hobby Lobby that I purchased on sale half price a couple of years ago.  (Of course…….who would pay regular price at Hobby Lobby……am I right?)

On my rockers I placed pillows that I purchased from Walmart a couple years ago.  These were $5.00 each.  Again…..I don’t spend a lot of money! 

In the back yard the only place I decorated this year was my chaise and half.  I just added some pillows from Walmart and set these lanterns out with it to sort of complete the look.  Usually I decorate my courtyard and my outdoor living area as well, but this year I just kept things simple.  I’m okay with simple now and then.  Which is saying a lot for this more is more girl.

The area where I departed from the red, white and blue is on my screened in porch.  I wanted to display my patriotic decor, but in more of a neutral palette out here. 

I found this neutral sign at Hobby Lobby on sale for 40% off. I hung it from from my hanging centerpiece over the dining table.

I found these stars that were sold as a garland…..again for 40% off of course. Instead of using them as is I separated the stars from the twine to create a new look and use for them……

Then I white washed them to camouflage the colors they came in to keep them more neutral and more in line with the overall look I was going for.

I glued four of them to these dal rods……

Then placed them in my existing arrangement.  I hung two of them from my hanging centerpiece.  It’s a simple look, but that’s what I wanted out here this year. 

Simple and subtle.

I added just a few simple touches to my tiered tray in my kitchen. These are items I also got at Hobby Lobby for just a couple dollars each. They fit right in with my existing decor so I didn’t have to do a lot of switching and rearranging. Love that! By the way the Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby are great places for inexpensive items for your tiered tray. When there’s lots of “stuff” on there – even when it’s teeny tiny stuff – it can add up…..so just collect things on clearance year round. Or pick up things at your local thrift store!

A little pre-planning will save you lots of money!

I’m not sure if I’ll leave everything up until the fourth this year or remove some of it and bring it back out. 

I do know that next up for summer is my lemon decor and maybe my sunflowers.  Just not sure if that will be next week or in July.  But, it will make its entrance at some point.

I may do something similar to last year’s decor like you see in the pictures below, but still undecided. Right now I’m still enjoying my neutral patriotic decor.

I had so much fun setting up this summer display with lemon dishware from the Dollar Tree, napkins from Michaels, chargers from Hobby Lobby and this runner from Amazon. Bright and cheerful.

Nothing says summer quite like lemons and the color yellow…..don’t you agree?

Up next on the Early Summer Decor Home Tour is Anne and AnneMarie with Simply2moms. Make sure to check out their fabulous summer decor and continue this entire home decor tour for more inspo! See the links below for the full tour.

I hope the tour inspires you and gives you some wonderful ideas for your own home!

Whatever your summer decor is…..make it fun!

Happy Life by Design!