Summertime Swaps: Quick Changes to Lighten Up Home Decor

By Kathryn Weber

Summertime Swaps: Quick Changes to Lighten Up Home Decor. This living room has the right feel for summer. Pale, painted chairs with light-colored accessories and pale walls makes the room look and feel right for warm weather

This living room has the right feel for summer. Pale, painted chairs with light-colored accessories and pale walls makes the room look and feel right for warm weather

After the long months of winter, it's nice to lighten up around the house and bring the freshness of summer indoors. Adding summer accents can ease the heaviness of the winter's dark colors, heavy fabrics and cocooning feel. Summer is the time to refresh your decor and make the house lighter and brighter with pops of vibrant color and summery touches. Try these ideas to give your home a cooling summer lift.

Open up by replacing drapes.

Take heavy drapes off the windows and hang yards of light sheers to make the room feel lighter and brighter. Or replace dark curtains with simple light-colored panels to preserve privacy and maximize light.

Lighten up the fireplace.

Take fireplace screens down and put the fireplace tools away. Give it a summertime touch by adding a lush real or silk plant to fill up the fireplace. Or create an arrangement of coordinating vases in the firebox. Top the mantle with a collection of single-stem vases and flowers for a quick and easy change.

Brighten the porch with color.

For summery street appeal, add a cozy wicker chair to make a welcoming spot on the front porch. Pop in bright, colorful cushions for a touch of summer color. Or hang an old-fashioned porch swing and top with cushions in fun, punchy shades.

Spray paint your way to a brighter house.

Painted furniture is popular and looks fresh -- especially for summer. Visiting garage sales or flea markets for furniture bargains? Spray paint is the way to turn inexpensive finds into new furnishings that look oh-so-now.

Change linens for a cool night's sleep.

With summer comes the need for sheets that are crisp and cool on hot sultry nights. Pack away sateen and jersey sheets that cling to skin, making summer sleep hot and restless. Instead, make the bed with sheets with body, such as percale, that allow plenty of air circulation. Top with lightweight bedspreads in soft colors to create an inviting bed that won't weigh down sleep on humid nights.

Fresh towels brighten the bathroom.

Give the bathroom a summertime lift by replacing jewel-toned towels with towels in bright white or colorful summer colors. Bathing will feel cooler and more refreshing when followed with fluffy lemon yellow or bright blue towels. Try the new fast-drying towels or a bamboo blend for quick dry appeal or an extra dose of softness.

Got shells? Nothing says summer like seashells.

They bring a day at the beach into the house. Display large shells as accents or hang up shell prints to bring a beachy touch to your decor. Collected shells can go into a bowl or tray with beach glass and interesting rocks that wash up on the shore. When paired with nautical accessories, white canvas slipcovers transform a living room into a Cape Cod getaway.

Home & Garden - Summertime Swaps: Quick Changes to Lighten Up Home Decor