Summer Living Room Updates Made Easy

Look in any home decorating magazine this time of year, and you'll see beautiful living rooms with bright sunny colors--whites and greens, beachy-looking blues. Then there are the light gauzy curtains, the wicker extras, and the abundance of sea shell themes. You may want to jump on board and sail away with summer living, but how's that decorating scheme going to feel when the temperatures drop come fall?

Decorating a living room for summer is easy if you have a summer vacation home. Keep everything light and breezy and then close it up come winter. But what about the rest of us? Sometime around Thanksgiving all that easy-breezy stuff starts to feel cold and what you really want is some thick wool and some cozy lamps. Let these living room decorating tips help you update your space for the season without killing your budget.

Tip #1 -- Think Accessories

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  • Windows
  • Room Additions
  • Flooring
  • Interior House Painting
  • Cabinet Refacing
  • Bathroom Remodeling
  • Heating & Air Conditioning
  • New Kitchen Cabinets
  • Full Kitchen Remodeling
  • Vinyl Siding

A stunning white couch and pale green walls look great in August, but they may feel less homey in December. Rather than trying to redecorate your living room by decorating with big items, like furniture, or with major surfaces, like walls, smaller changes are both more affordable and more versatile. Some bright cotton throw pillows, a smart white accent chair, or a wicker basket full of apples on your coffee table are all little changes that will have a big impact.

Tip #2 -- Think Textiles

Just as certainly as velvets or wools establish a warm cozy winter feel for your living room, light summer fabrics like gauzy silks or crisp cottons establish a summer feel. Whether it's curtains or rugs, shifting the textiles with the seasons is a great and relatively affordable way to shift the mood of the space. Don't rule out slipcovers; they're great for letting you transform the look of furniture without any major commitment--once you're ready for a darker, richer look again, off they come.

Tip #3 -- Think Light

One of the reasons those summer living room photos always look so great is sunshine. Take a look at the windows! In a few months the sun will be setting at 6 o'clock again, but for now, pull up those curtains and let in the light. A great window cleaning and a serious attempt to minimize fussy window dressings during the summer is one of the best living room decorating gifts you can give yourself.