After spring cleaning comes summer refreshment. With just a few quick changes, you can make a big difference in the look and feel of your home. Let the warm air and sunny colors of summer inspire you to try these 10-minute tricks for freshening up your space!

Bring in the Freshness

Soothe the senses and celebrate the warmer weather with fresh summer flower arrangements. Whether you grow your own or pick up colorful bunches at the farmer’s market, fresh flowers are an inexpensive and easy way to bring positive energy into your home. Place them in different shapes vases in every room.

Switch Out Accessories

Gather all your accessories and place them on the kitchen or dining room table. Find themes – be it by color, texture, or material – and create new vignettes throughout the house. Put away the winter throws and use brighter colors on chairs, sofas, and beds. Pick a fun summer theme to line a fireplace mantle, and use festive vases and candles to dress up tables.

Swap Artwork

Put away darker pieces and leave lighter, pastel colors for summer. If over the years you’ve managed to cover every wall in your home with photos, prints, and paintings, try to leave at least one wall in each room blank. It’s a nice and calm respite for the eyes.

Update the Bedroom

Just as you change up your summer wardrobe, give your bedroom a lighter look as well. Take off the heavy blankets and comforters and replace them with a lightweight chenille bedspread. Switch out accent pillows to match. Summer prints for sheets are fun, but an all-white look is crisp and cooling.

Set a Summer Table

Mix and match bright dishes with your everyday plates and bowls for your next dinner party. Turn a formal silver tray into a casual holder of fun glasses and a pitcher filled with a frosty summer cocktail. Add fun elements like themed stir sticks and paper umbrellas. For outdoor entertaining, string strands of clear outdoor lights to set a magical mood, or use paper lanterns for a festive touch.

Let the Sun Shine

Now's the time to let light fill your home, so make sure your windows sparkle. Take down or pull back dark window treatments and add a valance or shade for a touch of color. Solar shades are a great treatment for summer – and all year long! They block the light but not the view and they’re perfect for windows. Exterior rolling shades remove the sun’s glare, reduce heat and enable you to provide a cool, comfortable environment for your family or guests.

We hope you find these quick and easy ways to refresh your home’s decor for summer useful and fun. To learn more about how to incorporate beautiful shades into your summer decorating style, we invite you to download our Shades vs. Blinds guide.