With summer upon us and backyards opening up, it's time to refresh your home to go with it. But with so many decorating options out there, it can be hard to know what to choose or even where to start. Luckily, we spoke with experts on all things home decor and DIY to help you jazz up your space with high-end options starting at $12.
“Summer is a time when we spend more time outdoors with our families, so I love decorating with outdoor get-togethers, gardening, and seasonal meals in mind,” interior decorator and DIY content creator Shelby VanHoy tells Real Simple. “My goal is to create outdoor spaces that make people prefer being outdoors to being inside and become great gathering spaces for family and friends. I also love bringing natural elements of the outdoors inside by using flower pots as dish containers and incorporating wicker and woven fabrics throughout my indoor table settings.”
Van Hoy's blog, Pretty in the Pines, began 10 years ago as a hobby in her spare time, an opportunity to express her creativity through all things home, food, fashion and family. In addition to blogging, the North Carolina native also began sharing her inspiration on Instagram, where she now has more than 597,000 followers. What started as a hobby has now become the start of a career. “I love sharing ways to add personality to a home and giving recommendations on everything from furniture and décor to wallpaper and paint,” says Van Hoy.
Home decor experts recommend products on Amazon
YiHomer Rustic Rectangular Tablecloth, $18 Artera Handwoven Wicker Basket Set, $22 Foindtower Linen Cushion Cover, $30 with coupon (list price $31) Nearly Natural Tuscan Ceramic Planter, $35 Safavieh Arona Antique Wrought Iron Outdoor Garden Bench, $103 O'Bright Cordless LED Table Lamp, $45 Gfware Round Woven Placemat Set, $37 Vita Vinyl Trellis, $190 (list price $228) Generic Vintage Botanical Print, $12 GibsonHome Stainless Steel Mini Berry Colander, $29
YiHomer Pastoral Rectangular Tablecloth
Amazon
When it comes to summer decor, Van Hoy loves to play with patterns. “Personally, you can't go wrong with a timeless and ethereal floral print in blue and white. I've had this tablecloth for years and it's one of my favorites because it matches so well with much of our serveware, placemats, and dinnerware.” With over 3,300 five-star reviews from shoppers, this tablecloth is a customer favorite. It comes in eight sizes to fit any table perfectly, from 52″ x 52″ to 60″ x 140″.
Altera Hand-woven Wicker Basket Set
Amazon
Other decor pieces Van Hoy likes to incorporate into her summer decor include woven materials like wicker and seagrass, which bring an outdoorsy feel to the area—and this set of seagrass baskets does just that. “Having fruit baskets on your kitchen counter instantly makes the space feel more lived-in and inviting, and helps with organization,” Van Hoy says. The baskets are artisan-made and can be purchased for just over $7 each.
Find Tower Linen Cushion Cover
Amazon
Another easy way to upgrade your summer decor is with new pillowcases. Van Hoy loves to switch out cushion covers in soft floral or striped patterns to coincide with the season, but she also likes these cushion covers in a few neutral colors. “If pattern isn't your thing, linen fabrics are popular this time of year, and olive green works year-round,” Van Hoy says. “They don't take up much storage space and are a great way to make a difference when you're hosting guests.”
Almost Natural Tuscan Ceramic Planter
Amazon
As Van Hoy focuses on decor pieces that are themed around outdoor get-togethers, she also considers vintage-inspired flower pots to populate the space. “These planters have the same timeless, antique feel,” Van Hoy says. She uses the flower pots as containers to bring the outdoors inside. You can also use the ceramic planters as vases to display small plants or flowers and keep them on your bedroom dresser or living room coffee table.
Keep scrolling to see more summer decor pieces you can use no matter the season, and don't forget to visit Vanhoy's Amazon storefront to see the full selection.
Safavieh Arona Antique Wrought Iron Outdoor Garden Bench
Amazon
O'Bright Cordless LED Table Lamp
Amazon
Gfware Round Woven Placemat Set
Amazon
Vita Vinyl Trellis
Amazon
Generic vintage botanical prints
Amazon
Gibson Home Stainless Steel Mini Berry Colander
Amazon
Hslgove Children's Picnic Table
Amazon