10 Ways to Get Your Living Room in the Summer Spirit

Summer begs for a more relaxed approach to decorating — chill out in an indoor hammock, replace a door with airy mosquito netting, and stress less about feet on the sofa (hint: use slipcovers). Get 11 ways to update your living room for easy summer living below.

Place just a few beach-inspired accents. A few carefully chosen pieces are all you need to change the look of your living room for summer.

Try placing a giant real or faux clamshell on the coffee table, either empty as shown here or filled with fresh lemons. The rope-covered glass buoy tucked under the table here is sculptural, and the modern sea-inspired art print keeps the space feeling current and not too theme-y.

Get loads of ideas for creating your own coastal style


Add a daybed. Encourage lazy afternoon naps by replacing your usual pair of armchairs or sofa with a daybed. Topped with a few blue and white pillows, it can just as easily serve as a seat for two or lounging spot for one.

White curtains and creamy white painted floors create a relaxing backdrop for eclectic finds in this living room. A live-edge wooden table, iron and rope mirror, and drum table add to the earthy coastal aesthetic.


String up a hammock indoors. There is no reason to keep the fun of a hammock relegated to the backyard. Hanging one indoors will instantly transform your space into a relaxation zone.


Craft an artsy sand collection. Scoop up a whole bunch of identical small glass bottles with cork tops and fill them as the summer goes on with handfuls of sand from each beach you visit. Label each bottle with the place and date, and place all of the bottles on a shelf against a map background.


Go for woven accessories and carved wood. Natural materials and interesting textures telegraph a laid-back vibe. A large woven basket is amazingly versatile — use it to hold newspapers, firewood, extra pillows, or kids' toys, or as a cachepot for an indoor tree.


Swap out your light for a capiz pendant. Capiz shells have a slightly iridescent quality that gives them a luxurious but still beachy feel. Capiz pendants and chandeliers reflect the light in a beautiful way.

See more about capiz shell lighting


Set up a self-serve beverage tray. On hot days why not keep a big dispenser filled with ice water at hand on a bar cart or console table? Perk up plain water with slices of lemon or another fresh fruit, cucumber or mint.

See stylish drink dispensers and holders


Cover your furniture with white slipcovers. Washable white slipcovers made from a sturdy fabric like duck or denim look fresh and summery, and they clean up with ease (and a little bleach).

See how white slipcovers can be practical


Go doorless. Keep things breezy by removing a door or two. Hang mosquito netting or sheer curtain panels instead for a tropical look.


Keep a happy jumble of summery accessories on display. Straw hats and colorful totes spilling out of the entry? Hang them on a simple row of hooks in your living room for a cheerful, practical display.

Tell us: What's on your summer decorating to-do list?

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