Decorating with Summertime Blues

The summertime blues have nothing to do with feeling down.  On the contrary.  The colors of summer are some of the most uplifting of the year.  They are shades that remind us of the pretty blue skies, turquoise ocean waves, and all things nautical.

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I have been anxiously awaiting summer for so many reasons.  While I love the seasons, this past winter has seemed colder and longer than any in recent memory.  I’m sure part of it was due to the pandemic but regardless, I am ready for sunshine and warmth!

Coastal Style Without the Coast

I love decorating for each and every season.  Changing my home to reflect the renewal of spring or a blustery autumn day is one of my greatest joys.  But for me, summer is perhaps the greatest challenge.  

During other seasons, I use what’s happening right outside my door for inspiration.  Spring flowers, autumn leaves, pine cones. They all play a part in my seasonal decor.  But when summer rolls around, what’s happening right outside my door is not what inspires me.  

Of course I love the green grass and the pretty summer blooms but I would trade them in an instant for sand and salty air.  I will have those things this year for two weeks here and a weekend there.   But I will need more imagination to make my summer home what I want it to be.  

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Starting Summer with a Clean Slate

This year, I’m even more excited than normal to bring in my summer decor. Mostly because I’m starting with a brand new slate! 2020, for as awful as it was, gave us the time to do some much needed updating to our home.  New carpet and paint, a new stain on the hardwood, and earlier this year, replacing family room furniture that had seen better days for sure!

Out with the taupe and in with the grays I love so much.  While gray might not be as popular as it was a few years ago, it is and always will be, a classic.  Last years refresh has given me a whole new color palette to work with this summer.

Navy blue has always been a favorite of mine.  It just didn’t work with my furniture and its brown undertones.  But…gray and navy??? A perfect marriage to say the least.  I am happy to finally be able to use it in my family room.  

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Bringing in the Summertime Blues

There are several ways to incorporate a bit of the summertime blues into your home. One of the simplest is through the fabrics you use in the summer months. Light cottons, linens, and airy microfibers in pretty shades of blue are perfect for the hottest months of the year.

Accents of the season on the mantel or displayed in a vignette is another way to bring in the blues. Printable art is an additional option as well.

I’ve broken down the various ways that I’ve added the summertime blues to my home below. Maybe you will find some ideas that will help you with your own summer decor.

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Accent Pillows

Throw pillows are such an easy way to change a color scheme in any room.  I use the same pillows all year long for storage purposes but I change the pillow covers often.  Since it’s the summer months I’m concentrating on, I’ll use lighter fabrics. With navy being the blue I’m focused on, the possibilities were endless! I chose a few solids, a striped navy for an accent, and a pretty fern pattern for interest.

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Throws

I always have a throw or two handy in the family room.  I consider them to be a necessity all year long.  Granted, they will get much more use in late summer and in the early months of autumn, but I am cold when it’s in the 70’s. Even in the height of summer, I find myself reaching for one when the air conditioner kicks on. Besides, they are just so pretty! Draped over a chair or set in a basket, they bring so much color to the room.

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Lampshades

I tend to change my lampshades quite often.  They are also an easy way to change the feel of a room.  Most of the year they are gray or white.  But for the summer, I’m creating more of a coastal feel so I need a coastal color!

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Coastal Vignette

Adding a pretty vignette to any accent table is another way to go. Putting your treasures on display in a basket or on a tray will bring some centralized color without taking up too much space.

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Blues on the Walls

Additionally, bringing in the blues with printable art makes a big bang with very little effort. I created the shell printables to use here months ago. Tied in with distressed gray frames they give a burst of blue to an otherwise boring wall.

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Coastal Focal Point

To bring everything together, it’s important that the main focal point of the room is also used to showcase the blue color scheme. In my home, the most predominant area in the family room is the large space above the fireplace. With my pelican picture centered there, ( see… How to turn a favorite photo into art ) I used several of the shades of blue seen throughout the room in the accents surrounding it.

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The pillar candle holders and a pretty piece of coral bring in the navy blue I love. The candles themselves match the blues of the throws, pillows, and pictures. Another piece of coral, the hourglass, and the sailboat tie in the aqua of the lampshades.

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All in all, I am loving the summertime blues in the family room! When I look in from my kitchen, I see the very essence of all the things I love about the summer. Mission accomplished!

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If you are thinking of bringing in the summertime blues to your home, I’ve linked several of my favorites below! There are also a few printables seen here that you will find in the Printable Library as well.

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See you soon!