Low Stakes Summer Refreshers
Update your space for spontaneous summer gatherings with a lot of what you already have.
The end of the school year & summer underway produces a downshift mentality in my home. Even though summer camp logistics can feel like a puzzle to solve, the overall feel is less. Less pressure, less activities, less cognitive lifting, etc.
Summer kickoff also sparks a desire to host spontaneously - whether it's al fresco snacks with neighbors or full on dinner gatherings. It's a natural exercise for me to turnover my space this time of year and I understand it's not that way for everyone. I see clients and friends with a desire to refresh their homes in early summer and they feel the only way to do that is by getting new.
I've learned that you don't have to buy much to refresh your space. There's a good chance existing vessels and vases can resurface and feel like new with perhaps a few unique branches you've never bought before. Travel mementos, small dishes, and candles are brought back to life in new combinations. It's a fun and creative process and I always feel gratified after a little spruce.
We listed a few styling ideas below. Photos are from previous photoshoots as well as my home.
Summer refresh styling notes:
- Herbs and greens go a long way — rosemary, mint, even radish tops can feel sculptural and fresh.
- One type of flower in bulk is always impactful — tulips, daffodils, or even carnations.
- Tiny arrangements in unexpected spots (powder room, desk, guest nightstand) always feel thoughtful.
- If you’re hosting over the holidays, a carafe of water or a little tray moment on the nightstand is a nice touch.
- Use a stack of books as a riser under a vase or candle — adds height and texture.
- A bowl of fruit or produce (lemons, figs, stone fruit) can double as sculpture.
- Repeat something — like three bud vases or candles — for an easy, intentional look.
- We recently used some beautiful not-so-basic stems: smoke bush (plummy and cloud-like), scabiosa (dark and moody), and trailing amaranthus.
Have fun with it and even involve kiddos.
Happy summer!
