Your 7-Day Summer Checklist for Bright, Breezy Interiors

Bright summer home living room featuring lush green plants, a round concrete coffee table, and natural light flooding through large windows.

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Summer is here and because we believe a thoughtfully designed home is one that grows with you, we also know that summer is the perfect excuse to breathe new life into your surroundings! If you feel like your space could use a little sunshine and simplicity, this 7-day summer checklist is your go-to guide for creating a home that feels just as fresh as the season itself.

As experienced Nashville interior designers, we’re all about interiors that reflect who you are and how you want to live, season to season. Whether you're styling your summer home, entertaining guests, or craving a warm-weather glow-up, this summer checklist is going to help you make any space both beautiful and functional!

Day 1: Bring In Breezy Textiles

Swap the heavy for the light

Nothing says summer home refresh like soft, breathable textures! Start by swapping out heavy curtains, dark rugs, or thick throws for something that feels fresh and light.

  • Replace thick drapes with sheer cotton curtains to let that natural light pour in.

  • Roll up wool rugs and layer in something like a scalloped-edge jute rug or natural sisal that are soft underfoot and perfect for warmer months.

  • Switch thick throws for cotton or linen

  • Update your couch or bed with a few linen or cotton throw pillows in summer-friendly prints (botanicals, stripes, or coastal blues all work beautifully).

These small swaps and subtle texture shifts instantly make a room feel brighter and more relaxed. It’s one of the simplest ways to invite the season indoors!

Day 2: Lighten Up Your Color Palette

 
Light-filled living room with fresh white paint, neutral furniture, fireplace, and large windows as part of summer home refresh.
 

Color shifts can change everything

Summer is the perfect time to reevaluate your color palette! If your space is filled with darker, warmer tones from fall or winter, try lightening things up with soft neutrals and cool, airy colors.

We’re loving shades like Shoji White (SW 7042) for walls, with its creamy, neutral base that’s versatile and pairs beautifully with natural textures. Want a subtle pop? Upward (SW 6239), a breezy blue from Sherwin-Williams, looks amazing on an accent wall, cabinetry, or even the inside of a bookcase.

If you can’t commit to painting, that’s okay! Bring in color through accessories like throw pillows, ceramics, or artwork in gentle pastels and oceanic hues for an instant summer uplift.

Day 3: Add Natural Accents

 
Welcoming entryway decor featuring black door, statement greenery wreath, and Nashville interior designer in floral dress
 

Natural textures + fresh greenery = summer soul

When it comes to a summer home refresh, natural textures are key! Think rattan, linen, seagrass, terracotta, wood, and stone. These elements bring visual interest without making the space feel heavy.

Some of our go-to accents for summer:

  • Styling fresh flowers or greenery in key areas like your kitchen, entryway, or nightstand

  • Oversized clay or terracotta vases filled with faux stems or fresh clippings from the yard

  • Layered trays with glass, woven, and ceramic elements

  • Simple framed botanicals or pressed flowers as art

  • Light wood tones to balance out cooler hues

Mixing these natural textures creates that layered, collected look we love, without weighing down your space. 

Day 4: Refresh Your Entryway

Stylish entryway decor featuring a white shell bowl with succulents on a wooden tray, perfect for summer home styling.
Decluttered entryway console table with symmetrical lighting, round mirror, and minimal styling for summer home refresh.

First impressions count

Your entryway decor sets the tone for the rest of your home and it’s one of the easiest spots to refresh! Start with a light rug, a neutral table runner, or a woven catchall tray. 

Then layer in:

  • A sculptural vase filled with seasonal greenery or faux florals (like hydrangeas or olive branches)

  • A scented candle in a soft, beachy scent

  • A piece of coastal artwork or a small mirror to bounce light around

It doesn’t have to be overstyled. The goal is clean, simple, and intentional. This is also a great space to try out your seasonal color palette before committing to a larger room.

Day 5: Clear the Clutter

Clean, decluttered bathroom with coastal-inspired vanity mirror, simple styling, and organized countertop.
Bright kitchen with marble countertops, gold fixtures, and decluttered surfaces showcasing essential design elements.

Your summer refresh begins with letting go

You don’t need a full home makeover; you just need a fresh perspective and a few pro decluttering tips! And one of the most important steps in any successful home refresh is simple–start with a clean slate! Before you think about adding new pieces or rearranging furniture, it’s important to create space physically and mentally.

Start with visible surfaces like the entry table, coffee table, or kitchen counter. A tidy space instantly feels brighter! Clear countertops, stash the extras in stylish seagrass baskets, and donate what you don’t use or love. Even just organizing your entryway décor, the place where your day starts and ends, can have an impact on how your home feels overall.

Pro tip: Use decorative bowls or vintage-inspired containers to keep keys, sunglasses, and mail from taking over every surface.  

Day 6: Style Your Entertaining Space

Summer hosting made simple

One of the best parts of summer is gathering with friends and family! And whether indoors or out, your entertaining space should feel easy and relaxed. We love incorporating playful details like scalloped-edge dinnerware in pale mint, colored glassware, or simple centerpieces like bowls of citrus or wildflowers. Stack linen napkins in a drawer or display them in a basket for easy access (and effortless style).

If you have the space, a rattan bar cart adds form and function. It’s perfect for summer spritzes, storing cookbooks, or corralling all those pretty serving pieces you don’t want to hide away! 

Day 7: Say Yes to Statement Wallpaper

Big personality in small spaces

This is your permission to be bold! Summer is the perfect time to take a few design risks, and one of our favorite ways to do that is with statement wallpaper. Think floral prints, leafy greens, or watery abstract designs that bring the outdoors in!

And no, you don’t have to commit to a full room, you can always start small!

  • Line the back of open shelving or a cabinet

  • Add a pop to your powder room (yes, ceilings are fair game)

  • Try a bold pattern on one wall of your home office or bedroom

Peel-and-stick options make this trend approachable even for renters (or commitment-phobes).

Bonus: Layer in Personality

Nashville interior designer in the entry way styling decorations.
Nashville interior designer standing beside beautifully styled open shelving with decorative objects in a light and airy space.

Make it yours

Once you’ve tackled your summer checklist, it’s time to layer in meaning and touches of your personality. This is where your space becomes a reflection of you!

Display your favorite summer reads in a tray on the coffee table. Frame a snapshot from your last beach vacation. Stack a few citrus-scented candles and your favorite matchbooks. Hang art that feels peaceful or energizing. This is where the magic happens!

Your home should tell your story, and summer is the perfect chapter to make it feel more intentional. These final details create a space that feels lived-in, loved, and uniquely yours.

Designed to Grow with You

If your space is feeling a little dull or stuck in another season, don’t stress! Use this summer checklist as your jumping-off point to bring in more light, personality, and joy. Whether you take it one room at a time or all seven days in a row, each step brings you closer to a space that feels simpler, brighter, and completely yours. 

And if you’re craving a quick refresh or dreaming of a complete transformation, the truth is this—a beautiful, functional home doesn’t happen by accident.

At Spaces in Bloom Designs, we specialize in creating thoughtful, elevated interiors that reflect your unique style, season after season, room by room. From full-scale renovations to ground-up design, we help you bring your vision to life in a way that feels effortless, personal, and timeless. Contact us today and let’s turn your space into something that feels just as sunny and effortless as summer itself!

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Your 7 day summer checklist for bright, breezy interiors.
 
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