When ready for summer decorating, what better inspiration than the beach? For the dining room, pick a white or sand-colored base table cloth. Representing the water in this arrangement is a beach towel running down the center of the table. Home Goods offered an excellent deal on dishes with the beach theme, from glasses with shells and seahorses to plates and bowls covered in frisky waves from the Gulf.
Orange, yellow and green place mats matched the flowers filling large silver shell bowls. Dragon Fly napkin rings give a whimsical touch to each place setting in summer decorating. Once again, the Home Goods store came to the rescue for a Pelican centerpiece.
As much fun as it is to shop in stores, my sister and I prefer the flea, yard and garage sale market. And our brother enjoys them just as much. A bench most would use outdoors became a lovely plant rack and conversation piece in our living room area. Brother Jim discovered it in a yard sale. He brought it home, added a cheerful white coat of paint and voila’ trash turned into a treasure. It lends a beach/country air to an area that easily becomes too formal and stuffy. To balance the effect, a bamboo plant holder stands with easy grace across the room, spilling the philodendron vines from its casual depths. A delightful flea market find – a two handled pitcher, filled with flowing ivy filled the area between the two.
Summer and summer decorating is a time to which I look forward, as it offers a multitude of ideas. Whether looking to the beach or the burst of flora in our gardens, material is available in almost every venue. Younger sister Vickie loves odd shaped wood. She found a wavy piece in a trash pile waiting to be burned. Vickie to the rescue. With her artistic skills, she produced a friendly snake that rests on her front porch railing.
If snakes are not your particular favorites, look for shapes in driftwood that do fit your life. Often these pieces can be used as décor for plants, whether adding an interesting note in the garden or as a place for a plant to reside in the house.
Picnics are another place to look for inspiration. A casual table fits the comfortable summer days. After setting the table for fun in the sun, add a lazy susan turntable, complete with all the condiments, for a dinner cooked out on the grill. Of course the centerpiece for that day is the platter of barbequed ribs, chicken or thick burgers and foot long hot dogs! While this is a fun idea, why not move dining out to the yard. After all, there are just so many summer days. Why waste all of them inside?
The color yellow screams summer and pays homage to the sun during these days when it swings closest to earth. Nothing welcomes guests or family more than a bright, cheerful white table cloth, with bright, yellow flowers strewn down the center. These may be in small containers as shown or directly onto the table cloth, looking very chic while giving a warm feeling of sunshine in the room. Taking it a step further, spread those lovely yellow flowers through the adjoining rooms.
Ladies, most of the decorating we do is for ourselves or to impress our friends or business contacts. However, we often forget the men. While they may appreciate our efforts, all the frills may just leave them cold. So, how about our guys? I have a couple of male friends who have get-togethers to make lures for their fishing trips. If you have that person in your life, why not put up a display for them? HINT: Do not put it on any table they will be using to spread out the materials for lure making; it does not go over well. (laughter) One corner of our basement belonged to my husband’s model airplane club and it was decorated to that end.
Why fishing and model airplanes? What better time of the year for both than spring and summer?
Every now and then all of us want to be kids. What better time to be a child than when the first beautiful peaches hit the shelves of groceries or local orchards open the gates for the public to pick their own? And what better decoration for any table than a bowl of delicious gold and red fruit? My family likes a Day of Fruit. That glorious day includes peaches at every meal, such as waffles topped with them, lunch with a dessert of angel food cake piled high with fruit and supper. For supper use peaches as part of the recipe for cooking pork roast and end the evening with a bowl of ice cream covered in peaches. When having a luncheon for friends, how about using the peaches to indicate sitting arrangements or write a fortune on one side and the guest’s name on the other?
Summer decorating begs us to remember summer fruits. Let’s look to the mighty watermelon, cantaloupe and their cousins as delightful ways to not only decorate our tables, but provide a refreshing fruit salad for the guests. From Flowers to Jaws, anything is possible with a watermelon, skillful hands and a melon baller.
Okay, dear readers, go forth and decorate for a glorious summer. Ideas are just a magazine, social media post or a dream away. Good luck and happy summer to all.