10 Smart Things to Do To get Your Home Summer Read

Get your home summer-ready with these 10 smart and simple ideas. Fresh tips for decorating, cleaning, and preparing every room and every space for the beautiful season ahead.

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Summer is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to get your home ready so you can enjoy every warm and sunny minute of it. A little planning and a few smart tasks will help you clear away the last of spring and make room for all the beauty and ease of summer living. Today, I am sharing 10 simple, helpful things you can do right now to make your home feel fresh, clean, and completely ready for the season ahead.

Clean Up Your Front Porch

A clean and inviting front porch says something important about the home behind it. It reflects hospitality, care, and a genuine welcome to everyone who arrives at your door. A tidy entrance sets the tone for the whole house and tells your guests they are expected and appreciated.

Remember to clean your front door too. Every time I clean mine, I am shocked at how much dirt and grime accumulates there. Scrub everything down and give it a good hose off. You will be amazed at the difference!

Here are a few things to do now to get your front porch and door summer-ready:

• Sweep or vacuum the porch to remove dirt, leaves, and debris
• Wash the porch floor, steps, and railings thoroughly
• Clean the windows and door glass for a sparkling finish
• Wipe down light fixtures, door handles, and all hardware
• Check for and remove any cobwebs or insect nests around the entrance
• Give your front door a fresh coat of paint if it needs one
• Add a new welcome mat or rug at the door
• Repaint any porch furniture and planters that need refreshing
• Consider adding or replacing rocking chairs, a bench, or containers for plants and flowers
• Add a new doorbell with a camera for security and peace of mind

To keep your porch looking its best all summer long, make cleaning it part of your regular routine. It is so much easier to maintain than it is to tackle all at once!

Make New Front Door Decor

Adding a wreath, basket, or arrangement to your front door this summer is about so much more than looks. It is about creating a welcoming atmosphere that reflects your personality and your spirit of hospitality. A beautiful front door arrangement greets visitors with a cheerful hello and adds a personal touch that sets your home apart from every other house on the street.

Now is the perfect time to make something for your front door. Choose materials and colors that feel like summer to you and let your creativity lead the way. A handmade wreath or basket always feels more personal and special than anything you can buy, and your guests will notice.

🌿 Easy Front Door Tip: Add small American flags to a door basket or wreath to celebrate our patriotic summer holidays. It is such a simple touch that makes a big impact!

Decorate Your Home With Summer Annuals and Perennials

Bringing what is blooming outside into our home is one of my very favorite ways to decorate for summer. Choose your favorite annual or perennial, pot it up in a pretty container, and use it on your coffee table, kitchen counter, or any flat surface in your home. It is such a simple and beautiful way to connect your interiors to the season outside.

Potted annuals and perennials last so much longer than cut flowers, and quite a few that I have brought inside have lasted an entire season. Think of them as long-lasting but not permanent houseplants. As the blooms fade, simply pinch them off to encourage new growth, and when the plant is spent, replace it with a fresh one. They are less expensive than a grocery store bouquet and far more interesting.

My friends always comment on how unexpected and lovely it is to see outdoor plants living happily inside the house. Once you try it, I think you will feel the same way.

When the season is over, simply transplant your annuals and perennials outside. I have quite a few perennials growing around our home that started their lives in planters right inside our kitchen.

Make sure to check out Using Summer Annuals and Perennials to Decorate Your Indoor Spaces for everything you need to know!

Create A Summer-Inspired Bedroom

With summer just around the corner, it is time to get our bedrooms ready for the warm, sunny, and humid days ahead. Making our bedrooms summer-ready is not just about looks. It is about creating a comfortable, restful space where we can truly unwind and sleep well all season long. A few easy changes can make a big difference in turning your bedroom into a cool and inviting sanctuary.

Here is a checklist to help you make your bedroom summer-ready:

• Lighten Up: Swap out heavy winter bedding for lightweight cotton or linen. Choose lighter colored bedding to reflect sunlight and keep your space feeling airy and fresh.
• Bring in Nature: Add a potted plant or fresh flowers to your bedroom. They add a touch of greenery, help purify the air, and create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
• Maximize Airflow: Open windows when you can and use a fan to keep air moving throughout the room. A ceiling fan is one of the best investments you can make for a comfortable summer bedroom.
• Declutter: Clear out anything unnecessary to create a sense of openness and ease. Store away heavy blankets and winter accessories to make room for summer essentials.
• Update Your Window Treatments: Swap out dark, heavy curtains for sheer or lightweight panels to let natural light pour in while maintaining privacy.
• Create a Relaxing Atmosphere: Use an essential oil diffuser with refreshing summer scents such as citrus, mint, or lavender to set a serene, restful mood.
• Stay Cool and Comfortable: Invest in breathable pajamas and bedding to help regulate your body temperature while you sleep. Keep a lightweight throw nearby for cooler summer nights.
• Optimize Your Sleep Environment: Consider a white noise machine or a small fan to drown out any outdoor noises that might disrupt your sleep on warm summer nights.

By following these simple steps, you can create a summer-ready bedroom that feels like a true retreat for you and your guests.

Fill Planters With Flowers And Herbs

Right now is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and get your hands a little dirty. Planting herbs and annual flowers in pots, urns, and raised beds is one of the most rewarding things you can do to prepare your home for summer. With the sun warming up and the soil ready to go, conditions are just right for getting started.

Container gardening is honestly my favorite way to dig in the dirt. Tending planters and pots is so much easier on the body than getting down on your hands and knees to weed and deadhead in the ground. All the joy of gardening without all the aches and pains!

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get your containers going this season:

• Choose a mix of thrillers, fillers, and spillers for the most beautiful and full container arrangements
• Plant herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme where you can snip them easily for cooking
• Water consistently and feed your containers regularly for the best blooms all season
• Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering throughout the summer
• Group containers together in odd numbers for the most visually pleasing arrangements

🌿 Pro Tip: If you are new to container gardening or just want to do it better this year, make sure to check out our Container Garden Posts for everything you need to know about planting, caring for, and harvesting herbs and flowers in a pot!

Tending planters, urns, and pots is so much easier than getting down on your hands and knees to pull weeds or deadhead blooms. Container gardening is my favorite way to dig in the dirt without aches and pains.

Wash Windows, Doors, And Screens

As we gear up for the sunny days ahead, one simple, often-overlooked task can make a surprisingly big difference in how your home looks and feels. Washing your windows, window screens, and doors is not the most glamorous chore on the list, but it is one of the most satisfying when it is done.

Living in the middle of a golf course surrounded by farm fields, my windows and doors get very crusty, dusty, and dirty by the time spring is over. After the pollen has had its way with our home, I get out and give everything a thorough cleaning. That means the windows, the casings, the shutters, and the door glass, too. Then I take the screens to the back patio, scrub them down, and let them sun-dry in the fresh air.

It is hard work, but the payoff is remarkable. Clean windows let so much more light into your home, and that alone changes the whole feeling of every room. Before summer kicks into high gear, grab your bucket and give your windows and doors a good scrubbing. Your home will feel like a completely different place when you are done!

🌿 Pro Tip: Work from the top down and clean on a cloudy day rather than in direct sunlight. Bright sun causes cleaning solution to dry too quickly and leaves streaks on the glass.

Get Outdoor-Friendly Tableware

As summer arrives, it is time to take our dining experiences outside and enjoy the pleasure of eating al fresco. And nothing makes outdoor dining easier or more enjoyable than having the right tableware for the season.

One of the best investments you can make for summer entertaining is a good set of melamine dishes, plastic dishware, and acrylic glasses. They are durable, lightweight, and perfect for picnics, barbecues, and casual outdoor gatherings. Best of all, they come in so many beautiful designs and colors that you can find something to suit every personal style and every occasion.

Do not let the word plastic fool you. Today’s melamine and acrylic tableware is genuinely pretty and so well designed that your outdoor table can look every bit as beautiful as your indoor one. I have some favorites I have been using for years, and they still look wonderful.

🌿 Pro Tip: Store your outdoor tableware together in one basket or bin so it is easy to grab and go when the mood for an impromptu outdoor meal strikes. Summer entertaining is always better when it is easy and effortless!

Acrylic + Melamine Dinnerware Picked For You

Compile Delicious Summer Recipes Now

Summer is the perfect time to lighten up our menus and embrace the fresh, seasonal flavors the warm months have to offer. Think farm-to-fork fare, great grilling recipes, crisp and colorful salads, and scrumptious, fruity desserts made with whatever is ripe and in season right now.

Start collecting your favorite summer recipes now, before the season gets away from you. Bookmark them, print them out, or save them to a folder so they are easy to find when you need them. There is nothing quite like sitting down to a meal that tastes like summer at its very best.

A few categories worth exploring as you build your summer recipe collection:

• Fresh and easy grilling recipes for weeknight dinners and weekend gatherings
• Light and colorful salads that make the most of seasonal produce
• Simple no-bake or cold desserts that do not heat up the kitchen
• Refreshing summer drinks and cocktails for entertaining
• Farm-to-table recipes that use whatever is fresh and abundant right now

🌿 Pro Tip: Join us every Friday for On The Menu, a weekly menu plan with at least 35 easy seasonal mix and match recipes to keep your summer table fresh and delicious all season long!

Change Your Throw Pillows

Let’s step inside for a few minutes and make one of the most impactful and enjoyable changes you can do for your home this season. It is time to change out your throw pillows!

Pillows are the jewelry of a room. Just as the right accessories can completely change an outfit, the right pillows can change the entire feeling of a space. Swapping in something lighter in weight, fresher in pattern, or softer in color is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to make your home feel like summer.

Take a few minutes to look over your current pillows and think about which ones feel right for the season ahead and which ones need to be swapped out. You might be surprised at how much you already have waiting to be used.

While you are at it, here are a few other simple fabric swaps worth doing now:

• Swap Out Heavy Curtains: Replace heavy drapes with lightweight sheers or linen panels to let natural light pour in and create a soft, breezy atmosphere throughout your home.
• Refresh Your Rugs: Replace heavy, dark rugs with lighter options in natural fibers like jute or sisal. They add a relaxed summery feel and are so much easier to live with in the warmer months.
• Lighten Your Throws: Swap out heavy knit or fleece throws for lightweight cotton or linen ones in softer summer colors and textures.

These simple fabric swaps cost very little and make a very big difference in how your home looks and feels all summer long.

Add A Fun Decal To Your Front Door

Here is one more idea for your front door that is so simple, so affordable, and so much fun. Add a decal!

We put a “hello” decal on our front door a few summers ago, and it has been one of the best and most commented on things we have ever done to our home’s exterior. Every single person who comes to our door mentions it. It added a personal, cheerful touch that perfectly reflects the welcoming spirit we want our home to have.

It was surprisingly easy to apply, has held up beautifully through every season, and can be removed without harming the paint when you are ready for something new. A front door decal is one of those ideas that costs very little and gives back so much in charm and personality.

You might like to see How to Apply a Decal to Your Front Door for step-by-step instructions and details on where we got ours.

So there you have it: 10 simple and effective ways to get your home ready for summer and make the most of every warm, beautiful day ahead. Whether you are freshening up your front porch, swapping out your pillows, or finally washing those windows, there is no better time to get started than right now.

And if you are looking for even more beautiful ways to make your home feel like the season, make sure to check out A Summer Home Bucket List: Simple Ideas to Savor the Season. It is the perfect companion to this post and is full of ideas to help you enjoy every single day of summer right at home.

Let’s make this a summer to remember!