Our Summer Home Tour represents a season of simplicity and low maintenance decor, as Summer should be. Enjoy this peek into our living room followed by a click through Summer home tour of many other well known Home and DIY bloggers.
I’ve never been one to slap a word to live by on my life. But as Summer rolled around this year, I decided there was one word in particular that I wanted to remember.
And since my mind goes a million miles an hour and my body is always multi-tasking, I knew this word had to be large, in charge, and in my face.
Relax.
Relax, they say.
Relax . . . because 4 kids at home all day, every day, with all sorts of opinions and attitudes and belly’s that always seem to be hungry . . . is most definitely something to relax about. (Insert very thick sarcasm).
But I have to tell you, to be able to relax is something I want to do so very very badly. So bad in fact, I made it the theme of my Summer decor . . . or lack of decor.
I decided to go on a de-clutter rampage to minimize, simplify, and enjoy a low maintenance environment for the Summer.
All in an effort to . . .
. . . reeeeeelaaaaaaaaxxxxxxx.
And you know what? I think my intentions are helping!
The problem I now face is that I’ve only had time to de-clutter and simplify one space, our living room, so I currently still have 9 other spaces in our home to work on before I can fully relax.
I know what you are thinking.
This girl has issues.
And while you are so very right, I also have Summer decor advice for you!
SUMMER DECOR ADVICE #1: Keep it stupid simple.
It’s Summer! Who wants to use any relaxing energy on fluffing pillows, propping blankets just right, or fussing with perfection – especially when the kids will most likely destroy it in seconds? 🙁
Not me! So I picked neutral pillows and blankets that can be swapped around without bothering me, and even look pretty on the floor or as a fort. I took away anything from this space that wasn’t needed, I moved the toys downstairs, and I kept decor at an absolute minimum.
And when things get untidy, or left where they shouldn’t be, I make an effort to breathe and embrace it as Summer bliss. Having less clutter around me, makes this more do-able.
SUMMER DECOR ADVICE #2: Don’t buy a thing.
When I got invited to this Summer Home Tour event with some of my dearest blogging friends (find them below), I made a personal commitment to myself that I was not going to buy a single thing. Unless it was fresh market flowers . . . those don’t count . . . those help me relax.
When most seasons come around, I like to purchase a few new things to spice a room up, but I felt like it was not needed in the Summer. Money should and will be spent elsewhere – like creating family memories.
So if you’ve been following me for very long, you’ll notice in these images things you may have seen before, but just in different places.
All I did was swap my furnishings around, dig through my thrifted treasures, pulled out this, rotated that . . . and waa-la! I just bought myself a fresh outlook, for FREE!
It’s a personal belief, but this is not the season to spend on decor. Go ahead and treat yo’self to snow cones and new flip flops instead.
SUMMER DECOR ADVICE #3: RELAX
That’s right. You have my permission to borrow my word of the season. Feel free to even make a giant chalkboard in any color to plaster the word on it.
Shoot, even go ahead and watch your muscular stud of a husband almost kill himself trying to hang it and stand back in amazement as he sketches the word surrounded by beautiful botanicals on top of a ladder while straddling stairs.
And then remember to reeeelaaaax.
Create an environment that brings you and your loved ones peace, that you love coming back to after a long day in the sun, and most importantly . . .
. . . that helps you remember to treasure the life happening inside its walls.
That my friends, is how you decorate for Summer.
Thank you for being here with me today, and if you’d like to take a gander at last years Summer home tour, I had 2 posts that are still among my favorites – The Summer Child Home Tour, and My Summer of 2016 Home Tour.
Now sit back and relax (that word again) and enjoy a week filled to the brim of inspiration and Summer decor ideas. I’m humbled to be among these talented ladies, and grateful to Nina Hendrick for inviting me to join her. Come back every day this week and I’ll have updated links for you to see them all! Let me know if you can pick a favorite!
MONDAY
Nina Hendrick | The Happy Housie | Finding Silver Pennies | TIDBITS | So Much Better With Age
TUESDAY
Zevy Joy | A Burst of Beautiful | House by Hoff | Migonis Home | Just a Girl and Her Blog
WEDNESDAY
Nesting with Grace | Design, Dining, and Diapers | Bless’er House | The Wicker House
THURSDAY
Life on Virginia Street | Craftberry Bush | The Blissful Bee | Boxwood Avenue | The Chronicles of Home
FRIDAY
Love Grows Wild | The Wood Grain Cottage | Cherished Bliss | Making Home Base | The Turquoise Home
Good morning!! I always love reading your posts and you always inspire me! We are beginning my dream bathroom remodel and I have a silly question?. Did you have any trouble getting your tub through the doorway? I’m trying to decide which measurements I need to consider before ordering!
Have a wonderfully relaxing day!
Elaine
Yay for bathroom remodels! That’s a great question. My husband did pre-measure to make sure that would not be a problem. We have been known to have to take down the door to get stuff through. But definitely figure that out before you purchase. Have fun!
hey girl- love the tour! so cool!
Thanks so much Shawnna!
Beautiful as always! You definitely nailed the relaxing vibe. Can I ask where you got the gray/blue plaid throw blanket with the white ruffle edges?
Thank you Belinda! How kind of you to say. I actually made that from some fabric at Joanne’s. I couldn’t find what I was envisioning – so I made it myself!
So, so pretty. I agree. Trying to be simple and use what I have for summer decor this year. xx
Thanks Danielle! I imagine you have a pretty good stack of supplies like I do 😉 . Your tour was beautiful!
Well, I’d relax in that beautiful space! We got new floors in and I had to empty the living and dining room. I’m liking the pared down look. I’m thinking after seeing your living room I won’t put everything back out. Here’s to relaxing and enjoying Summer!
?
Cecilia
Cecilia recently posted…Making Progress
New floors! How exciting Cecilia! Do you have any pictures of them yet? It always feels so good to empty out a room. Thanks for coming by again!
I’m working on a before and after Post over on the blog. We still need to get the shoe molding down so the furniture isn’t in place. Hoping that gets done before the weekend. I’m ready to get the house back in order! 🙂
Cecilia recently posted…Making Progress
Awesome – usually I don’t read the entire blog, just scroll through the photos, because I’m like you, a busy mom of 4 and pictures are all I have time for. I love that rug. How does it hold up with 4 kids? Mine are little yet (7, 5, 3, & 1) so maybe not for that age. Love the simplicity. Thanks for the RELAX advice.
I hear ya Andrea! My kids are 10 and under, and they are so good to abide by my rules of no shoes on the rug. They are better than me in fact! We’ve had it for almost a year and there is a somewhat darker path going down the main traffic area. I’ve been meaning to get a shampoo’er and see if that helps. If you are worried about your kids listening, I wouldn’t go with a white rug. But I definitely love the look! Thanks so much for stopping by!
It’s just stunning, Cami! I love your beautiful home and style.
Hugs, Jamie
Hugs back at ya friend! Thank you!
LOVE your word for the summer! RELAX – that’s what we are trying to do as well. Simple summer enjoying our families. Your house is so fresh and chic!
How kind of you to say Laura! Hope you get plenty of relaxing in! Before 4th quarter, right??!!
Such true words! I should take them to heart and put away 3/4 of my stuff! RELAX. I need to do a bit of that… gorgeous tour, Cami!
Oh Krista! You are so sweet. Thanks for taking the time to comment and visit. I adore you girl!
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Oh My Golly – I’d plop myself down and never want to leave. It’s so beautiful. And I love how the DIY’s!
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Well then – come on over! 😉 . Thanks for visiting!
Cami! I was reading through this post nodding my head and saying “YES!” My theme of the summer is the same. I want to be unbusy and relax, ENJOY! Also, I didn’t buy a single thing for my tour either, except flowers and it felt so good! Happy summer, sweet friend!
It’s a real effort to relax when we have kids and a home business! Here is to hoping we get some soon! Thanks for coming by Chelsea! I hope I get to see you at Haven again!
Beautiful, relaxing home! you’ve probably mentioned before, what color paint is in your living room? it’s so peaceful looking!
Thank you! The white is “super white” and the gray/blue is “sterling” half tinted. Both Benjamin Moore colors. I love them!
Love your tour, Cami! It’s all so pretty! And I’m totally taking you’re word for our summer too… cause relaxing is totally the plan around here!
Hope you get lots of relaxing in!! Thanks for coming by!
Cami, I LOVE the theme of your tour. I think we all need that reminder to relax during the summer (and always, really!). Your home looks beautiful, and I’m so grateful that you joined me for this tour! See you soon!
So beautiful!! Can you share the color you have on the walls?
oh my goodness, nevermind- I just saw it on an earlier question!
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Oh my gosh girl….so beautiful! I love love it! Yes, I agree…RELAX…a good word for summer and I need to do that as well! It’s what summer is all about! Gorgeous pics and gorgeous home! Everything just inspired me today that I scrolled through once to read and once again to look at and drool over the pics! Thanks for the relaxing feeling! 🙂
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Love your photography and thanks for sharing with us
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Beautiful ideas! I love the fresh and cozy combination. Thanks for sharing!
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in one of your photos, there is a black door in the background. what is the paint color and finish you used? love!
Hi, I love the white theme of your home, and it makes your house more beautiful. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing. Great blog by the way!
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This post makes a lot of sense indeed and I appreciate the work
Very nice, Cami. But don’t you worry about having to keep those white items clean? What with having several kids and all..
Thanks.
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This is so beautiful! I would definitely take a load off and relax here. This whole post is making me SO eager for Summer!
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