Our Summer Tours for our home represent a season of simplicity, light and airy, and low-maintenance decor, as Summer should be. Enjoy this peek into our living room followed by a click-through Summer home tour and decor ideas from many other well-known Home and DIY bloggers.
I’ve never been one to slap a word to live by in my life. But as summer rolled around this year, I decided there was one word in particular that I wanted to remember as I stroll thru life.
I wanted this to be a beautiful summer 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.
But I have to tell you, to be able to relax is something I want to do so very very badly. So bad I made it the theme of my beautiful home decor for summer . . . or lack of decor.
I went on a de-clutter rampage to minimize, simplify, and enjoy a low-maintenance environment as my summer decorating idea.
All to. . .
Relax.
Relax, they say.
Relax . . . because 4 kids at home in the family room 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).
I went on a de-clutter rampage to minimize, simplify, and enjoy a low-maintenance environment as my summer decorating idea.
All in an effort to . . .
. . . reeeeeelaaaaaaaaxxxxxxx.
And you know what? I think it’s 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 for my simple summer decorating to work on before I can fully relax and give a beautiful tour of the whole household.
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 HOME TOUR LIVING ROOM DECORATING IDEAS
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 doable.
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 would not buy a single thing. Unless it was fresh flowers from the market . . . 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 and add a pop of color, 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! An added summer touch! 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 for your front door, dining room, or somewhere else in your house.
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 year’s 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 | ThSUMMER HOME TOUR | LIVING ROOM AREAe Turquoise Home
This post makes a lot of sense indeed and I appreciate the work
in one of your photos, there is a black door in the background. what is the paint color and finish you used? love!
Well we have good news, this weekend you could take advantage of free pool access, an unlimited ladies’ night, full moon yoga and much more.
Here are things to do in Dubai this weekend…
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! 🙂
So beautiful!! Can you share the color you have on the walls?
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!
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!
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!
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!
Well then – come on over! 😉 . Thanks for visiting!
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!
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??!!
It’s just stunning, Cami! I love your beautiful home and style.
Hugs, Jamie
Hugs back at ya friend! Thank you!
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!
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!
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!
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!
hey girl- love the tour! so cool!
Thanks so much Shawnna!
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!