How To Make Your Home Feel Like Summer All Year

Ah, the smell of sunscreen in the air, the residue of sea salt on your skin, the house is more lively than ever. You truly can’t beat that summer feeling in New England. Whether you live by the ocean or not, many of us just want that easy, breezy feel of a summer home all year long! Nothing quite compares to feeling like a summer vacation is just around the corner, especially in the cold months of Winter. If you are a fellow New Englander, you understand that the ocean, the beach, and all the traditions that come with it, make us who we are in the summer months. There’s just nothing quite like it when the weather begins to thaw and you can start planning your summer beach trips. Imagine now that your home is a beachy escape everyday for you.  A beautiful and calming space to be your best self. Ah, the dream! Let’s talk about how we can capture these beloved summer months in the very walls of your home.

First, Your Summer Color Palette.

There are many classic summer color palettes and for many, this may be the most difficult decision when designing your summer-inspired home. Do you want strictly coastal with hues of blue and beige? Do you want nautical with higher contrast tones like navy blue, deep red, and crisp white? Maybe a citrus color palette with bright pink, vibrant yellow, and key lime. Let’s take a look at some common color palettes to first get you started on this journey.

Coastal Floral: A Fresh Bunch of Flowers  & A Dip in The Ocean

Capture that perfect summer day of walking the beach, collecting seashells and flowers and maybe going for a quick swim before you head home to gas up the grill. This color palette brings together bleached beach roses, clean sand, fountain grasses, crashing waves and a glass of sangria. If this sounds like a place you’d like to call home. This may be a perfect color palette to make your home feel like a summer escape all year. This color palette keeps things fun and interesting. There truly is no limit to a palette that accentuates a mid summer day, with pastel colors of nearly every shade. You can have a lot of fun with a palette like this; themed rooms, punchy wallpapers, exciting pops of color, the list goes on!

Captains Quarters: Imagine a Life at Sea

This color palette reminds us of the classic sailboat getaway and is a perfect way to incorporate that luxurious New England feel with some bright hues for your accents. Imagine the dark brown leathers within the ships lower deck, the gorgeous hardwood floors and accents, white sails, a calm ocean before you, and a couple of good books to read while the sea rocks you along. Sounds pretty nice, right? Imagine that feeling right inside your home! This color palette is sure to appeal to those who love a dramatic and moody feel to their home while still maintaining a sense of being on the water.

Pool Day: Crystal Blue Water & Don’t Forget the Flamingo Floatie

Nothing says summer like heading over to your friends house for a much needed dip on a hot July day. But, your friend may raise their eyebrows if they see you jumping in their pool post-September. It’s hard to give up those summer traditions as the weather starts to fall, but with this color palette you truly won’t even know the difference! Well, maybe a little, but it will hold you over until summer comes back around. This color palette brings together those gorgeous crystal blue waters, a nice fruit salad, some fun floaties, and of course some lemonade on ice. This color palette is a fan favorite for those who love to be bold with their colors. Strong and saturated hues, warm and cool tones, brights on brights on brights! It truly screams summer. Make your home feel like a summer escape everyday with this poolside inspired palette.

Cape House: Seals, Hydrangeas, and Gorgeous Lawns

We all know the feeling of driving down to Cape Cod in the summertime. Sure, the traffic is just unbearable, but you will always look back on these times with a smile on your face. Historic homes stand proudly along the main roads, perfectly kept like they’ve been in a time capsule. Hydrangeas in every shade of blue and purple and pink overflow the landscaping, busting through white picket fences. Yards are so pristine you’d swear they were turf. Seals frequent the shore line as if they have become the new squirrel of the US. This drive is truly like living inside of a magazine titled, “Don’t You Wish You Lived Here?” Well, this may just be a color palette, but we swear it will give some of those very same feelings of relaxation and worry-free days. This color palette plays on the more subdued and peaceful colors we see in the summertime, sort of like the first day you arrive to the beach house and take one of the best naps you’ve ever had in your life. We see soft blues with even a hint of grey, fern shaded greens to match those beautiful lawns and hydrangea stems, deep greyish blues to match our seal friends, soft whites like the sand dunes of P-Town, and beiges for that ever-so-popular driftwood. Make your home feel like summer everyday with this color palette full of serenity and style.

The Hamptons: Bold & Luxurious

We ALL know what The Hamptons are, coined as one of the most luxurious beach destinations in the US. Celebrity spotting, designer shopping, ocean front mansions, the list goes as to why you’d want to bring this place home with you. How’s a color palette instead? Truly resting on a nautical theme, the Hamptons color palette does not shy away from bold colors. It’s best to imagine these colors in terms of stripes; wide stripes, pinstripes, all stripes! These colors bring together what you’d imagine in your head for a gorgeous 100 ft. yacht off the shore. That deep, shiny blue, deep red mooring lines, and a bright white ship deck. What says luxury better than encapsulating the feel of a yacht? In a home, these colors can be really fun to play with in unexpected places like red mirror finish kitchen cabinets, striped wallpaper, a deep blue couch, the world is your oyster!

Materials To Make Your Home Feel Like Summer

Summer calls for light, airy, and natural materials so you’ll want to bring that into elements in your home like the window treatments and even flooring selections.

Linen

Linen remains a top pick for homeowners going for a natural and breezy feel in their home. Linen has a medium to loose weave allowing light to pass through it which can create a gorgeous glowing effect if used on windows that receive a lot of light during the day.

Cotton

This versatile and durable fabric is frequently used in coastal homes. Cotton can be found in various forms, such as canvas for slipcovers and upholstery, or softer weaves for bedding and throw pillows. You can’t go wrong with using cotton somewhere in your home when trying to keep that feeling of summer in your home all year.

Jute

Often used for rugs and decorative accents, jute adds a natural, earthy element to coastal interiors. Its coarse texture and neutral tones complement the beach-inspired decor. Your home will feel like summer all year with jute featured.

Canvas

Durable and often used for slipcovers and outdoor furniture, canvas is a practical and stylish option for coastal homes. It can withstand the wear and tear of a beach lifestyle while maintaining a casual, laid-back look. Make your home feel like summer all year with this popular material.

Seersucker

This puckered fabric is lightweight and has a distinctive texture that adds visual interest to coastal interiors. It’s often used for throw pillows, upholstery, and curtains.

Burlap

With its rustic and organic feel, burlap is sometimes used in coastal homes for decorative elements like throw pillows or table runners. It adds a touch of natural texture to the space.

Raffia

Made from palm leaves, raffia is another natural material used in coastal homes. It’s often seen in decorative accessories, such as baskets, lampshades, and wall hangings.

Finishes to Make Your Home Feel Like Summer All Year

Silver

Silver is a classic color if you are trying to capture that truly nautical feeling and mimic those beautiful features on a sailboat. Silver door knobs, cabinet pulls, and bathroom features are a great way to add in some extra shiny silver in your home.

Brass

Nothing says truly historic like brass. If you are going full throttle for that historic captains quarters type vibe, then brass is a perfect finish to add into your home. Add in historic elements like custom window latches and foot latches to really feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the ship merchant times.

Black Metal

Rising in popularity over the years, black metal is a wonderful way to modernize your space and add beautiful contrast. Add in black cabinet pulls, black faucets and see those light color palettes really come to life!

Ready To Make Your Home A Summer Escape All Year?

We understand that watching summer go by can be hard for some. So many memories come with this season and in New England we can’t argue that a break from the cold and blistery winter is always much needed. But what if you could walk through your front door and feel that same escape all year long? Red House Design Build has a highly experienced team that can bring your vision to life. Our design team will offer up elaborate and high quality selections to create the perfect summery home for you.

Let’s talk about starting your summer home project!