I have to admit—I’ve been both lazy and wildly busy this summer. If I had to describe the season in one word it would be exhausted. We fit in Vacation Bible School, countless lake days, a heartfelt goodbye to my grandmother, lots of little friend playdates, and plenty of time at the pool. It’s been equal parts fun and tiring. My idea of a peaceful summer with my husband around didn’t quite happen. I imagined knocking out a long list of projects while he spent time with our daughter, but that didn’t pan out.
Because of that, many projects are still in progress. My laundry room makeover is moving at a snail’s pace and I won’t be meeting my self-imposed August 1 deadline. I’ve been packing for a conference, running errands, sorting things for the trip, and making sure my husband has what he needs while I’m gone.
Despite the unfinished projects, what matters most is that we’ve been living life together—celebrating family, creating memories, and spending a lot of time with each other. That’s what summer should be about.
That brings me to the subject of this post: my lazy summer decor. Last year I created my first summer mantel and fell in love with it. At the time I didn’t have my DSLR and the photos were taken on an older camera and my phone, so the images were far from perfect. I should probably recreate that mantel and take better photos someday. Even so, the idea stuck with me, and this year I decided to keep my spring mantel as the foundation and add a few summer touches instead of starting from scratch.
I added a few starfish to the spring mantel for a subtle summer update. The change was small but effective—sometimes a few seasonal accents are all you need to refresh a space without overhauling it.
One of my favorite spots to decorate is the Board and Batten shelf; it’s a great place to create a small vignette. For summer I kept the styling light and airy—soft textures, coastal accents, and a few well-placed pieces that evoke the lake and beach without feeling overdone.
My favorite DIY project this season has been the weathered wooden beach buoys I made. They sit on a side table under our gallery wall and immediately bring a relaxed, coastal vibe to the room. Simple DIY accessories like these can transform a corner without a lot of time or expense.
I did crop one photo because it would have revealed the aftermath of our last lake trip—towels, bags, and life’s little messes scattered on the floor. That’s summer life for many of us: a happy, messy season where the house is often in flux and full of activity.
Another small detail I added was some sea glass I found on sale and placed in a small favorite vase from a big-box store. It’s a tiny touch, but sea glass and glassy accents reflect light and evoke the shoreline, helping the space feel breezy and fresh.
I also wanted to highlight my mantel and a new-ish piece that finally found its home: a large globe that belonged to my husband’s father. We kept it in storage for years because I couldn’t find the right spot, and now it sits on the hearth. It adds character and a sense of history to the room. Our daughter enjoys spinning it, and I’m considering a small metal refresh to the brass details later, but for now I’m loving it where it is.
Thank you for joining my little lazy summer decor tour. I kept things effortless—using existing pieces, adding a few seasonal accents, and letting our everyday life dictate how much (or how little) I decorate.
How did you decorate for summer this year? Did you go all out or keep it simple and spontaneous like I did?
Wishing you a wonderful day, and now I must finish loading the car and head off to my conference—I’ll share a recap once I’m back and have a bit of time to recover and reflect.