Discover 30 designer-inspired summer decor ideas on a budget. Create a beautiful Serena & Lily-inspired coastal cottage with blue and white decor, grandmillennial style, vintage home decor, and affordable Amazon finds.
Summer is officially here (or at least it feels like it) and at least here in South Florida, the heat has most definitely arrived! In fact, unless I am at the beach or in the pool, I am spending a little more time indoors. Since I’ve been enjoying the sunshine from inside a little more this week, it’s the perfect time to show you some easy designer-inspired summer decor ideas on a budget.
If you’ve ever fallen in love with the look of a beautiful Serena & Lily coastal cottage, only to discover the price tag wasn’t quite as charming, you’re in the right place.
One of my favorite things about decorating is creating a home that feels collected, welcoming, and timeless without spending a fortune. Over the years, I’ve learned that the secret to achieving that designer look isn’t necessarily buying designer pieces—it’s learning how to mix affordable finds with vintage treasures and meaningful decor.
Today I’m sharing 30 designer-inspired summer decor ideas on a budget that are helping our home feel fresh, coastal, cozy, and collected this season. I am styling all of these decor items around our home this summer and I hope these budget-friendly decorating tips and ideas help you enjoy your home more this season too!
Think:
- ✔ Blue and white decor
- ✔ Grandmillennial decor
- ✔ Vintage-inspired style
- ✔ Serena & Lily-inspired looks
- ✔ Coastal cottage charm
- ✔ Budget-friendly Amazon finds
- ✔ Easy summer decorating ideas
These are the exact pieces I’m using in our home right now to create that effortless summer feeling.
These budget-friendly summer home decorating finds are helping keep the inside light and breezy while feeling like our summertime retreat!
Today, I’m excited to show you 30 of my favorite designer-inspired summer decor ideas with budget-friendly decorating tips for home decorating. Currently, I am using most of them in our living space and main rooms to turn our beach town house into a cozy coastal summer cottage!
We can also check out how I have paired these summer decorations with my favorite pieces of vintage decor and thrifted finds for a cozy, light, and breezy summertime style!
If you’re new to this decorating style, this post is part of my Ultimate Guide to Coastal Grandmillenial Style, where we explore timeless decorating that blends coastal charm, traditional elegance, and collected vintage character.
What Is Summer Decor?
Summer decorating is all about creating a home that feels light, relaxed, and welcoming.
For a coastal cottage home, that often means:
- Natural textures
- Woven baskets
- Fresh greenery
- Blue and white decor
- Vintage home decor
- Coastal accents
- Breezy fabrics
- Light and airy color palette
The goal isn’t to completely redecorate your home with expensive decor for the summer season.
Instead, focus on a few simple seasonal updates, without even spending a lot of money, that instantly make your space feel fresh and inviting. The good news is there are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make the look of a room feel classy and even designer-inspired. In this post, we will look at a few affordable options to bring a designer-inspired mix of patterns, color, and style to the entire room, even on a small budget.
30 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Easy Summer Home Decorating
1. Realistic Faux Palm Branches
Nothing says summer quite like palm branches and greenery is an easy way to refresh a space to take it from spring decor style to a coastal summer cottage.
These affordable faux stems look incredibly realistic and instantly bring that relaxed coastal feel into a room. I love styling them in vintage crocks, blue and white ginger jars or chinoiserie vases, and wicker baskets for a designer-inspired look that feels effortless.
Why I love them:
- Budget-friendly
- Looks remarkably real
- Perfect for coastal cottage decor
- Great for dining rooms and entryways
I had pictures of this cabinet with both real palm branches from my yard and my faux ones from Amazon. Actually, I had to take a double look to make sure I added the correct picture to this post with the faux palm branches! Nothing brings the essence of summer quite like a subtle coastal touch and these palm branches are a fun way to add that summery feel.
They have been one of my top sellers for so many months over the past year or so. While I love that they are so budget-friendly, only $9.99 for 8 branches, my favorite thing is that they just look so real.
If you’ve followed along for long, you know I am really passionate about only using very quality, realistic faux greenery and faux florals.
That’s why THESE faux palm branches are a must-have for me. You can style them alone or even mix them with vibrant floral arrangements for a dining room centerpiece! Used on their own, like I did in my dining room, they will add a simple, easy summery touch for your home as well!
Shop my favorite realistic faux palm branches HERE!
2. Lightweight Gauzy Throw Blankets
One of the easiest ways to update your summer home decor is by swapping heavy textiles for lighter fabrics.
These gauzy throws remind me so much of the cozy layers you see in luxury coastal homes, effortlessly tossed over the corner of a chair in the living room or a bench at the foot of the bed.
This light-weight throw blanket is perfect for cozy summer evenings!
Here in South Florida, it is already starting to get SO hot. I mean, we are headed toward “heat index over 100 most days” kind of hot before too long. The thought of curling up with a blanket this time of year is suffocating, to be honest. It’s time to ditch the heavy fabrics for sure! That’s where lighter fabrics and breezy linens become essential, like this light-weight throw blanket!
The light-weight gauzy fabric makes it the perfect summer throw blanket and it gets a lot of use in our home on a daily basis. The lightweight fabrics come in different colors so you can match your summer decor perfectly.
Warning: you’ll need more than one because everyone in the house is going to want to be this cozy for summer! Over the years, we’ve had to add a few of them around our home!
Shop my favorite light-weight throw blanket HERE!
3. Faux Coral Decor
If you’ve ever shopped for real coral, you know it can be terribly expensive. However, a pretty piece of coral goes a long way in bringing a designer-inspired style to your summer decorating while being a simple, little change.
Good news: this realistic faux coral gives the same designer-inspired coastal look for a fraction of the cost. In fact, a larger piece of real coral, around this same size, would cost over $75, minimum, here in Florida and probably a lot more!
So, this realistic piece of coral is a super budget-friendly way to bring a pretty coastal accent and the feeling of summer beach days to any room for a seasonal refresh. It literally looks SO real and it even feels real too (watch your fingers!)
You don’t have to go “full on cottage coastal” to add natural textures like coral to your summer home decorating. In fact, just a simple piece here or there is a delightful way to add a fresh look for the season.
Try styling a piece of coral on:
- Coffee table books
- Built-ins
- Shelves
- Under glass cloches
Shop my favorite realistic faux coral HERE!
4. Concrete Planters That Look High-End
What a gorgeous addition this set of 3 concrete planters have made to our outdoor pool area! I can’t say enough good things about them. At the same time, I would also use them indoors if I had a space. These concrete planters remind me of pieces I’ve seen at high-end garden centers for triple the price.
Fill them with:
- White hydrangeas
- Ferns
- Olive trees
- Summer annuals
They instantly elevate a front porch or pool area.
Bonus: they come in a set of three so you can use them together or split them up!
I shopped around a LOT for planters, going to many different stores and websites. These are definitely my favorites of all the ones I looked at and the price worked out to be such a great deal also.
With the concrete style, I know they will last us for many years to come so they are great investment pieces too!
Shop my favorite concrete planters HERE!
5. Decorative Glass Cloches
If you’ve followed Robyn’s French Nest for long, you know I never met a cloche I didn’t love. No matter the season, glass cloches are one of my favorite go-to pieces for decorating. I love layering coral, old books, and shells in mine for a touch of nature and colors of the season in the summer months. They add layers and character while keeping your decor feeling collected.
For summer, fill them with:
- Shells
- Coral
- Sea glass
- Vintage books
Over on THIS post, you can find 21+ ways that I enjoy decorating with glass cloches!
I have a variety of sizes and shapes. THIS glass cloche is one of my favorites because the size makes it easy to style and it’s a great statement piece in my decor.
Shop my favorite glass cloche HERE!
6. Woven Storage Baskets
One of the easiest designer tricks? Hide clutter beautifully.
I added these stacked baskets back in the winter when I was working on home organization and they’ve been a favorite ever since then! However, I especially love how the baskets add texture and style to my summer decor too!
These woven baskets add texture while helping every room feel more organized.
Pro Tip: Small changes, like clearing up some clutter with the right kind of pretty storage, is one of the easiest ways to elevate the look of your home!
Shop my favorite flat storage baskets HERE!
7. Wicker Vases
Natural textures are a must for summer decorating.
Last year, I ordered this gorgeous woven wicker vase and I have to say that for the great price, I was pleasantly surprised! It is much better quality than the budget-friendly price would reflect. This vase is one of my favorite decor items and it is the perfect size for a great statement piece!
I especially love pairing wicker vases with white hydrangeas for a look that feels straight out of a Serena & Lily catalog.
The easiest summer decor idea…ever…is to add some flowers for a pop of color on a summer table. This is a great centerpiece for the kitchen island, kitchen table, dining room table, or console table.
Shop this gorgeous wicker vase HERE!
8. Chinoiserie Accents
Blue and white are the perfect pops of color anytime of the year, but especially for summer decorating. Vintage style chinoiserie prints are on trend and easy to find right now and I especially love these blue and white candle holders for under $10.
They are perfect for a vintage style statement on the dining table or on a mantel, especially if you want to add a versatile accent on a small budget.
Besides taper candles (flameless are my favorites), put a little putty down in the candle holder and stick a couple of mini American flags for a quick and easy patriotic look! Small updates for the summer holidays are my favorite!
Tip: Local thrift stores, resale sites, flea markets, and antique malls are featuring their blue and white chinoiserie decor right now to follow the decorating trend so it’s a great time to add to your collection!
Shop these chinoiserie candle holders HERE!
9. Striped Throw Pillows
No matter the color scheme, a stripe pattern is a must-have for a coastal or coastal cottage style home! I’ve been decorating with this brand of indoor/outdoor throw pillows for budget-friendly pillow covers with high-end style for a few years now and I’ve never been disappointed! The colors and patterns are a great “look for less” for high-end styles like Serena and Lily or Pottery Barn.
Add a wide blue and white stripe for a coastal flair or even with some red accent for the patriotic holidays! It’s amazing how small updates like new pillows with fresh, light fabrics can give a whole new look for the summer season! I use these pillows in our indoor living space as well as our outdoor space.
Tip: For indoor use, add a down or feather pillow insert to elevate the look of your throw pillows. This brand is my favorite for inserts!
Shop coastal cottage throw pillow covers HERE!
10. Coastal Gallery Wall Prints
When I think about the “Coastal Grandmother” summer home decorating style that I love so much, it just seems like our summer house needs to include a great art gallery! Vintage style prints that look like real paintings are a favorite way to add a seasonal refresh for wall decor and these are perfect for summer home decorating!
However, designer-inspired wall art doesn’t have to be expensive. While I love vintage and antiques as much as the next person. designer-inspired wall art also does not have to actual antique paintings to look gorgeous in your home!
Create a collected coastal gallery wall using:
- Vintage thrifted frames
- Coastal prints
- Antique artwork
- Botanical illustrations
The result feels timeless and expensive.
For my summer mantel decor and gallery wall in our family room last year, I decided to pull all of my thrifted and flea market coastal art together. Then, to add more variety in size and style, I used THIS gorgeous coastal gallery wall set. Even though they are prints, they are so realistic and look like beautiful paintings.
You can get different styles of THESE gallery wall sets. Best of all, they are all under $20 and my coastal art set was under $16!
Pro Tip: Hit up your local thrift shops and antique shops for inexpensive frames to create a budget-friendly seasonal gallery wall that is designer-inspired for a fraction of the cost.
Shop beautiful coastal wall decor HERE!
11. This Sea Glass Filler
To me, summer home decorating is really all about the details. I wanted to bring as many natural elements into my coastal cottage decor as I could.
However, sometimes you just need a little shine and sparkle to pop against the patina of the vintage coastal decor. THIS sea glass is perfect for nautical-inspired decor. I added sea glass to vintage bottles, filled THIS ruffled bowl with it, and added some to my vintage mortar and pestle collection.
Sea glass is the perfect filler for summer home decorating because it adds pops of color with the lighter colors and creates that beach house summery feel, no matter where you actually live!
Shop affordable sea glass filler HERE!
12. Realistic Greenery Stems
Greenery is one of the simplest ways to make a room feel alive. Even though I use a lot of fresh cut palm branches from my yard and the faux palm branches that I mentioned earlier, I still like to include other realistic greenery stems to go along with my indoor plants.
These stems work beautifully mixed with:
- Faux hydrangeas
- Fresh flowers
- Vintage vessels
If you didn’t get them when I shared them for spring decor, go ahead and order a set now for your summer home decorating. You’ll use them SO MUCH! I guarantee it!
Shop my favorite realistic greenery stems for summer home decorating HERE!
13. This gorgeous wreath for the front door
While we are on the subject of flowers and greenery for summer home decorating, I simply have to show you this beautiful white forsythia wreath. I ordered it for my spring decor and currently have it on our side door where I see it many times every day as I come and go. I absolutely love it! In fact, I’m probably going to order a second one so I can use the pair on our front doors.
Even though the white is a neutral color, they add such vibrant hues for a light and airy summer season style. The porch is an extension of our home and a pretty wreath is such a welcoming touch.
Shop my white forsythia wreath HERE!
More favorites for summer home decorating:
14. Sea glass is one of my favorite fillers for bowls, bottles, and vases during the summer months. THIS sea glass filler has such pretty colors and it’s a simple swap to add summer color and texture to your decor.
15. Gold pineapples are perfect for small vignettes, add to decor under a cloche, or use for individual place settings for table decor.
16. Add vibrant colors to your table decor with these gorgeous blue napkins. These blue napkins can be used for everyday summer use or add a touch of red for patriotic cottage decor too!
17. Consider swapping out heavier curtains for these light and airy, gauzy striped sheer curtains for the warmer months. They still offer some shade on sunny days but let in tons of natural light!
18. Sometimes it’s the little things! This ruffled marble bowl is perfect for an entryway table vignette, shelf decor, or resting atop a stack of pretty coffee table books. I filled mine with sea glass pieces for the summer!
19. I absolutely love the texture and functional storage these rattan boxes add to our living spaces. The rattan is perfect for the summer interior design trends and the stackable boxes have plenty of ways to be useful! Right now, the small box holds the TV remote and my battery operated candle remote on a console table!
20. I am obsessed with these adorable rattan baskets with the scalloped lids. Even if you don’t need the practical storage (who doesn’t, though?), they add so much texture and interest. Scalloped edges are one of the big summer interior design trends and these baskets are perfection! They have been the perfect addition to our laundry room!
21. I’ve shared these gorgeous flowers before, but you just can’t have summer home decorating without some pretty flowers, right? I absolutely LOVE THESE faux hydrangeas. They are unbelievable realistic, both in the look and touch. In fact, I love them so much that I purchased several cases of them on sale and am using them for some big upcoming events! There’s no better time for hydrangeas than the summer season and I’m using these everywhere!
22. Nothing shouts “summer home decorating” like jute finishes! In addition to the jute ottomans I am loving in our home, jute rugs can add the perfect summer touches. I always say, you can easily refresh a room just by swapping out the rug! With the great price on THIS jute rug, it is a very affordable way to add some coastal cottage touches to your home!
23. I am not one to swap out big things like lighting. In fact, I haven’t changed any of the lighting in our home since we moved in about 7 years ago! However, when I came across THESE woven pendant lights for such a great price, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to add some summer touches over the kitchen island and lighten things up a little bit too. I absolutely love them! These woven lights would also be great in covered outdoor living room, guest rooms, sitting room, or even an entryway! Rattan is definitely one of the popular trends right now and this is a great way to incorporate the trend with a great statement piece.
24. The blue and white stripes shout summer beach house and the light colors are perfect for an airy space. It’s amazing how just one piece can change the look of the whole room! THIS gorgeous chair would definitely change a space in all the best ways while also providing the perfect place to curl up with a glass of lemonade and a good book!
25. I am obsessed with vintage style block print floral patterns. No matter the season, the block prints add great vintage style. The blue floral patterns in THIS table runner are perfect to add summer style to the dining room or kitchen table.
26. Outdoor lighting is a great way to elevate the exterior of a home. This year, we added THESE solar lights to our landscape. I am always amazed at the huge difference they make in the curb appeal of our home. Outdoor lighting can be very expensive so these are a budget-friendly way to get that high-end look for less!
27. These pretty gingham dishes bring all the coastal cottage vibes and the color blends perfectly with the high-end color scheme from Serena and Lily.
28. Jute is a great way to bring a coastal touch and these round ottomans are both comfy and practical, as well as budget-friendly.
29. Pretty home decor starts at the front door! I’ve been using these gorgeous white forsythia wreaths for a couple of years in the spring/summer seasons and I just love them!
30. I just had to include this splurge item because it is truly one of my favorite table decor items that I own. THIS woven table runner has the perfect touch of light blue. Plus, it is a wonderful length for my long table and also hangs beautifully down the sides of my traditional 8′ table too. Like I said, it’s a splurge from Serena and Lily, but one well worth making. I’ve had it out almost year round for over a year now!
Have fun with your summer home decorating!
To me, summer is the perfect time to just have a lot of fun with your decor. Simple, little touches here and there are great ways to make your home feel special. After all, there’s nothing quite like the summer months!
I have attached some of my favorite summer home decorating ideas in the blog posts below for you, in case you’re looking for specific tips, ideas, and inspiration for your home!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Summer Home Decorating
How can I decorate my house for summer on a budget?
One of my favorite decorating secrets is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make your home feel fresh and beautiful for summer. In fact, some of the biggest transformations come from the simplest changes! Try swapping out heavy textiles for lightweight throws, adding fresh or realistic faux greenery, incorporating woven textures, and styling a few pieces of blue and white decor. By mixing affordable finds with vintage home decor, you can create a designer-inspired summer decor look on a budget that feels collected and timeless.
What is considered summer decor?
Summer decor is all about creating a light, airy, and relaxed atmosphere. Think coastal cottage style, natural textures, woven baskets, fresh greenery, hydrangeas, blue and white decor, and vintage-inspired accents. The goal is to make your home feel welcoming and effortless, like a cozy retreat where you can slow down and enjoy the season.
How do I make my home feel like a coastal cottage?
Creating a coastal cottage home doesn’t require a beach address! I love layering natural materials like rattan, wicker, jute, and linen with collected vintage pieces. Add a touch of blue and white decor, display a few coastal-inspired accessories such as coral or shells, and keep your color palette light and fresh. The combination creates that relaxed coastal cottage charm that feels both elegant and inviting.
How do you get the Serena & Lily look for less?
The secret to achieving a Serena & Lily-inspired look on a budget is mixing high and low. Look for woven textures, striped fabrics, blue and white accents, and natural materials that mimic designer pieces. Then pair them with thrifted finds, antiques, and vintage home decor. The layered, collected look often feels even more charming than buying everything brand new.
What are the best colors for summer home decor?
My favorite summer decorating colors are classic blue and white, soft greens, sandy neutrals, creamy whites, and touches of natural wood tones. These colors help create a coastal home feel while keeping spaces bright, fresh, and timeless. Blue and white decor, especially, never goes out of style and works beautifully with both coastal cottage and grandmillennial decor.
What is grandmillennial summer decor?
Grandmillennial decor combines traditional style with fresh, updated charm. For summer, that might mean floral patterns, blue and white ginger jars, wicker accents, vintage artwork, chinoiserie details, and collected antiques. It’s a beautiful blend of cottage decor, timeless elegance, and cozy comfort that feels especially lovely during the warmer months.
What are the easiest ways to update a room for summer?
If you’re looking for quick results, start with these simple changes:
- Add fresh flowers or faux hydrangeas
- Swap pillow covers for lighter fabrics
- Incorporate woven baskets and natural textures
- Style blue and white decor throughout the room
- Add coastal-inspired accessories
- Replace heavy blankets with lightweight throws
These easy updates can completely change the feel of a space without requiring a major makeover.
What are the biggest summer decorating trends this year?
Some of the most popular summer decorating trends include coastal grandmother style, grandmillennial decor, blue and white decorating, vintage home decor, woven textures, and designer-inspired summer decor on a budget. Homeowners are embracing relaxed, collected spaces that feel welcoming, timeless, and personal rather than overly trendy.
How can I make my living room look more summery?
Start by bringing in lighter textures and natural elements. A few simple changes—such as adding blue and white pillows, fresh greenery, woven baskets, coastal artwork, and lightweight throws—can instantly make a living room feel brighter and more inviting. I also love incorporating vintage home decor because it adds character and warmth while keeping the space feeling collected and authentic.
Can you mix coastal cottage decor with grandmillennial style?
Absolutely! In fact, that’s one of my favorite decorating combinations. Coastal cottage style brings relaxed textures and airy colors, while grandmillennial decor adds timeless patterns, antiques, and collected charm. Together, they create a home that feels elegant, cozy, welcoming, and full of personality.
You may also enjoy these posts for favorite summer decorating ideas:
- The Ultimate Guide to Coastal Grandmillenial Summer Decor
- How to Easily Style Your Dough Bowl for Summer
- How to Create Budget-Friendly Summer Home Decor in 6 Simple Ways
- How to Decorate a Summer Mantel with Beautiful Style
- 19 Simple Summer Decorating Ideas: How to Decorate for Summer 2023
- How to Decorate a Summer Mantel with Beautiful Style
- 5 Things You Need for a Beautiful, Cozy Summer Bedroom
- 9 Easy Tips to Mix New and Vintage Home Decor Pieces
- 25 Easy Cottagecore Ideas for Home Decorating
