Kitchen Decor: 5 Sunny Kitchen Styling Ideas for a Cheerful Summer

In this post: Looking for kitchen decor ideas for summer? Here are 5 cheerful ways to approach your kitchen styling with a sunny outlook.⇒

Summer decorating is one of those things that kind of happens naturally.

This is especially so in the kitchen.

Unlike holiday decorating, where you find yourself digging in the garage or basement for a faux tree that you then embellish with baubles and lights, summer decor is far less contrived.

It’s not even like fall decor in which you scatter pumpkins all over the house. Does anyone really use those pumpkins as anything more than just props?

Summer Kitchen Decor

No, summer decor is based on real life, which is why so many people will insist they don’t decorate for summer.

But the visual cues of the season can be found all over the house and this utility and natural approach to decorating the home is what makes it so charming.

If you’ve ever used a market basket to gather flowers and then slung it over the doorknob, peered back and thought, “that looks awesome. I think I’ll keep it there”, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

As it turns out, summer decor is comprised of many natural elements that arise in the course of daily living. Does that mean you can’t harness the spirit and use it to your advantage?

Of course not!

Just use a light hand and you’ll enjoy a well decorated, cheerful summer home that telegraphs a sunny disposition to anyone who happens by.

Let’s look at 5 ways to celebrate summer’s optimism in your kitchen.

Chinoiserie Porcelain

There are lots of color palettes that work for summer, but none are so perfect as crisp blue and white. And what better way to highlight this classic combination that with chinoiserie vases?

Round up the vessels you have around your home or add a few to your shopping cart, whether virtual or in person, and scatter them around your kitchen. This looks most summery in a light neutral kitchen, but chinoiserie looks wonderful against dark wood, as well.

A featured selection on an island or peninsula can begin to tell the story and magnify the concept, but there’s no need to leave it at that. If you mirror the look in a few other pieces it becomes a complete room statement more than a singular display.

Summer flowers

While chinoiserie looks great on its own, filling the receptacles with flowers knocks your summer styling out of the park. Choose a pop color if you like for a bit of drama, or stay with solely blue and white for a more tranquil feel.

The beauty of blue and white is that it works with so many different accent colors, from the sunny yellow I opted for with vibrant sunflowers, to pink peonies or dahlias for a softer feel, or red geraniums to summon a patriotic tone. Pick a range of purples for an expanded palette that’s nearly tonal or use perky green hydrangeas for a coastal note.

Homespun linens

Another design element that looks completely effortless is the use of homespun textiles in your summer kitchen. Whether it be grain sack tea towels or ticking stripe napkins, rustic linens evoke summers in the country.

Line a pretty bread basket for fresh baked goods or drape over an appliance handle to use as a lovely dish cloth.

Other summery fabrics that work equally as well, with perhaps a bit more pedigree, are white eyelet (which is having a bit of a moment) and blue and white seersucker. Try a tablecloth or cafe curtains in either pattern.

Decorative Dishes

Why limit your chinoiserie to vases and ginger jars?

You can display your favorite dishes for an extra punch of color. A well placed stack of dishes bearing summer motifs can add a note of color to a drab corner. Position them atop a decorative cake stand or lean a platter against the wall behind your stovetop or range. Use plate racks to hang them or add a teacup to a serving tray.

Nothing looks more natural than using dishes in the kitchen!

Citrus Fruit

An old trick that I’ve always enjoyed using is decorating with food. A beautiful layer cake with edible flowers, iced cupcakes with vivid toppings and the best of them all – a lush bowl of fruit. Select your colors carefully and it becomes a part of your decor.

In summer I particularly love using citrus fruits and the clementines in my kitchen work perfectly with the sunflowers.

And while I wouldn’t keep it on the counter for an entire day, a gorgeous pitcher filled with orange juice brings a sunny perspective to a casual get together.

Additional summer decor ideas for the kitchen

• Keep a trio of mini planters with fresh herbs on the counter
• Try a bowl of lemons on the island or a vase with lemon branches
• Wrap a fresh baguette in a white tea towel and display on a platter
• Collect pottery in vibrant colors and style them to highlight your summer palette
• Use embroidered white cotton and gingham fabrics
• Nothing says summer quite like a fresh pie on a pretty cake plate

If you want to soak in the cheery feeling of summer, take advantage of the motifs that are emblematic of the season. Use the foods and plants that you are naturally drawn to at this time to make a visual statement and enhance your daily pleasure.

It will go along way to lifting your mood on a rainy day.

And on those brilliant sunny days that are like a smile from above? Those are the days that a light-filled kitchen was made for. Surround yourself with the imagery of the season. Then prepare a bowl full of fruit and pour an ice cold glass of lemon tea.

Find a book and a hammock.

Rinse and repeat.