Summer Kitchen Decor Trends You Can Copy in an Afternoon

Is your kitchen still stuck in "same old, same old" mode? Be honest! If yes…then it’s time for a little summer shake-up! And you don’t need a full reno to make it happen.

I’m a sucker for those itty-bitty changes that bring summer to your kitchen so that you have vacation-y vibes, sans the sunburn.

I’ve rounded up some summer kitchen decor ideas that you can pull off in a single afternoon. So grab a glass of lemonade and let’s get into it!

This is a simple one, get a bowl of lemons and place it on a clean countertop. Instant summer!

Bonus points if you add a few fresh flowers, especially yellow ones. The contrast of bright citrus against a simple white subway tile backsplash is perfection. And when your lemons start going soft, it’s time to make some lemonade!

Sometimes summer decor isn’t adding more, it’s stripping back. A clean countertop with just a kettle, a couple of vintage glass bottles, and a simple framed print, is the kitchen equivalent of a linen shirt.

The trick is editing. Pick two or three things that look summery to you. It could be a plant, a brass accent, or some clear glass. You’re actually highlighting all of that white space. Sometimes less really is more (and your countertops will thank you).

If you’ve been around my blog for a while, you’ll notice that this is applicable for pretty much any season of the year. Fresh flowers on your kitchen counter! What color flowers should you get? My answer is...yes!

Grab whatever’s on sale at the store, stick them in a vase, and you’ll see that your kitchen looks like it belongs in a magazine. When it comes to home decor, it’s definitely a super-simple, high impact move.

I’m a huge fan of succulents in the kitchen. A low concrete or ceramic planter filled with a mix of green succulents adds this earthy, organic look that works with pretty much any kitchen style.

The best thing is that they are sooo forgiving…(coming from personal experience). This is great news for those of us who forget to water things for, oh, weeks at a time.

Set one on your windowsill, your island, or next to the coffee maker. It adds life to your kitchen and is practically zero maintenance, but with maximum summer payoff.

Here’s a little styling trick I love, group a candle, a sign, and a mug or stack of dishes together in one corner of your counter. And voila, you now have a vignette!

In a few seconds, you can easily lean a sign against the backsplash, grab a few dishes and bring out a candle from the other room. Think of it like a tiny summer display for your coffee station. The tip is keeping it small, like three to four items max.

Any more than that and it can turn into countertop clutter. No thanks!

Another way to bring summer into your kitchen is by adding bright colors. I’d recommend one bold color so that you’re not going overboard.

And no, you don’t have to repaint your cabinets or redo your backsplash. Just swap out something you sit on, lean against, or look at every day. Stools, chair cushions, a rug.

Yellow is obviously a summer favorite, but coral, turquoise, or even a punchy green would work too. One strong color choice can carry your whole kitchen.

This is the cousin of using produce as decor, and it might be even easier. Grab a wire basket and fill it with whatever fruit you’ve got on hand. Apples, oranges, limes, the works. Then set it by the window.

The wire basket adds that farmhouse-meets-summer look, and the natural light hitting all those bright colors is like free art. Plus, it keeps your fruit visible so you’re more likely to eat it instead of finding a sad mushy peach in the back of the fridge two weeks later.

Functional and pretty. Woot!

I know, I know. Kitchen towels sound boring. But hear me out. Hang a couple of linen or striped cotton towels on a simple hook rack for a simple seasonal swap.

Go for light, breezy fabrics in summer tones. Think blue and white stripes, soft neutrals, or even a washed-out floral print. It’s the kind of addition most people won’t consciously notice, but it changes the look of the room.

Kind of like how putting on a fresh shirt after a long day just makes everything better.

If you want your kitchen to look like a little summer cottage, then this is for you. A trailing pothos or ivy draped over a shelf, some wooden cutting boards leaning against the wall, and maybe a frame or a small sign added in for good measure.

The greenery softens it all and brings some warmth to even the most basic kitchen. And those cutting boards aren’t only for cooking. When stacked or leaned against the wall, they signal that someone lives here and really cooks. It takes maybe ten minutes to pull together.

What I really love about these ideas is that you can get the summer look with a little creativity (and maybe a quick run to the store for some fruit and flowers).

I hope this list gave you a few ideas you’re excited to try this afternoon. And if you’re looking for even more summer inspiration and simple styling tips, check out some of my other posts. There’s always a new look to try!