Ah, summer is finally upon us. Rejuvenating mornings, sunny afternoons, and breezy evenings enjoying the great outdoors. Even though summertime is all about spending time outside, your kitchen plays a major role in making all your summer "feels" come to life. From entertaining outdoor grilling guests and brunch buddies to homemade popsicles and fresh-squeezed lemonade, summer starts in your kitchen. Make your kitchen an extension of your summer plans by freshening it up with these decor tips. Let The Light Shine In Hibernation time is over and it's time to get revitalized with some good old fashioned sunshine. Those dreary window treatments that made you once feel cozy during the frigid winter now feel a stuffy in the humid summer air. Instead of dark curtains that block out the light, hang white drapes that are partially see-through give you the natural light you desire while blocking out direct sunlight. You can even remove your window treatments entirely and enjoy all the sunlight mother nature has to offer. Opting for lighter materials or no curtains also helps open up your kitchen from clutter. Clear Your Surfaces Summer is all about easy living, spontaneous entertaining, refreshing treats, and spending as much time outside. Don’t waste time inside looking for your prettiest pitcher or scurrying to tidy-up before your drop-in guest reaches the front doorbell. By getting rid of the junk you don’t need and don’t really use, you’ll find keeping your kitchen clean and ready at all times is easy as cherry pie. Try some of our easy 15-minute kitchen decluttering projects and you’ll always be prepared for your favorite summer festivities.

Summer Hues Dark, bold colors were nice during the winter but it's time to brighten up your kitchen with breezy hues and fun pops of color. To find inspiration for your summer hues indoors, you don't need to look any further than a few steps out your backdoor. Blue skies, bright foliage, yellow sunshine, and zesty green grass all work together to make your perfect summer palette. Or maybe summer feels more like your favorite beach vacation with sandy neutrals, seashell whites, and greenish blues that hums sounds of the ocean. Emulate your favorite summertime hues through dish towels, dinnerware, and favorite display pieces.

Whip Out Your Vintage Serveware Remember summertime as a child? Sipping on a Coke in the sunshine, playing baseball with your neighborhood pals, cooling off at the lake, and the best family vacations ever. There’s just something so old-fashioned about summertime. Relive those summer memories through the vintage dinnerware that speaks of your childhood, from serving bowls and Coke glasses to classic Corningware casserole dishes and even ornate tea sets. Any opportunity to add a touch of color should always be taken.  

Become An Indoor Gardener You can get rid of those summertime blues when it’s too hot outside by decorating your kitchen and dining room with all the dream foliage summer has to offer. Grow herbs that can't handle the summer heat (and are also easy access while cooking) and compose beautiful flower arrangements your friends will envy. If you don’t exactly have a green thumb, you can still hang a few air plants that don’t require much maintenance. Nothing says summer like greenery. Always Keep A Beautiful Pitcher On-Hand The best way to beat the summer heat is always with a refreshing drink. Fresh-squeezed lemonade, sparkling mint-lime iced tea, ginger ale cranberry juice, and any other mouth-watering drink recipes you have pinned on Pinterest are the perfect treat to enjoy over pleasant conversation with your dinner guests or cooling off with the kids. Presentation is everything so keep a collection of beautiful pitchers to properly serve your big or little guests. They also make for a great display piece just in time for summer. How do you get your kitchen to feel like summertime?