Every summer, I notice the same thing.
The light changes first. It gets brighter, stays longer, and suddenly every corner of my living room is more visible.
The cozy setup that felt perfect a few months ago starts to feel a little crowded. A little heavy.
Living in an apartment means you can’t always knock down walls or redesign everything — but you don’t have to. Summer decorating is really about small shifts.
Lighter fabrics. Cleaner surfaces. A little more space to breathe. When the room feels open and relaxed, everything else does too.
If your apartment living room feels ready for a seasonal reset, these 20+ summer decoration ideas will help you freshen things up without overcomplicating it.
1.First Switch to Light & Airy Curtains:
Switching to light and airy curtains is one of the easiest ways to refresh your apartment living room for summer.
Heavy, dark drapes can make a small space feel closed in, especially when the weather gets warmer.
Replacing them with any white, blue, yellow colored soft linen curtains allows natural sunlight to flow in and instantly brightens the entire room.
The extra light makes your space feel bigger, fresher, and more inviting. It’s a simple change, but it can completely transform the mood of your living area.
2. Add Tropical or Botanical Throw Pillows:
Adding tropical or botanical throw pillows is an easy way to bring summer energy into your apartment living room.
Prints like palm leaves, soft florals, or leafy greens instantly make the space feel fresh and lively.
You don’t have to change your furniture — just swap your pillow covers for a seasonal update.
It’s a small detail that adds color, texture, and a bright summer vibe without overwhelming the room.
Look At These Living Room Pictures How Good These Pillows Look Like. Give True Summer Fresh Vibe.
3. Bring in Indoor Plants And Flowers(Real Or Faux):
Bringing in indoor plants is one of the simplest ways to make your apartment living room feel fresh and alive for summer.
Real plants like snake plants, pothos, or small palms add natural texture and brighten up even the smallest corners.
If you don’t want the maintenance, high-quality artificial plants can give you the same green look without the effort.
Whether real or faux, adding greenery instantly makes your space feel calmer, lighter, and more connected to the season.
Checkout These Osm Faux Plants and Flowers That Doubles Summer Vibe:
4. Swap Dark Rugs for Light Woven Rugs:
Swapping dark rugs for light woven rugs can instantly change the entire feel of your apartment living room.
Dark, heavy rugs tend to make a space feel smaller and warmer, which isn’t always ideal for summer.
Choosing light-toned options like jute, sisal, or soft beige rugs helps reflect natural light and creates a more open, airy look.
It’s a simple seasonal switch that makes your living room feel brighter and more relaxed.
5. Decorate with Lemon or Citrus Accents:
Decorating with lemon or citrus accents is a fun and cheerful way to bring summer into your apartment living room.
Bright yellow lemons, orange details, or citrus-inspired prints instantly add energy and freshness to the space.
You can style a bowl of real or faux lemons on the coffee table, add citrus-themed throw pillows, or display colorful artwork.
6. Rattan or Woven Accent Chairs Or Coffee Table:
Adding a rattan or woven accent chair or coffee table is a beautiful way to give your apartment living room a light, natural summer feel.
These pieces bring warmth and texture without making the space look heavy.
The airy design of rattan keeps the room feeling open, which is perfect for small apartments.
Even one woven piece can create a relaxed, breezy vibe that instantly makes your living area feel more seasonal and inviting.
7. Add a Summer Gallery Wall
Adding a summer gallery wall is a simple way to refresh your apartment living room without changing the entire space.
Swap in light, seasonal artwork like beach prints, botanical illustrations, soft abstract pieces, or sunny landscapes.
Using light wood or white frames keeps the display feeling airy and cohesive.
It’s an easy update that adds personality, color, and a fresh seasonal touch to your walls.
8. Declutter and Reduce Accessories:
Decluttering and reducing accessories can instantly make your apartment living room feel lighter and more open for summer.
Too many decor pieces can make a small space feel crowded and heavy.
By clearing surfaces and keeping only a few meaningful or seasonal items, you create a cleaner, calmer look.
A simpler setup allows natural light to shine and gives your room that fresh, breathable summer feel.
9. Refresh Your Living Room With Scent:
Refreshing your living room with scent is a simple way to create a true summer atmosphere.
Light fragrances like citrus, coconut, fresh linen, or soft florals can instantly make the space feel cleaner and more inviting.
You can use candles, diffusers, or room sprays to add a subtle seasonal touch.
10. Create Coastel Inspire Look :
I gathered all our coral and shells from around the house and styled them together on the fireplace mantel to create a more eye-catching display.
Grouping similar pieces in one place makes the decor feel intentional and cohesive.
At the base of the glass hurricanes with battery-operated candles, I layered sand and coral pieces collected during beach trips.
You can also add small shells or stones you find when you go to the beach to make the arrangement feel more personal and meaningful.
11. Give Your Coffee Table Welcome Summer Vibe:
Start with a simple tray and layer it with a small vase of fresh flowers, Coral Shells, a scented candle, or a bowl of lemons for a bright seasonal touch.
Keep the styling light and uncluttered so the space feels open and airy.
12. Add Unique Leaf Style Coffee Table To Your Living Room:
The organic shape instantly softens the space and makes it feel more relaxed and inviting.
Whether it’s wood, rattan, or glass with leaf detailing, this type of table adds personality without overwhelming the room.
It becomes a subtle statement piece that blends functionality with fresh, seasonal style.
13. Why We Missing Adding Garland To Living Room:
We often forget about adding garland to the living room because it’s usually associated with holidays, but it can actually work beautifully in summer too.
A light greenery or eucalyptus garland draped over a mantel, shelf, or console table adds softness and natural texture.
It helps fill empty spaces without making the room feel heavy or cluttered.
Garland is a simple way to layer in a fresh, seasonal touch that makes your living room feel more styled and complete.
