Inexpensive Summer Decorating Refreshes
Homeowners can boost joy by refreshing decor with simple, low-cost updates like painting, repurposing items or sprucing up gardens and furniture.
NEW YORK — Economic concerns have many homeowners cautious about spending on seasonal décor but decorating a home can provide owners with a sense of joy.
Ingrid Fetell Lee, a designer and author, says, "You shouldn't feel bad about decorating, because no matter what is happening in the world around you, your life is happening right now. If you make your home feel joyful, you'll make yourself feel the same way."
Improving the surroundings doesn't necessarily mean homeowners have to invest a lot of money. It could just entail taking an hour or a day to spruce up the garden with cuttings from current plants or create a quilt to liven up an outdoor space.
Adding a bolt of fabric or repainting some planters with new designs can improve a space. Lee says, "When you elevate an ordinary object by doing something like smoothing out the wrinkles, you’re creating a physical, tangible expression of the home you dream of having. And that makes you feel one step closer to that dream."
Other simple fixes include using scratch-repair pens to cover up gouges on the surface of a kitchen table, dragging out items from the linen closet that haven't been used in a while or polishing rarely used serving spoons.
Paint can give new life to older furniture, which can be a great place to show off your plants. Moving an old mirror to the hallway or in the foyer can also provide a new perspective. There are a number of ways to decorate without investing too much, just look around the house.
Source: Wall Street Journal (05/30/25) Slatalla, Michelle
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