I love the change in seasons for many reasons, but my favorite has to be the chance to brighten up my home decor accents. Since Doug and I live near the beach and it’s pretty much summer all year round here in Los Angeles, it can be hard to transition our California styled apartment to include an even more summery feel. Today I wanted to share a few ways I like to update my home from spring to summer.

1. Bring the outdoors inside. Whether that’s with the smell of fresh herbs in the kitchen, colorful flowers filling each room, or a vibrant green plant that adds a touch of nature to the living room, it’s the special touches that always make my apartment seem that much more inviting.
2. Fill your space with fresh, summery smells. Everyone knows I LOVE rich smelling candles, but throughout the spring and summer I’d rather introduce more fresh, uplifting smells into my home as to not overpower the space. My favorite candles include essential oils like this White Barn Eucalyptus Mint candle that freshens up any room.
3. Brighten up your space. Since our apartment doesn’t have a patio, we’ve resorted to creating a warm and inviting space inside with these retro string lights from Café Lights in our living room draped against our biggest window. I’ve always loved the look of the retro bulb string lights to accent a space (they are actually being used at my wedding reception next month!) These particular ones are great for indoor/outdoor use because since they are LED, they deliver an energy efficient light that you never have to replace as they come with a lifetime LED warranty. They also come in a variety of sizes and although I chose to use them inside, they are perfect for outdoor light as they are impact resistant and weather proof. I love the way they illuminate a room or patio, especially when hosting a dinner party or girls night in. I can’t wait to transition them to our outdoor patio when we move since they last year round!
4. Have homemade snacks and drinks on hand. Another way I celebrate the change in seasons is with food. I swear by homemade cookies and hot cocoa in the winter, hot cider and apple pies in the fall, and iced tea and sandwiches in the spring and summer. I was gifted the prettiest set of fleur de lys kitchen wear for my bridal shower and have been using it ever since to serve iced tea and tunafish sandwiches (my families favorite summer lunch!)

To enter the Café Lights Giveaway, see below!

Cafe Lights Giveaway