5 Quick and Inexpensive Ways to Freshen Up Your Home for Summer

In this article, I’m sharing 5 quick and inexpensive ways to freshen up your home for Summer.

It’s time to prepare your home for the busy Summer season.  Is your house ready?  Or does it have that shut-up musty smell from the dark, damp Winter hold-over?

Did You Know?

The first thing a guest notices when they walk into your home is the smell.

The “appearance” of a clean house begins with the nose.  If the house doesn’t smell clean, then the guest will be more likely to look for dirt, dust, grime, mold, and mildew.

Make sure you’re making a good first impression with your guests.  Freshen up your space using these budget-friendly tips.

1.  Air Out the House

If you’ve ever dried clothes outside on a clothesline, you know just how fresh they smell.  The UV from the sunshine is a natural disinfectant.

Choose a warm, sunny day to air out your space.  The goal is to remove the stale air and replace it with fresh air.

Open all the windows and doors to create maximum air circulation throughout the house.  Turn on the ceiling fans to add even more air movement.

Open shower curtains and cabinet doors under the sinks.  This will help eliminate any dampness and musty odors lurking in those mildew-prone areas.

After you’ve aired out the space naturally, you should also change the air filters in the HVAC.   These air filter fresheners keep your space smelling fresh long after you’ve aired it out.

2.  Freshen the Upholstery & Carpet

Don’t overlook the upholstery and carpet.  These are two of the main areas of your home where odors hide.

Again, it’s best to choose a warm, sunny day to freshen the upholstery.

Remove cushions and place outside in direct sunlight for 20-30 minutes.  Then flip over to expose the other side for an additional 20-30 minutes.

Be careful not to leave the cushions in direct sunlight for too long, as it may cause the fabric to fade.

Sprinkle baking soda on upholstered furniture and carpet.  Let it sit for approximately 30 minutes, then vacuum up the baking soda.

Mix 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in a spray bottle.  Mist upholstered furniture and carpet. (Test a small area first!)  Note:  you may smell the vinegar when you first spray it on, but it will dry odorless.

Once the upholstery and carpet have been aired out, try these odor eliminating products for continued freshness.

Get this Deep Cleaning Checklist that will guide you through a seasonal deep clean of your home.  This checklist takes the thought and stress out of know what to tackle during a deep clean of your home.

3.  Wash the Windows

Start off your summer with clean windows – inside and out.

Don’t forget to also wash the screens and window tracks.  Use a crevice tool to vacuum the window tracks and screens.  Then wipe with cloth using hot, soapy water.

For a natural window glass washing solution, try one part hot water and one part distilled vinegar.

The BEST streak remover is a dry, crumpled up newspaper.

For hard-to-reach windows, this telescoping window washing pole will do the trick.  It includes a squeegee and a pivoting head for a streak-free finish.

4.  Fresh Flowers –  or “real touch” options

Flowers are a budget-friendly way to brighten and freshen up your space.

Having a fresh bouquet from your own flower garden is ideal and is also the most cost effective.  I really enjoy bringing my blossoms indoors to enjoy, especially on the rainy days when being outside in the flower garden isn’t a good option.

When your own fresh flowers aren’t available, support your local farmers’ market with your purchase.  Many local farmers grow gorgeous cut-flowers that are affordable and available in-season.

Although fresh flowers are beautiful, they aren’t very budget-friendly; especially, if you have to buy them from a florist.  Fresh cut flowers also don’t last very long until they start wilting.

An Affordable Alternative to Fresh Flowers

I recently took a chance on these “real touch” flowers from Amazon, and they are AMAZING!  If you don’t have a green thumb or you want something that will last all summer, THESE are perfect!  They look so real, you have to look closely to see the difference.

I have never seen artificial flowers that look so real!

Tulips have always been my favorite flower.  I absolutely love that I can now display a beautiful bouquet all season.  You HAVE to check these out!

If tulips aren’t your thing, there are several other varieties available.  Most are $15-$20 per bouquet.  Totally reasonable!

• • • Tulips
    • Peonies
    • Roses
    • Tiger Lily
    • Gerbera Daisies
    • Calla Lillies
    • Orchids

5.  Colorful Accents

Freshen up your space using colorful accents.  Choose 2-3 coordinating, bright, accent colors.

Throw Pillows

Bright cheerful throw pillows, like the pillow covers below, add a fresh summer theme.

Purchase a 6 pack of 18″x18″ pillows and change out the seasonal covers.  The covers are washable – BONUS!!

Kitchen & Hand Towels

Bright summer-themed towels add freshness to your kitchen.

Placemats

Bright-colored placemats like these, come in a large variety of colors and designs.

Colorful Dishes

Colorful bowls can be used in most any room to add a touch of color.  Use in the bathroom and bedroom for pocket change, makeup, or soaps.  Place a bowl on the dining room table for fresh fruit.

House & Garden Flags

House and garden flags, like these, add pops of color and interest to your outside living area. 

It’s easy to coordinate outdoor decor using throw pillows, table cloths, and chair cushions.

Mid-Life Livin’ has an assortment of personalized and whimsical garden flags in our Etsy Shop.  They also make great gifts!

How are you planning to freshen up your home this Summer?

I hope you’ve found these 5 Quick and Inexpensive Ways to Freshen Up Your Home for Summer were helpful.

Check out my post about the DIY Farmhouse Kitchen Remodel on a Budget for some additional home decor inspiration. 

I’d love to hear from you!  Send me some photos or post them on our Facebook Page.  I’m sure other readers would enjoy seeing your freshened up Summer decor.