Now that summer is here and your backyard is open for business, it’s time to refresh your home accordingly. But with so many decor options available, it can be difficult to know what to choose let alone where to begin. Luckily, we chatted with an expert in home decor and all things DIY to help spruce your space up, with elevated options starting at $12. 

“I associate the summer months with spending much more time outdoors and with family so I love to decorate with outdoor gatherings, gardening, and seasonal dining in mind,” Shelby Vanhoy, an Interior Decor and DIY Content Creator tells Real Simple. “My goal is to create an outdoor space that makes me prefer to be outside versus in and one that will serve as a great gathering space for family and friends. I also love to bring natural elements of the outside back inside such as using a flower pot for a utensil holder or incorporating wicker and woven materials throughout indoor table-settings.” 

Vanhoy’s blog, Pretty in the Pines, started as a passion project outside of her day-to-day job 10 years ago to express her creativity through all things home, food, fashion, and family. In addition to the North Carolina-native’s blog, she began sharing her inspiration on Instagram, where she now has more than 597,000 followers. What once began as her hobby, now serves as a step in her career. “I love to share ways to add character to a home and provide recommendations on anything from furniture and decor to wallpaper and paint,” Vanhoy says.

Interior Decor Expert Recommended Finds at Amazon

• YiHomer Pastoral Rectangle Tablecloths, $18 
• Artera Handwoven Wicker Basket Set, $22 
• Foindtower Linen Throw Pillow Covers, $30 with coupon (was $31)
• Nearly Natural Tuscan Ceramic Planter, $35
• Safavieh Arona Antique Wrought Iron Outdoor Garden Bench, $103
• O’Bright Cordless LED Table Lamp, $45
• Gfware Round Woven Placemat Set, $37 
• Vita Vinyl Trellis, $190 (was $228)
• Generic Vintage Botanical Prints, $12
• GibsonHome Stainless Steel Mini Berry Colander, $29 

YiHomer Pastoral Rectangle Tablecloths

When it comes to summer decor, Vanhoy loved to play around with patterns. “Personally, I think you can never go wrong with a timeless dainty floral pattern in blue and white. I’ve had this tablecloth for years and it’s one of my favorites because it goes so well with so much of my serveware, placemats, and dishware.” The tablecloth has secured more than 3,300 five-star ratings from shoppers, making it a popular choice for many customers. It comes in eight different sizes to best fit your table, from 52 inches by 52 inches to 60 inches by 140 inches. 

Artera Handwoven Wicker Basket Set

Other home accents Vanhoy likes to incorporate in her summer decor are woven materials like wicker and seagrass, which add a more outdoorsy feel to the area. And this set of seagrass baskets does just that. “By adding baskets of fruit on a kitchen counter, the space instantly feels more lived in and welcoming while also helping organize,” Vanhoy says. The baskets are handcrafted by artisans and are available for just over $7 apiece.  

Foindtower Linen Throw Pillow Cover

Another easy way to upgrade your summer decor is with fresh pillow covers. Vanhoy loves to swap out hers for the season in soft floral patterns or stripes, but she also is a fan of these throw pillow covers that come in several neutral colors. “If patterns aren’t your thing, I also love linen fabric in general for this time of year and olive green works year round,” Vanhoy says. “Those don’t tend to take up much storage space either and make a huge impact when hosting.” 

Nearly Natural Tuscan Ceramic Planter

Since Vanhoy looks to decor products that revolve around gathering outdoors, she also looks to vintage-inspired pots to enhance her space. “This planter also has a similar timeless antique feel,” says Vanhoy. She uses the flower pot as a utensil holder, to bring outdoor elements inside. You can also use the ceramic planter as a vase for any small plants or flowers, or leave it as a focal point on your bedroom dresser or living room coffee table. 

Continue scrolling through to see more summer decor items that can be used multi-seasonally, and don’t forget to head to Vanhoy’s Amazon storefront to view the entire selection. 

Safavieh Arona Antique Wrought Iron Outdoor Garden Bench

O’Bright Cordless LED Table Lamp

Gfware Round Woven Placemat Set

Vita Vinyl Trellis

Generic Vintage Botanical Prints

GibsonHome Stainless Steel Mini Berry Colander

Hslgove Kids Picnic Table