Preparing my Scandish Home for Summer | Decor – Recipes – Organization – and More

As summer arrives, I can’t help but look forward to making my home feel joyful and inviting. There are so many ways to soak up the season with small changes to my house that actually make a big difference. Being creative how we welcome summer into our home allow us to be more present in the season. Little fun touches around the house and garden elevates the summer.

Tending to my garden or creating cozy spots outside brings me a sense of peace. I find genuine happiness in these simple summer rituals. I also love exploring new recipes and trying different fruits when everything feels so vibrant. Cooking outdoors under string lights? That’s got a magical touch I never get tired of.

Summer really is about relaxing, and I want my home to feel refreshing and uplifting.

Setting Up My Summer Decor

Setting the Mood With String Lights

I love using string lights to set a relaxing mood. They work both inside and outside, and I wrap them around my garden to make evenings feel magical.

The soft glow transforms the night, especially when I’m listening to the sounds of nature. It’s a small touch that honestly makes me smile.

Making Comfortable Outdoor Areas

Creating a cozy outdoor space matters to me. I add comfy seats so my family can enjoy meals outside, and a few decorations make it feel like an outdoor oasis. Even a simple setup can turn any meal into something special. I never regret taking the extra few minutes to make it nice.

Adding Nature-Inspired Touches

In summer, I like to bring nature indoors. I like to go outside, explore and see what I can find in nature. I’ll pick flowers from my garden, turn them upside down to dry, and tuck them into little corners of the house.

A few green branches will bring fresh new energy to the home. They give a unique look to the home since they are outdoor plants. Most can survive for weeks and some for months in a vase of water. If you like a calm nature look or have a dark room, it is a perfect way to bring summer to your home. I like to keep a few in the dark bathroom too where no plant has survived due to the lack of light. Once I get tired of it I can compost them but I also had a few that started to have roots and I was able to plant them outside after they brightened the inside of my home!

I used to focus only on planting vegetables because I thought they were the “useful” choice. Then one year, I planted a single flower at the edge of a raised bed—and it completely changed my perspective. It attracted bees and brought an unexpected burst of joy. Little by little, I started adding more flowers, and now I have an entire raised bed (and still expanding!) filled with blooms.

They bring so much happiness to my life. I no longer need to buy flowers for my home, and when I visit friends, I can surprise them with a beautiful, homegrown bouquet. There’s a special pride and joy in being able to say, “These are from my garden!”

Vibrant blooms brighten up any space. Connecting with the season this way makes the environment feel fresh and inviting— It’s a wonderful and energetic time of year.

Some of the flowers like the feverfew can be dried easily and it gives a charming look to the home. Feverfew it is a perennial herb known for its use in preventing migraines and I dry them for tea as well. It grows so easily before I knew it I ended up with so many I was able to hang them in my studio! Nothing like gazing over the flowers that filled up my ceiling as I’m painting.

Summer Recipe Inspirations

Outdoor Cooking Experiences

I love setting up an outdoor kitchen every summer.

Cooking outside on warm summer evenings is one of my favorite joys. There are so many reasons I love having an outdoor kitchen! For one, it keeps the heat out of the house, and a light breeze makes the whole experience more pleasant. The setting feels so much more charming than my usual indoor kitchen. Plus, there’s less to worry about. If something spills, I can simply hose down the deck instead of scrubbing floors.

I especially love the peaceful sounds of nature as we prep dinner together. Frogs singing, insects buzzing softly. Eating outdoors somehow makes the food taste even better, and conversations with the family flow more naturally in the relaxed atmosphere.

For a casual meal, burgers are my go-to. I will sometimes cook extra burgers at night so that we can be prepared for meals the next day. During the summer our meal prep often moves to the night time and the grill works overtime. We also cook more together since we have a more laid back schedule.

Exploring Unique Summer Fruits

Summer brings so many fresh fruits, and I get a kick out of discovering new ones. This year, I’ve really enjoyed the Hawaiian strawberry. This strawberry looks pale, tastes sweeter than regular strawberries, and has a hint of pineapple. Finding unique fruits makes summer feel a bit more special. And there are so many fruits and recipes for fruit that you can easily access.

Easy Summer Recipes

I keep my summer cooking simple. The toaster oven is a lifesaver—it heats up fast and doesn’t make the kitchen unbearable.

I’ll toss together recipes and let the toaster do the work. That way, I can relax and enjoy those long, sunny days. For recipe ideas, check out all of my Scandish Home Recipes One of our favorite and it’s very simple to make is Apple fritters for summer breakfast. Sometime when we sit outside at night we like to eat these apple fritters because they are a very light food. I like to make the casserole version of it since during summer I don’t like to stand much at the stove and fry food.

Herb and Fruit Infused Beverages

Herb and fruit infused water is my go-to for staying refreshed. I mix fresh mint with fruit, and the result is a colorful, tasty drink. It’s my little way of capturing summer in a glass. I look forward to making these every day—they’re so easy and satisfying.

Frozen dragon fruit can add an intense happy pink color but if you just add some thyme, lemon and a slice of pear…that is refreshing too! Mint is a staple for summer in the herb infused water. Sometimes I add them to iced tea too. If you want a very simple idea then cucumber slices can add a very refreshing taste to the water.

All throughout the summer, so many beautiful flowers come into bloom. When they’re edible, I love using them to decorate our meals. Not only do they add a cheerful, colorful touch to any dish, but many edible flowers also offer nutritional benefits. It’s amazing how a simple breakfast can feel special and full of summer energy—no new recipe needed—just by sprinkling a few fresh flowers on top.

Fresh vegetables and flowers from the garden bring such vibrant life into our home that I hardly need any extra decorations. In my kitchen and dining area, I keep the decor simple because the food becomes the centerpiece. Bright pinks from striped Chioggia beets, golden yellows from ripe tomatoes, sunny oranges from marigolds, and deep blues from bachelor buttons create a natural, joyful display all on their own.

Recreating Childhood Favorites and Summer No-bake Recipes

I love to do no-bake recipes in the summer like chia pudding. The chia pudding that I made last summer reminded me of a winter recipe I used to eat in Hungary. It’s called Winter Ice Cream but because the pudding is no-bake, I actually enjoy it in the summer. I like to revisit childhood memories with food like this.

To make “Winter Ice Cream” during the summer, I fill cones with creamy chia pudding and dip the tops in melted chocolate. A little extra chocolate on top transforms them into a no-bake, no-freeze treat that looks and feels just like ice cream. It’s sweet, nostalgic, and always makes me feel like a kid again. Whenever we’re craving this fun dessert, I simply grab the chia pudding from the fridge, fill the cones, and we’re ready to enjoy!

Enhancing Well-Being at Home

Therapeutic Plant Care

Summertime is finally the season that I can take my inside plants out. Taking care of plants in summer is super relaxing. I’ll give them a big shower outside, it’s basically a spa day for them!

Watching them thrive in the sunshine feels rewarding. Watering and tending to greenery brings a calming vibe to my home. They love these showers! You can see how happy and fresh they look. I keep them in the shade until they dry off a little bit then I will return them inside. They bring a fresh renewed energy to the home after this shower. Usually I take care of my plants in the kitchen sink but it is easier on the summer when I can gather them on the deck.

Engaging in Seasonal Hobbies

Summer gives me the urge to get creative with my hobbies. The nights are longer and I have more energy, so my artwork gets done later into the night. I love to take this time to paint and create prints for my business and my family. 

I also enjoy creating these cute keychains that are so fun to make. Summertime inspires my art with all sorts of outdoor scenery, and critters that are part of my everyday experience. This key chain design was inspired by my son who was eating watermelon at the dinning table sitting across from me as I was painting. He’s enjoyment eating watermelon has been captured in this painting.

What else can bright up a summer day? Flowers in the hair!

Final Home Preparations for Summer

Summer invites us to slow down, refresh our spaces, and savor the simple joys of the season. Whether it’s adding cozy outdoor touches, filling our homes with garden blooms, cooking outside under the stars, or trying new recipes with summer fruits, every little effort helps create a home that feels lively and uplifting.

I hope these ideas inspire you to welcome summer in your own way through creativity, connection, and a little extra magic in the everyday. Here’s to a season filled with beauty, joy, and memories made right at home!