Late summer décor ideas on a budget

Today I’m sharing my favourite late summer décor ideas. These are perfect for when you’re ready for a change but not quite ready for grinning pumpkins and orange everything. All of these are ideas I’ve used in my home in the past two years. Some of these ideas follow a neutral colour palette while others inject a little colour into the décor. Whether you’re looking for décor ideas for summer entertaining or just want to freshen things up a little, I hope you’ll find some useful ideas here.

Sunflowers

I always associate sunflowers with August, my birthday month, and the time leading up to fall. Sunflowers are a fabulous budget-friendly way to add a little late summer cheer to your home. I use them in our bedroom so I can wake up to their cheerful faces or in the family room because their sunny colour really pops against our blue-grey walls. I prefer real sunflowers and most grocery stores carry bunches for only $5-8. Faux sunflowers are also really beautiful in a wreath.

Fruit

Decorating with fruit is essentially free décor if you plan to eat the fruit afterwards. Apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines are all associated with late summer. Display a bowl of fruit or get creative and show them off in an unconventional way. I had fun displaying them in little bushel baskets throughout our living room and dining room.

Blankets and candles

Late summer evenings bring cooler temperatures and the scent of fall may be in the air. When this happens, I gravitate to cozy blankets and beautifully scented candles. Neutral coloured blankets from stores like Homesense can be purchased affordably and used throughout the year. Candles are inexpensive and scents like apple and pear are perfect for this time of year. I love the candles from Antique Candle Co. Blankets and candles are a perfect addition to my list of late summer décor ideas.

If you’re looking for a great DIY project for this time of year, check out my DIY blanket ladder post.

Warmer colours like peach, warm pink, ivory, gold, and plum

Pink and peach

For late summer colour palettes, I take a cue from nature and see what’s blooming outdoors. White hydrangeas turn a cream, then pink colour. This was the inspiration for this tablescape in shades of peach, cream, and green. I used dried hydrangeas from our garden and DIYed some napkins in a peach colour.

I also created a faux flower arrangement and wreath in shades of pink, brown, beige, and green for our front hall. You could add some floral pillows in a warm hue or a floral arrangement of real, faux, or dried flowers in these hues.

Gold and yellow

Sunflowers, daylilies, and goldenrod glow with the warmth of the sun, and grasses may start to turn straw colour or bronze. I added some daylilies fresh-picked from the garden to our coffee bar. And iced coffee is a favourite all summer long!

Plums and purples

Some of the most beautiful colours in the late summer garden are plums and purples. Think purple coneflower, fall mums, and ornamental cabbage. Once my summer blooms are past their prime, I make an arrangement of these beauties for our front porch.

This indoor arrangement was made from dahlias and hydrangeas from our garden. Fresh flowers from the garden or from the grocery store are abundant and an inexpensive way to add beauty this time of year.

Add a wreath

As a wreath designer and shop owner, I am always thinking of how I can capture the feeling of the season in a wreath design. I love a cotton wreath for late summer, as it is a time of bountiful harvest. I also enjoy using burlap and flowers in any of the colour palettes outlined above. These are a few of my late summer favourites from my Etsy shop, Willow Bloom Home.

Wreaths are a great DIY project and I will be sharing a fall wreath tutorial very soon.

Keep it simple

Late summer is a busy time with family vacations and back to school, so I’ve tried to keep my list of late summer décor ideas simple and affordable. I hope you’ve gathered a little inspiration to add some special touches to your home.