What’s Inside This Week

This week we highlight four approachable topics to refresh your home: creative DIY summer wreaths, smart ways to hide or use the exposed side of a refrigerator, trusted furniture-painting techniques, and an inviting summer home tour centered on hydrangeas. Each item includes practical suggestions you can adapt to your space, budget, and style.

DIY Summer Wreaths — Seasonal Curb Appeal

Summer wreaths are a quick and effective way to update your entryway, porch, or interior doors. Choose a base—grapevine, straw, foam, or wire—and layer in seasonal elements like faux or dried florals, greenery, and textured accents such as raffia, ribbon, shells, or citrus slices. Consider a cohesive color palette that complements your home’s exterior: cool blues and whites for a coastal look, bright corals and yellows for a cheerful cottage feel, or muted greens and creams for a natural, farmhouse vibe.

Practical tips: build wreaths around a sturdy base, secure pieces with floral wire or hot glue, and use removable hanging hardware to avoid marks on doors. For longevity, opt for materials that tolerate sun and humidity if the wreath will be outdoors. A few well-chosen embellishments can transform a simple base into a personalized statement piece.

Source highlight: Town & Country Living offers a variety of approachable summer wreath ideas to spark your creativity.

Clever Ways to Hide or Use the Exposed Side of a Refrigerator

The side of a refrigerator often becomes an underused canvas. Instead of leaving it bare, consider practical or decorative solutions that maximize function and style. Magnetic or adhesive organizers provide instant storage for cookbooks, spice racks, or mail. A slim bulletin board or fabric-covered corkboard turns that area into a command center for notes, shopping lists, and schedules.

For a more permanent update, add peel-and-stick wallpaper, a custom cabinet panel, or open shelving to create additional display and storage space. If aesthetics are the priority, a gallery of framed prints or a vertically hung woven piece can add texture and visual interest. Choose solutions that respect appliance ventilation and access while reflecting your kitchen’s overall design.

Source highlight: Worthing Court demonstrates creative ways to make the exposed side of a refrigerator both useful and attractive.

Favorite Furniture Painting Tips (No Sanding Required)

Refreshing furniture with paint is one of the most cost-effective ways to update a room. If you prefer to avoid heavy sanding, there are reliable alternatives: clean pieces thoroughly to remove grease and dirt, use a deglosser or liquid sandpaper to promote adhesion, and apply a bonding primer specifically designed for slick or finished surfaces. Choose high-quality paint formulated for furniture—either acrylic or chalk-style paints depending on the finish you want.

Brushes and rollers matter: use a smooth synthetic brush for detailed areas and a mini foam roller for flat surfaces to minimize brush marks. Finish with a protective topcoat—polyurethane for durability or wax for a softer, vintage patina. Test techniques on a small, inconspicuous area first, and work in thin layers to achieve an even, professional-looking finish.

Source highlight: Shabbyfufu shares a practical glossary of furniture-painting tips to help you choose the right products and methods for your project.

Summer Home Tour with Hydrangeas — Seasonal Styling Ideas

Hydrangeas are a quintessential summer flower that bring abundant texture and soft color to interiors. Use fresh or dried blooms in oversized vases for a focal point on a dining table or console. Pair hydrangeas with simple linens, light wood accents, and a mix of vintage and modern accessories for an airy, collected look. Even a few stems in small bud vases scattered through the home can create cohesion and a relaxed summer mood.

For long-lasting arrangements, cut hydrangeas in the early morning and keep stems hydrated; recut stems and change water every other day. If drying, hang blooms upside down in a dry, dark place to preserve shape and tone. Styling tip: balance large hydrangea heads with slender greenery or filler flowers to avoid a top-heavy appearance.

Source highlight: Southern Hospitality offers an inspiring summer home tour that celebrates hydrangeas and seasonal decorating choices.