Summer Kitchen Ideas That Are Trending for All the Right Reasons

So your kitchen got a little taste of summer from my previous post. And now it wants more! Can you blame it?

In fact, I had so much fun putting together that first round of summer kitchen ideas that I couldn’t stop there. So here we are with even more ways to enjoy this time of year.

After all, the kitchen is where your morning coffee happens, where the kids do homework, and where you stand eating chips out of the bag late at night (c’mon, I can’t be the only one!).

And yes, all these ideas are just as simple as the last batch. By that I mean a bit of rearranging, and maybe one or two fun finds from your favorite home shop.

Alright, enough talking! It’s time to refresh your kitchen for summer.

When I think of summer, one color that comes to mind is…yellow! So why not add some yellow?

Lemons are the obvious go-to (and they smell incredible), but don’t sleep on bananas, yellow pears, or even a pile of bright yellow bell peppers. If you want to really get fun with it, golden apples and starfruit are great for color too.

Set it on your island or right next to the coffee maker where you’ll see it every morning. It takes about thirty seconds and now your kitchen has this sunny energy. Plus, when you eat the fruit, get some more!

I mentioned adding succulents in your summer kitchen, but this time let’s go a little bigger. A lush green plant in a terracotta pot brings that Mediterranean, sun-soaked vibe into your kitchen without having to do an entire renovation.

As for specific plants, a parlor palm, a snake plant, or even a big leafy basil plant would work well here. Set it on the floor in a corner, on top of the fridge, or right on the counter if you’ve got the space. Summer in a pot!

In my opinion, if there’s one flower that says summer, it’s the sunflower. A big, cheerful bunch in a simple vase in your kitchen is such a mood-lifter.

Go for a ceramic or stoneware vase to keep it casual, or even a mason jar if that’s your style. I don’t think that sunflowers need a lot of fancy arranging. A bouquet from the grocery store is absolutely fine. Then drop ‘em in and let them do their thing.

This one’s almost too easy. Swap out your kitchen towels, napkins, and dish cloths for ones in soft blues, warm yellows, or sandy neutrals. Fold them in a basket, drape a towel over the oven handle, or fan out a few napkins in a holder. They add a subtle summery touch to your table or countertop.

They’re reusable AND I think they look way more sophisticated than paper napkins.

Ok, this one’s a tiny bit more effort, but it’s still totally doable in an afternoon. A peel-and-stick wallpaper with a daisy or wildflower pattern behind your sink or stove adds a bright summery focal point.

As for the pattern, think daisies, small wildflowers, or a watercolor floral on a light background. Since it’s peel-and-stick, it’s renter-friendly and you can swap it out when the season changes. High impact, low commitment. My favorite combo.

Did someone say indoor picnic? Toss a red and white (or blue and white) gingham tablecloth on your kitchen table, or drape a checkered runner down the center of your island.

Add a little centerpiece on top, like a bowl of pears or a vase of wildflowers, and you’ve got yourself a summer tablescape. Warning, you might be tempted to cook up some burgers and corn on the cob.

Want your kitchen to look like a cozy summer cabin? Bring in some natural wood tones. The trick is keeping it in one area, like they’re meant to be there…and not that you didn’t want to put the dishes away.

A small wooden bowl next to a utensil crock with wooden spoons, maybe near the stove or on open shelving, gives you that organic, handmade look. I especially love this for white or light-colored kitchens.

We already covered lemons. But what about oranges? The combo of natural wood and the bright orange is so nice. And just like the lemons, when they start getting soft, you’ve got fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Decor and breakfast? Yes please!

Last but not least, see what a generous bunch of yellow what it does to an otherwise neutral kitchen.

Mimosa branches are great for this, but you could just as easily grab some goldenrod, billy buttons, or a fat bunch of yellow chamomile. That wild, overflowing look is ideal for a summer update.

That’s it! And the hardest thing is probably deciding on which of these ideas to go with. You have my permission to go with more than one!

Summer’s too short to spend it renovating anything. Keep it simple and fun.