DIY Your Way to Designer Summer Decor

Dress up your home this summer with fun, easy projects inspired by of-the-moment design trends.

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November 25, 2014

By: Liz Gray

Related To:

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Photo By: Kathryn Ivey

©Rustic White Photography

Photo By: Photo Credit: Edward Addeo ©Gibbs Smith, Farrow and Ball, Brian D Coleman, Edward Addeo (photographer)

The Trend: Vintage-Inspired Florals

Along with midcentury furniture and style comes another throwback to the 1960s: Vintage-inspired floral patterns. We've spotted "flower power" patterns in window treatments, bedspreads, throw pillows and more. Design by Kathryn Ivey.

From: Kathryn Ivey

The DIY: Bright Painted Plates

Create your own version of the vibrant, vintage-inspired floral patterns by transforming a plain white plate with ceramic paint and a few simple techniques. Learn how to paint your own floral plates here.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Watercolor Florals

Another trend that's here to stay? Soft, painterly, watercolor-inspired florals, like these featured in the rug, window treatments and pillow in this moody living room. Image courtesy Blue Bell Gray

The DIY: Custom Watercolor Notecards

Recreate the watercolor motifs you see in design magazines on an all-purpose note card you can use for summer parties or any-occasion correspondence. Or, paint a larger floral design to hang on the wall. Get the steps.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Free-Form Watercolors

Another iteration of the watercolor trend is a flowing, free-form version with lots of drips and organic shapes, as seen here in this living room vignette created by Design Development.

From: Design Development

The DIY: Marker-Dyed Pillow Covers

Two ingredients — permanent markers and alcohol — are all you need to transform a plain white pillowcase into a designer-inspired addition to your summer sofa. Get the how-to instructions to make this pillow now.

The Trend: Marble-Inspired Patterns

The term "marbling" refers to a variegated design on paper or fabric that mimics the swirled pattern that's beloved in the stone. From paper products to housewares to faux marbled boxes and trays, this pattern is hot in home decor accessories.

From: Tara Benet

The DIY: Nail Polish-Marbled Candles

This simple technique using water and nail polish will transform basic candleholders into marbled showpieces for your summer table.

The DIY: Marbled Pillow Covers

Embrace the traditional marbling process by customizing fabric with the acrylic paint colors of your choice and turning the marbled design into pillow covers. Once you gather all the materials, you can complete this DIY in a day. Get the step-by-step instructions here.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Indigo-Dyed Fabrics

Old World indigo dyes are experiencing a major resurgence in home decor, tabletop accents and even designer fashion. Shibori tie dye, which is a Japanese technique using indigo dyes to create sophisticated blue-and-white patterns, is especially hot.

The DIY: Indigo-Dyed Market Tote

Try your hand at a Shibori tie-dye project with a basic canvas tote bag and one of our two simple techniques. Once you complete this easy indigo dying project, you'll want to try it on everything in sight.

The Trend: Copper

Copper lighting and accents are still big in the design industry; this bright, eye-catching metal is equally chic in moody, dark winter interiors and light, bright rooms like this dining room designed by HGTV's Cousins Undercover John Colaneri and Anthony Carrino.

The DIY: Geometric Pendant Light

Copper accessories, especially designer lighting, can be pricey. Our solution? Turn a roll of copper tubing from the hardware store into a modern, geometric pendant for less than $50. Get the step-by-step instructions here.

The Trend: Industrial Details

Industrial, warehouse style isn't just for city lofts. Designers are adding clever industrial details to lend new homes an edgy downtown feel, like designer Brian Patrick Flynn did here on this wall-mounted pipe bookcase.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

The DIY: Pipe Fitting-Embellished Planter

Get the industrial look without doing any major construction with this easy modern planter made using brass pipe fittings and dowel rods.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Textured Ceramics

Large-scale, textured ceramic pieces are a go-to designer accessory to add handmade style to a new room. Here, designer Anna Williams used a contemporary faceted vase in a traditional living room to add unexpected edge. Monochromatic ceramic pieces allow the chunky texture to shine.

From: Anna Williams

The DIY: Faux Porcelain Textured Vase

Skip the pricey porcelain vases and make your own textured showpiece with a basic glass hurricane vase, a piece of lace and some white acrylic paint.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Grouped Photo Displays

The next iteration of the gallery wall: Small-scale memories grouped into big-impact, meaningful displays. Designer Susan Manrao created this large-scale installation using postcards and photos from the homeowners' collection.

From: Susan Manrao

The DIY: Photos Turned Typography

Turn tiny memories into your own wall installation by printing Instagram photos, then affixing them to the wall with mounting putty in the letter or symbol of your choice. Here, an ampersand is used to show off photos of a couple's travels together. Find more awesome ways to decorate with Instagram photos.

The Trend: Technicolor Country

The resurgence of farmhouse-style decor, traditional crafts and folk art gets a 21st century update with bold, saturated colors atop creamy whites and traditional reds. The result? A modern country look that feels fresh and of-the-moment.

From: Kathryn Ireland

The DIY: Fabric-Covered Pots

Embrace the handmade, folk art feel of traditional crafts with a simple, striped planter made with strips of indoor-outdoor fabric. Learn how to make your own.

From: Michelle Edgemont

The Trend: Herringbone Details

From flooring to tile backsplashes to painted wall patterns, the herringbone home decor trend is here to stay. Here, designer Joni Spear uses the pattern to create interest from the floor up of this spa-worthy bathroom.

From: Joni Spear

The DIY: Herringbone Box or Tray

Refresh your dresser or vanity with a jewelry box or makeup tray outfitted with a colorful take on the herringbone pattern. Or, use the tray to hold favorite objects on your coffee table. Learn to make this box and tray now.

DIY Your Way to Designer Summer Decor

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Trend: Vintage-Inspired Florals

The DIY: Bright Painted Plates

The Trend: Watercolor Florals

The DIY: Custom Watercolor Notecards

The Trend: Free-Form Watercolors

The DIY: Marker-Dyed Pillow Covers

The Trend: Marble-Inspired Patterns

The DIY: Nail Polish-Marbled Candles

The DIY: Marbled Pillow Covers

The Trend: Indigo-Dyed Fabrics

The DIY: Indigo-Dyed Market Tote

The Trend: Copper

The DIY: Geometric Pendant Light

The Trend: Industrial Details

The DIY: Pipe Fitting-Embellished Planter

The Trend: Textured Ceramics

The DIY: Faux Porcelain Textured Vase

The Trend: Grouped Photo Displays

The DIY: Photos Turned Typography

The Trend: Technicolor Country

The DIY: Fabric-Covered Pots

The Trend: Herringbone Details

The DIY: Herringbone Box or Tray

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