Many schools are nearing the end of the year and that's a sure sign that summer is on its way. As we approach summertime, many homeowners want to spruce up their homes with a decorating make-over to match the season. Try these 25 tips to bring the lazy, carefree summer days into your home.

1. Go for floral prints in sheets, throw pillows and shams

2. Pick out slip covers to change the look and feel of couches

3. Display decorative fruit baskets and welcome mats and signs

4. Put fresh cut flowers in decorative vases to brighten any room

5. Clean out the fireplace and try candles, flowers, or green plants in it for the summer months

6. Spray down your window screens and thoroughly clean your windows and glass to completely let the sun shine in

7. Thinking of painting? Now, may be a good time to go bright, light and cheery

8. Put away floor rugs or swap them for brightly colored floral prints

9. Use a variety of floral teacups to float votive candles in; arrange them on a table for an elegant look

10. Replace heavy fleece blankets or down comforters that are on couches and bedding around your house with light cotton in summer pastels

11. Use fluffy throw pillows on couches, sofas and loveseats to encourage settling in for a read or a summertime snooze

12. Try mixing in different color schemes such as greens, blues and whites to liven up a room and bring a feel of the ocean into your home

13. Try sheers or lace curtains instead of heavy drapery

14. Don't want to replace the drapery? Try only changing the valance

15. Replace dark lamp shades with lightly colored or floral printed ones

16. Try replacing a coat/hat rack with a piece of decorative lattice that's fitted with hooks to hold accessories, creating a summertime garden look

17. Try a fiberglass screen to surround a patio or porch to let the breeze in and keep the bugs out while you enjoy the area as an indoor/outdoor room on warm summer nights

18. De-clutter a room; it may mean relegating a few items to another room, storage, a friend's place or even a garage sale

19. Hang a mirror on the wall so that it appears to bring the garden and outdoor light into your home

20. Install ceiling fans with lights in bedrooms and rooms that need ventilation; these are useful attractions if you decide to sell your home

21. Get the kids in on the decorating fun by letting them color butterfly printout sheets that you can find online. Then create a butterfly mobile or string them from a curtain rail to adorn a window as suggested at the Activity Village website

22. In children's rooms have youngsters write poems and color pictures, then create a collage on poster or bulletin boards that they can proudly hang in their room as their own way of welcoming summertime

23. White furniture in a room creates a whimsical feel

24. Now's a goodtime to shoot some new family photos outdoors and display them around your home for a cheerful look

25. If you have dark wood tables, try a touch of white lace to create a softer look in summers

Published: May 23, 2005

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Phoebe is a writer, speaker, and author. She is the Director of Business Development for Quality Service Certification and a trainer in customer service for the real estate industry. She is a Realtor with The Guiltinan Group, a division of Prudential California Realty. Her articles, feature stories, and columns appear in various publications including The Coast News, Del Mar Village Voice, and Rancho Santa Fe Review in San Diego. Phoebe worked for KGTV/10News in San Diego as a Newscaster, Reporter and Community Affairs Specialist for more than a decade. Phoebe's writing is also featured in Donald Trump's book: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received. She is the author of If the Trash Stinks, TAKE IT OUT!: 14 Worriless Principles for Your Success. Contact Phoebe at 858.259.3646 or . Visit PhoebeChongchua.com for more information.