4 Summer Decor Projects That Look High-End (Without the Price Tag)

Now that it stays light past 8, it's easier for a Tuesday to turn into an impromptu dinner party. And while hosting beautifully doesn't require spending a fortune, it does require a little intention, especially when it comes to making your space feel like summer.

At Spruce Decor + Style (Spruce), we believe your home should feel as good as the season outside without the waste, the storage bins, or the designer price tag. These four DIY projects are some of our favorites for summer: easy to make, surprisingly elevated, and built around ingredients you can find at any grocery store or farmers market.

Beginner Projects

These two projects take under an hour and use ingredients you likely already have at home or can grab at any grocery store. The best part? They look expensive, and nobody has to know they weren't.

Citrus Centerpiece

What you'll need:

• One large vase
• One smaller vase
• Citrus(es) of choice (lemons, oranges, or limes)
• Water

Steps:

1. Place the smaller vase inside the larger one
2. Cut the citrus into approximately 1” slices
3. Layer citrus slices in the gap between the two vases
4. Fill the inner vase with water and add your flower arrangement

Place it on your kitchen table, coffee table, or console for an instant centerpiece that doubles as a conversation starter.

Summertime in a Bottle

What you'll need:

• Small glass bottles or jars with corks
• Dried or fresh flowers
• Baby oil

Steps:

1. Add flowers into the bottle
2. Fill with baby oil
3. Cork it

The flowers suspend and float, and the jar looks like something you'd find in a boutique. Add them to a nightstand, bathroom shelf, or use them as part of a tablescape.

 

More Involved Projects

These projects take a little more time, but the payoff is worth it. Set aside an afternoon and you'll have something that looks like more effort than it took.

Dried Citrus Garland

What you'll need:

• Oranges, lemons, and/or limes
• A baking sheet
• Twine
• A needle, skewer, or scissors for threading

Steps:

1. Slice your fruits of choice into thin rounds
2. Arrange them on a baking sheet
3. Dry in the oven on the lowest heat setting for 3-4 hours, flipping halfway through
4. Once fully dried and cooled, thread onto twine

Perfect for layering into a summer tablescape, draping across a mantel or console, or adding dimension to a cabinet.

Pressed Flower Accents

What you'll need:

• Fresh flowers from your garden or a bouquet
• A heavy book
• Candle, twine, or a frame depending on your project

Steps:

1. Place flowers between two sheets of parchment paper inside a heavy book
2. Leave for 3-5 days until fully pressed and dried
3. Choose how you want to decorate with them:
   • Gently warm the wax of a candle and press the flowers directly onto the surface
   • Tie them onto napkins with twine
   • Frame them as seasonal wall art

Want to Take it Further?

If you loved these projects, we made them with you in mind. At Spruce, we take the same philosophy—beautiful, seasonal spaces without the waste or the commitment—and apply it to curated decor rental boxes delivered straight to your door. When the season ends, we take everything back. No storage bins, no clutter, no guesswork.

Ready to refresh your space? Shop our seasonal collections.