Happy July, friends! Thank you for the kind words on my door color post — we absolutely love it. With all the summer blooms in our yard, I’ve started a small ritual: filling the lantern by the door with a fresh bouquet. It’s an easy, cheerful way to decorate for the season. If you don’t have a wall lantern, any lantern will work — place it on the porch or set it on a table inside the entry to welcome guests.
Changing the flowers in the lantern has become a simple, therapeutic habit. It only takes a few minutes, and the payoff is large — a small, fresh arrangement can brighten the day. I worried at first that I wouldn’t keep up with it (I’m the same person who sometimes forgets to update a seasonal chalkboard and ends up with the same holiday quote all spring!), but it’s really about being prepared and building a tiny habit.
Now when I check the garden each morning I snip a few blooms every few days, refresh the water in the lantern, and arrange them. It doesn’t need to be perfect — fresh flowers always look lovely, and you don’t need floral design skills to create a pretty display.
If you don’t have many fresh flowers at hand or prefer less frequent changes, consider keeping a few faux stems or seasonal accessories to use in the lantern. That way you can enjoy a display for months without worrying about wilting flowers. I plan to keep some transitional pieces ready so there’s never a lull at the door.
Now that I’m regularly updating the lantern, I’m also thinking about switching out vases and accessories more often. If I gather a few interesting vessels and props ahead of time, it will be even easier and more fun to experiment. I’ve enjoyed changing this lantern’s look with whatever I have on hand, but collecting a few dedicated pieces would make spontaneous decorating even more satisfying.
I tend to decorate on a whim and enjoy a relaxed, casual look. Some people plan their seasonal displays well in advance and have everything staged months ahead; others prefer to create in the moment. Either approach is fine — the most important thing is that your home reflects your personality. Whether you’re meticulous or carefree, set the bar where it makes you happy.
Even though I appreciate imperfection and spontaneity, I’m tempted to gather a few more vases and seasonal accessories so I can easily “decorate on a whim” with a wider selection. I might rummage through the garage and cabinets to see what I already have, and I’ve been daydreaming about browsing a flea market for charming pieces the right size and shape. I haven’t been to one in a long time — secondhand shopping kept me inspired during quarantine, and I picked up some lovely art that I still need to show you.
For now, the simple pleasure of swapping out a few fresh stems keeps me smiling each week. It’s an inexpensive way to bring seasonal color to the entry and a small ritual that feels meaningful.
Happy weekend, friend!
Find more inspiration:
If you missed our door makeover before & after post with all the details, check the original post.
I’ve shared many simple seasonal looks for lanterns in previous posts — switching out stems and accessories makes each season feel fresh.
Ideas for summer decorating and seasonal inspiration can help spark your own entryway updates.
Sources:
Similar doormat and lantern sources were used as references for the look and scale of items shown.
Door paint color: Blue Suede Shoes Benjamin Moore.
Brick paint color: Reserved White Sherwin Williams (see more about our painted brick exterior project in earlier posts).
If you missed our door makeover before & after post with all the details, be sure to check it out!