1. Create a Summery Atmosphere
A lot of us have sensory triggers that make us think of summer: the sounds of the ocean, the smell of tropical fruits, the unparalleled warmth of the sun on our skin. So in order to make it feel like summer, take a few easy steps to create that scene in your bedroom.
First, get some summer scented candles! I personally have a large collection of candles, most of which are scents like "Endless Ocean" and "Pina Colada." However, my new favorite set is the Old Factory Vacation Set! Three small all soy, hand-poured candles are packaged in an adorable box, and each candle smells better than the next!! The ones in this set are called "Sea Breeze," "Hawaiian Lei," and "Awapuhi." The smell great when burnt separate and amazing together! Light these babies up and you've got that summer scent in an instant! (Also, if you need candles for other occasions, Old Factory has several great sets with witty names like "50 Shades" and "Coffee Shop") You can get the vacation set and/or any of there other sets HERE! Much thanks to Old Factory and Brand Backer for letting me try these awesome candles!!
Crank up the heat! Turn the heat up in your house, or get a space heater and sit next to it with all of your lights on. This might run up your electric bill, but it will also make you feel like you're getting your tan on in Hawaii or somewhere warm of your choosing.
If you're going for the long haul, paint your room in bright summer colors! That way, it'll feel like summer all year long, in your room at least!! My childhood bedroom has been painted in this pallet along with hibiscus flower stencils and homemade surfboards hanging on my wall. It definitely made getting through high school a much better experience for me, haha. But if you don't want to commit to something so, well, loud, then you could always get a tapestry or a beachy quilt to spruce up the place.
2. Wear Bright Colors
In the Winter, we instinctively turn to darker colors like black, gray, black, burgundy, and black. Also we wear a LOT of black. However, this doesn't have to be the case! Just because the winter darkens our souls (I guess?) doesn't mean we have to dress like that! Keeping within the realms of Winter clothing, you can throw in a hot pink bag, a bright blue dress, or killer orange shoes with your boring Winter colors to give your outfit a pop! Also, throw in some summer textiles/patterns if you like! One of my favorite tricks is to pick one of my favorite summer tanks and pair it with jeans and a sweater! Check out my Island Style pinboard for inspiration!
3. Pump Up the Jams!
Create a Summer playlist and play it nice and loud! Pick songs that remind you of Summer or of memories you have from Summers past. It will make you happier, I promise! If you don't want to make your own, or just need a little inspiration, check out my Summer Vibe playlist on Spotify!
4. Use Summer Beauty Products
Pretty much all of the skin and hair care products I buy are purchased for their scent. And most of those have a summery scent! So grab your beach wave spray and your coconut body wash and get your Summer on! Or, get a nice summer glow going with some sunless tanning lotion! Also, using a tropical or citrus scented perfume will leave not only your hair but your whole body smelling like you spent the day on the beach! Here are some of my favorites!!
[ Malibu Tan Hemp Golden Glow Skin Firming Bronzing Moisturizer | OGX Kukui Oil Frizz Defying Curl Cream | OGX Moroccan Sea Salt Spray | Victoria's Secret PINK Sun Kissed Perfume ]
5. Get in a Summer State of Mind