Take a peek at some of the fresh accessories we've found to help lighten and brighten your home this summer.

Photo above: Small seashells applied by hand give this beveled mirror ($499) a casual, beach-house look. Available through catalog/Internet only. Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176

Summer’s warmth and more casual schedules make it the perfect time to lighten and brighten your living spaces. A few easy, relatively inexpensive fixes can help create a fresh, breezy feel in keeping with the season. Consider these changes—just for the summer:

• Swap dark, heavy-pattern pillows with ones in bright colors, summer stripes, or fresh floral patterns.
• Replace heavy draperies with summer-style treatments such as linen panels or sheers.
• Store throws, stacks of books, and heavy, decorative pieces until the cozy days of fall and winter return; replace with pale-color, lighter accessories.
• Bring in furnishings that are lighter in color and scale.