The first rule of summer decorating is -- lighten up! If you haven’t folded up those cozy winter blankets and flannel sheets and tucked them safely in the closet yet, now’s the time. Wash and air them outside first, and try placing small sachets of dried rosemary or lavender between sets on the closet shelf -- you’ll love the lingering fragrance when you shake them out again in the fall.

Here are some more essential tips to bring the best of the season into your home:

Free your personal style! Go for sheets, bath and beach towels that represent your summer spirit.

Heavy drapes are a no-no in summer decorating, trapping heat in and blocking out welcome sunshine from a room. Invest in some sheer, pretty curtains that offer some privacy while keeping a room feeling cool and open. White is always a good choice, but don’t shy away from soft new pastels that coordinate with your summer sheets.

What’s your favorite outdoor summer activity? Get creative and bring a little of it indoors! Grace your coffee table with a bowl of seashells from your favorite beach walks. Place a potted plant in a small picnic basket by the window. Or, turn your bathroom into a summer cabana: hang swimming goggles from the mirror, leave the sunblock out of the medicine chest and drape your towel rods or hooks with thick pastel-and-white striped towels. Subtle color and texture make a big difference to mind and body on sweltering summer nights. Select designs and color choices -- white, almond, spa, orchid, pool and cornsilk -- that turn your bedroom into an oasis of calm.