The Fanciful Farmstead Aesthetic Is the Easier, Breezier Version of Cottagecore You Have to Try This Summer

Fresh fruits and vegetables are one of the absolute best parts about summer. Not only do they make for the sweetest and freshest recipes and desserts, but their juicy colors and shapes are eye-candy for the home, too. From colorful wallpaper and decor to playful, interactive tablescapes, we can't seem to get enough.

Here are some of our favorite ways to use fruits and veggies (real and faux) to celebrate the season.

Delicious Decor

Home decor in these vibrant shapes and motifs is plentiful. Lively painted lemons and leaves are an instant mood boost for the table, while deliciously textured Italian earthenware serves up style on a platter. For an easy summer display idea, fill a platter with a collection of these trompe l’oeil beeswax tomatoes that look just like the real thing. Or set a couple fruit-adorned candle holders on a table as an instant conversation piece.

Use Produce for Natural Table Toppers

Think of fresh produce as Earth’s most natural, beautiful decor—it's edible art for the table. Gorgeous fresh fruits and veggies themselves are absolutely worthy of display, like using carrots in a vase as part of a centerpiece, or a gorgeous radish as a table flourish. Other fresh varieties that would make excellent candidates for decor would be fresh oranges with the leaves still attached, filling a table centerpiece with fresh, fragrant potted herbs, or creating an entirely editable (showstopper!) runner of fresh fruits and vegetables that run the entire length of the table.

Farmers Market-Inspired Brunch Decor

For a summer brunch that’ll start the morning off with smiles all around, classic white linens and plates set the backdrop for a rainbow of cheery flowers, dishes of artful candles, and playful accents. Small vases across the table rather than one large centerpiece suit a casual vibe. Mix flower forms, such as round ranunculus and linear stock, and pop them into vases that complement their sizes and colors.

Citrus Celebrations

A low compote of light orange and pink florals like amaryllis and ranunculus (or whatever you can find at your local farmers market) sets a peachy scene. Echo the colors of the flowers with matching orange and pink table linens and top each place setting with a fruity favor. We especially love these Orange Surprize Balls from TOPS Malibu, which are filled with candy and retro toys that’ll make your guests smile.

Round out a citrus-inspired brunch with these unforgettable cookies  that make the cutest (and tastiest) treats. Make a batch to take to your next block party or backyard bbq, or simply whip up a few for your family. To make them, use  fruit-shaped cookie cutters to cut out sugar cookies, then top them with meringue icing and decorative sugars. For extra brownie points, use icing to attach a leaf cookie that has been iced and painted with gel food coloring.

Strawberry Girl Summer

This might be the easiest, juiciest idea for Fourth of July table decor that exists. Set your table with your classic red, white, and blue table collections, then dress up each place setting with a basket of strawberries. Not only is this an easy way to add personality to the table, it gives each guest a little something to snack on. If you’re feeling fancy, add a few berry branches to a handful of summer flowers for an easy, impressive centerpiece.

Use Faux Fruit for Seasonal Centerpieces

Sculptural ceramic bowls filled with faux fruit make easy, playful centerpiece fillers. Faux wire butterflies at each place setting add a whimsical, dreamy feel. Trays of treats—sugar coated candies, Pocky sticks, and artful chocolates double as decor.

Install Playful Patterns

What’s the easiest way to make summer last all year? Install a beautiful wallpaper that features fruit trees that never stop blooming. Designers Cate Dunning and Lathem Gordon of GordonDunning brought a layered look to this powder room with Cole & Son’s Orange Blossom wallpaper and a piece by Whitney Stoddard. The blue background conjures the feeling of the blue summer sky, while bright citrussy pops of orange create dynamic energy and fun.

Fruit-Inspired Decor

As if we didn't need any more convincing, Fancy Fruits were everywhere at Ambiente by Messe Frankfurt, the leading international trade fair for consumer goods like tableware, gifts and home decor. We attended the show back in February and couldn't ignore the vibrant punches of citrus orange, lemon yellow, and tomato red from brands like Kersten and Tranquillo.