Little Summer Habits That Make Your Newport Beach Home Feel Like a Retreat

There’s something about summer in Coastal Orange County that makes you crave ease. Lighter meals, open windows, and slower mornings become the norm. Even if your calendar stays packed, the season itself seems to call for a shift, making your home feel like the place you want to be, not just where you end up after a long day.

Here’s the good news: you don’t need a second property or a designer budget to achieve that “summer retreat” feeling. You don’t even have to rearrange your furniture. What transforms a home into a retreat is more about how you use it than how it looks on social media.

Below are a few small, intentional habits that can help your Newport Beach home feel softer, calmer, and a bit more like a retreat this summer.

1. Let the Morning In Before the Day Starts

Before the emails start flooding in, before the kids wake up, and before the coffee finishes brewing, consider opening a window or two, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Letting in fresh air early in the day shifts the mood of your whole home. It clears out the overnight stillness and invites that fresh, morning light that feels different from the rest of the day.

2. Anchor One Area That Feels Peaceful

You don’t need your entire home to resemble a magazine spread. But one corner? That’s manageable.

Maybe it’s your favorite chair with a good book nearby, or perhaps it’s a bathroom counter that’s not cluttered with products, or a nightstand with just a lamp and a journal. When one space feels calm, it makes it easier to return to that feeling throughout the day.

3. Adjust Your Lighting (Especially in the Evenings)

There’s a reason vacation rentals rely so heavily on ambient lighting. It changes everything.

If your home feels “on” all the time, consider adding a few softer lights—lamps instead of overhead fixtures, warm-toned bulbs, or even battery-powered candles in unexpected places. Summer evenings already have a built-in glow, so let your lighting follow suit.

Even swapping out a harsh bulb in the entryway or bathroom for something warmer can make the space feel more inviting as the day winds down.

4. Create a Scent You Associate with Summer

Scent is closely tied to memory. One whiff of sunscreen, and you’re transported back to the beach. One candle, and suddenly it feels like June again.

You can use that to your advantage at home. Choose a single scent to associate with summer in your space—something fresh, not overpowering. Think citrus, basil, sea salt, rosemary, or linen. Use it in a diffuser, a hand soap, or a room spray by the door.

5. Streamline the Entryway (and the Exit)

Your entryway is the first thing you see when you walk in. If it’s chaotic, it can set the tone for the entire evening.

In the summer, entryways tend to collect piles: shoes, beach bags, sunscreen, dog leashes, and half-dry towels. Even without a mudroom, a little structure helps. A basket by the door or a couple of well-placed hooks can keep everyday clutter from taking over.

Same goes for heading out. If there’s a designated spot near the door for summer essentials (sunglasses, water bottle, bug spray), it cuts down on the morning rush and helps you start the day with a little less stress.

6. Make It Easier to Be Barefoot

One underrated sign that your home feels like a retreat? You actually want to be barefoot.

Take a quick scan: are the floors clean? Are the rugs soft? Is there a towel by the patio door to handle wet feet? You don’t need to deep clean every day. Just take five minutes in the evening to sweep high-traffic areas or shake out the welcome mat.

Small comforts, like not worrying about stepping on crumbs or cold tile, add up—especially when you’re walking around in your favorite worn-in sandals or no shoes at all.

7. Add a Soundtrack to Your Evenings

What do you hear when you’re winding down at home? If it’s the ping of email notifications or the background noise of a TV you’re not really watching, consider swapping it out for something more intentional.

A simple playlist, soft instrumental music, or even the sound of a fan or summer rain can shift the entire energy of your space.

8. Keep Cold Drinks Within Reach

Hydration may not sound like a home design tip, but when you’re always a little too warm and a little too busy, it makes a difference.

Try keeping a carafe of cold water on the counter with slices of citrus or mint. Or stock your fridge with a few low-effort, high-satisfaction drinks—sparkling water, lemonade, iced coffee. Little things like this make your home feel taken care of, even when life gets hectic.

Want a Home That Supports the Life You Want to Live?

We believe the right home isn’t just about square footage or finishes. It’s about how it supports your routines, your rest, and your everyday moments.

If you’re dreaming about a space that feels better, not just looks better, we’d love to help you find it.