The Fifty: Summer 25 — An Extensive Editor-Approved List of the Hottest Homewares to Shop This Season

From the tabletop to the walls, floors, and outdoors, here's all the homewares that have caught this editor's eye for the season ahead

a collage of various home decor with a yellow circle with the words 'the 50' inside it
(Image credit: Various listed in article)

There's something about the sunshine that just makes everything a little bit more beautiful. Colors feel more saturated, fragrant scents hang around a little longer, and textures become slightly more noticeable against your softly sun-kissed skin.

And then, of course, there is the innate optimism that comes with the season, which feeds through to all the latest, greatest, and trending summer decor ideas.

Whether it's stylish pieces to set on your table, discerning decor that feels one-of-a-kind, scents specifically selected for the season, or lighting you can carry both indoors and out, I've searched high and low to find all the best homewares to buy this summer.

Yes — these are the items I've got saved in my own shopping cart (if not already styled in my own home), the ones that get shared on the Livingetc team Slack channel, and the latest releases to hit my inbox this month.

Table Talk

a series of tableware cutouts on a checkerd backround

(Image credit: H&M Home; Rebecca Udall; SELETTI x Diesel; Sabre)

Setting the table has taken on a whole new meaning in 2025. For many, the new telltale of true taste is as much about what's on the table, as it is about what's on the plates.

Cutlery, glassware, dinnerware, and platters are no longer mere utensils — they're conversation starters. Themes are no longer tacky, but a form of storytelling. Just like one would expect a fully immersive experience at a restaurant, so too now goes when hosting at home. These days, the table talks, so tell a story that counts.







Dress to Impress

decor cut outs on a checkered background

(Image credit: H&M; SELETTI; The Poster Club)

Gone are the days of Pinterest-perfect interiors. Now, it's all about curating lived-in spaces that speak to who we are as individuals — where we've travelled, the things we've collected, the design eras and styles that speak to us best.

When it comes to the decor we dress our spaces in, it's all about unique, hand-crafted pieces that tell a story about where they come from, of tradition and craft, and odd quirks that draw the eye in.





Light It Up

a series of lamps and lighting on a checkered background

(Image credit: Kartell; West Elm; Los Objetos Decorativos; Pooky)

Lighting is far from being just functional these days. Whether suspended from the ceiling, resting on a console, or being carried between indoors and out, it's a source of light, sure — but it can also be a moment of sculpture if you choose the right piece.

Case in point: Tabitha Bargh's lighting collection, shown above, which I discovered at Clerkenwell Design Week this year. Crafted from recycled cardboard, it's proof that even something simple can become special through the lens of design.



Scent of Summer

flowers on a backdrop with a red candle

(Image credit: LOEWE; Vyrao)

Scent has an incredible way to slingshot you back to a specific time and place. And for summer, it's all about light, fresh, vibrant scents that make us think of time spent well outdoors. Think bergamot, citrus, or fresh ozonic accords.

While the best home fragrance is, of course, subjective, I've asked the Livingetc team to share the scents that remind them of summer the most (but also look ridiculously good while they burn, of course).


close up of flowers with green incense stick in white dish in the foreground

VERDANT INCENSE, VYRAO
But perhaps candles aren't your thing, in which case Vyrao's 'Verdent' incense is a solid choice, filling your space with the scent of fresh green growth, bergamot, cyclamen, frankincense, orange flower, and musk.

(Image credit: Vyrao)

Take a Seat

collage of stylish seats

(Image credit: Anthropologie; Six the Residence; Wayfair)

Summer is for lounging, it's for reclining in the sun, getting ready to go out and catch up with friends, for dinner parties... all of which is best done seated. So let's find some stylish perches to do it on, shall we?

When it comes to the hotter months, it's important to look for fabrics that are extra breathable (that means no leather, corduroy, velvets...) — think cotton, wicker and rattan, and of course silhouettes that recline or leave you with room to move, rather than snuggle into.



Let's Take It Outside

gardening tools, a parasol and a water reservoir for a plant made from glass on a background

(Image credit: Ferm Living; TOAST; Audo Copenhagen)

If there is one thing that sums up the summer season more than anything else, it's being outside. In 2025, we're treating our outdoor space like an outdoor living room; giving it the same considered design treatment as we would inside.

Whether that means refreshing your seating situation, or reviving your garden beds that haven't fared to well over winter, just because people often associate it with 'working' in the garden, doesn't mean you can't make your garden accessories look good, too.

It's frankly incredible how one small piece of decor can completely lift, shift, brighten, or lighten the entire look of your space. And the start of a new season feels like an appropriate time to take stock of what you've got, and what might be missing.

Looking to make a bigger impact? These summer color palettes could spark the inspiration you've been looking for.

Until next season.

Emma Breislin
Interiors Editor

Emma is the Interiors Editor at Livingetc. She formerly worked on Homes To Love, writing about all things design for some of Australia’s top interior publications, including Australian House & Garden and Belle. Before that, she produced content for CULTIVER, where she found an appreciation for filling your home with high-quality, beautiful things. At Livingetc, Emma explores the big design questions — from styling to colors, interior trends, and home tours. She’s travelled to Copenhagen for 3daysofdesign, to Paris for Déco Off and Maison&Objet, and has attended design events in London, including WOW!house and Clerkenwell Design Week. Outside of work, you’ll find her elbow-deep at an antique store, moving her sofa for the 70th time, or mentally renovating every room she walks into.