I’m wrapping up this year’s patriotic home tour with my favorite summer spot… the pool.
When we first started dreaming about this space, I wasn’t convinced we needed a pool. Honey, on the other hand, never gave up on the idea. Looking back now, I’m so thankful he did. It has become the heart of our home almost year round, and there is rarely a day we’re in town that someone isn’t out here swimming, reading, playing games or simply relaxing. For the Fourth of July, I keep the decorating simple. The pool is already the star of the show, so a few patriotic touches are all it needs.
American flags tucked into the flower pots have been one of my decorating traditions for decades, and they made the move to the backyard when we built the pool.
Like the rest of the house, I try to choose decorations that are both festive and functional. I added a few patriotic towels to the collection back in 2024, and they look just as cheerful folded on the loungers as they do wrapped around wet swimmers after an afternoon in the pool.
The cabana remains one of our favorite gathering spots. It provides wonderful shade, creates privacy from the street and serves as an extension of the entertaining space. The patriotic buntings across the front have been with us for several summers now and are just the right size. They add plenty of color without blocking the view. We leave the Command hooks in place year-round, making decorating as simple as hanging the buntings each June.
I also moved a few patriotic pillows from other parts of the house out to the cabana for the summer. One of my favorites is the Georgia pillow, which feels perfectly at home paired with all the red, white and blue.
You’ll also spot the large American flag hanging near the ping pong table. Honey installed a few small white hooks several years ago, and they’re virtually invisible the rest of the year. It’s such an easy way to make a big impact without creating permanent clutter.
One of my favorite additions to the pool area continues to be the egg chairs. Honey surprised me with them for Valentine’s Day a few years ago, and they’ve become everyone’s favorite place to curl up with a book. They’re from Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart and were a fraction of the cost of similar styles I’d been admiring elsewhere. They’ve sat out here year round for maybe 5 years now and are still in great condition.
The patriotic floats made it through another summer too, which makes me irrationally happy. They add a little whimsy to the pool and actually get used, just the kind of decorating I love.
This space has hosted everything from birthday parties and prayer gatherings to neighborhood cookouts, family dinners, ping pong tournaments and late-night conversations. It has become one of the greatest blessings our family has ever enjoyed.
These days, I try hard to finish work by early afternoon so I can spend time out here. You’ll often find me reading under the umbrella while Honey floats nearby, or ending the day in the pool with the Whit. As our family continues to grow and change, I treasure these ordinary summer afternoons more than ever.
Thank you for following along on this year’s patriotic home tour. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing it. Wishing you a wonderful Fourth of July and a joyful celebration of America’s 250th birthday!
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