Late-Summer Living: How I Romanticize August at Home
August has always felt like a liminal month to me—caught between the unhurried warmth of summer and the quiet anticipation of autumn. The light turns softer, the evenings stretch a little longer, and suddenly the pace shifts.
As a bridal makeup artist, my busiest days often peak in spring and early summer when weddings bloom in full force. By the time August rolls around, the season begins to slow. The whirlwind of weekend travel, long mornings in the studio, and back-to-back wedding parties eases, leaving me with unexpected pockets of time. It’s in those pauses that I’ve learned how to savor, how to stretch out the last notes of summer before they fade.
There’s something strangely romantic about August at home. Without the bustle of constant bookings, I get to rediscover the small rituals that slip away when I’m caught in the rush—lingering over coffee in the morning sun, rearranging fresh flowers in vases, or curling up with a book as the cicadas hum outside. I think of it as the “golden hour” of the season: fleeting, glowing, and best appreciated in slow motion.
These slower days remind me that luxury doesn’t always have to be found in far-off destinations or grand gestures. Sometimes it’s a perfectly ripe peach on the counter, or the way candlelight flickers against the late-summer dusk. After months of creating beauty for brides, I find joy in creating a softer kind of beauty for myself—inside my home, in my routines, and in the simple, everyday details that carry a quiet charm.
Of course, it’s not just about slowing down—it’s also about indulging in the playful, carefree spirit summer inspires. I’ll find myself setting the table outdoors for a weeknight dinner, just because the evening feels too pretty to waste indoors. Or I’ll swap my usual workwear for flowing sundresses, even if the only destination is my own backyard. These choices may seem small, but they shape the mood of August, turning the ordinary into something memorabl
There’s a rhythm to late-summer living that I look forward to every year, even as the season shifts. It’s in the balance of productivity and leisure, of savoring and preparing. This is the month where I breathe a little deeper, daydream a little more, and let myself embrace the slowness before the calendar fills again with fall weddings and holiday festivities.
So this August, I’ve chosen to romanticize the season in the simplest of ways. I’m treating the last of summer like a love letter to myself—an intentional pause, filled with beauty, presence, and ease. Because when the days begin to slip away faster, I want to know I lived them fully, even if only within the walls of my own home.
What August Has Felt Like So Far
There’s a reason late-summer always feels like it belongs in a story. It carries the same mood as those novels and shows that capture the essence of a season—long drives with the windows down, golden sunsets that linger just a little longer than expected, the kind of evenings where time feels suspended. But as much as I love the coming-of-age lens of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I’ve realized that there’s a beauty in living out a “grown-up version” of that narrative. It’s not about first crushes or fleeting romances anymore; it’s about finding ways to fall in love with your life exactly as it is right now.
For me, that means cherishing the small but meaningful moments that make August feel unforgettable. Sometimes it’s slipping into a flowy sundress just because the day calls for something breezy and beautiful. Other times it’s gathering my family for an evening walk to catch the sunset, or indulging in a late-night ice cream run when the weather feels too warm to stay indoors. When loved ones are in town, those simple get-togethers become the very memories that give this season its glow.
I think what resonates most with me now is the idea that romance isn’t always about someone else—it’s about the way we choose to engage with our world. The grown-up summer love story isn’t necessarily about a person, but a mindset: choosing to see the golden hour glow on your front porch as just as special as a Mediterranean coastline, or a home-cooked meal as just as memorable as dining out. It’s about weaving beauty into the life you already live, and realizing that the magic of summer doesn’t fade with age—it simply evolves.
And perhaps that’s the truest way to romanticize late summer: to remember that while seasons pass, the ability to notice, to savor, and to create joy for ourselves is timeless. This version of August isn’t a story of first love, but of a deeper kind of love—the kind that lasts when everything else slows down.
A Quieter Home
This August carries its own kind of anticipation. Both of my kids are still home, but I know that in just a few weeks, life will look a little different with them heading off to college. Rather than leaning into sadness, I’m choosing to soak in this season with more intention—lingering over family dinners, saying yes to spontaneous ice cream runs, and inviting loved ones over just because the nights are too pretty not to gather. These moments feel less like endings and more like the start of a new rhythm.
In many ways, it’s refreshing. I find myself enjoying the mix of old routines and new possibilities, knowing that this stage of motherhood is simply evolving. The days still feel full—of laughter, of conversation, of the ordinary magic that happens when everyone is under one roof—but there’s also a sense of excitement for the chapters we’re all about to step into.
So instead of dwelling on what’s changing, I’m leaning into what’s here right now: the sweetness of late summer, the joy of family nearby, and the opportunity to make August feel like a season worth celebrating. It’s less about holding on tightly and more about creating memories that will carry us all into what’s next.
When I think of late-summer living, I think of small rituals that make the season feel like its own love story. It’s the time of year when the air is still warm enough for sundresses and sandals, yet the evenings carry just the faintest hint of change. I find myself leaning into that balance—still holding onto summer while quietly preparing for fall. That might look like setting the table outside with fresh flowers and candles, even if it’s just for a weekday dinner, or picking up peaches and tomatoes from the farmers’ market to make something simple and seasonal. Lately, I’ve been reaching for chic table accents, coastal art, or hand crafted candle holders, little details that instantly make even a casual meal feel like an occasion. These gestures don’t take much, but they transform the ordinary into something memorable.
Family and friends have always been at the heart of how I romanticize this time of year. There’s a certain charm in gathering loved ones for an outdoor dinner as the sun goes down, or planning a casual Sunday afternoon get-together where everyone lingers a little longer than expected. August has a way of reminding me that connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it can be as easy as a shared meal, a good conversation, or laughter that carries into the night. Those are the scenes I want to hold onto, the ones that make the season feel timeless.
Of course, late summer also carries a playful spirit, and I try to embrace it as much as possible. It’s in the spontaneous moments—saying yes to a drive for ice cream after dinner, grabbing a coffee and strolling through town, or deciding on a whim to watch the sunset at the lake. These little indulgences may not be extravagant, but they carry the same kind of magic as a vacation. They remind me that luxury isn’t always about travel or escape; sometimes it’s about leaning fully into where you are and allowing the season to feel special in its simplicity.
I also think of this time as an opportunity to refresh the home in subtle, seasonal ways. A bouquet of late-summer flowers on the counter, fresh linens in lighter tones, or even rearranging furniture to let in more light can shift the atmosphere. Recently, I’ve added linen shams, a knitted throw blanket, a signature candle, and it’s amazing how something so small can completely change the mood of a space. It feels like a way of marking the end of the season without rushing into fall—of honoring where we are right now. These little changes not only make my surroundings feel inspiring, but they also create an environment that encourages me to slow down and enjoy what’s left of summer.
Ultimately, August is about savoring. It’s about embracing the late afternoons that stretch lazily into golden evenings, about saying yes to connection and presence, and about weaving beauty into the everyday. When I look back, I know I won’t remember the to-do lists or the errands, but I will remember the glow of those sunsets, the taste of ripe fruit at the table, and the sound of my loved ones laughing nearby. That’s what late-summer living means to me: turning these fleeting weeks into something that feels timeless, a chapter of the year that carries its own kind of romance.
Source: Pottery Barn
As the calendar edges closer to September, I’ve realized that August is less about endings and more about perspective. It’s a month that invites me to pause, to notice, and to stretch out the present before everything speeds up again. In its own quiet way, late summer teaches me to appreciate the glow in between seasons—the long evenings, the slower mornings, the beauty of simply being where I am. After a much-needed couples trip, I’ve returned home with a renewed sense of ease, carrying that same energy into these final summer weeks. There’s something powerful about learning to celebrate this pause instead of rushing ahead, about finding richness in the subtle details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
So when I think about how I want to carry this season forward, it’s not with a sense of finality but with a renewed commitment to presence. I want to keep romanticizing the ordinary, even as life grows busier again. Fall and winter weddings are right around the corner, and with them comes the excitement of returning to a season of beautiful celebrations and artistry. But August has reminded me that beauty doesn’t always need to be chased—it can be cultivated, right here. That is the gift of late-summer living: it shows us that luxury isn’t always loud or extravagant, but often soft, fleeting, and woven into the life we’re already living.
To stay updated on my life and see what the next season is shaping up to look like for me, you can follow along on Instagram and TikTok, where I share the behind-the-scenes, the beauty, and everything in between.
