Bring the Martha Stewart Aesthetic to Your Summer: Recipes, Decor, and Entertaining Tips
Inside: Bring the Martha Stewart aesthetic to your summer with timeless decor, fresh summer recipes, cute crafts, and at-home entertaining ideas.
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Back in the ’90s, I couldn’t get enough of Martha. Her gorgeous magazine with its thick, matte pages was always on my coffee table. I’d sit glued to her TV show, mesmerized by the flower gardens, tree orchards, tablescapes, and perfectly baked pies (even though it always bugged me that she pronounced the “h” in herbs). Did I actually make most of it? Not really. But I was inspired. There was just something about her—her confidence, her iconic lifestyle, and the way she seemed to get more done before lunch than most of us could in a whole week.
She made me buy her cookware at K-Mart, dream of living in her white farmhouse in Turkey Hill, but most of all admire how she built a brand empire that was both elegant and down-home at the same time. She had this magic way of making the everyday feel elevated—and even now, I can recall the feeling of watching her show as I set a table or clip herbs I’ve grown from the garden.
So when I heard that the Martha Stewart aesthetic is officially having a moment again, I got a nostalgic thrill. The Martha Stewart summer style—calm, garden-inspired, and beautifully intentional—is trending everywhere. According to Pinterest, it’s shaping up to be the hot trend of this summer—with a whole new generation embracing the beauty of her simple, seasonal, well-styled living. Gen Z and even TikTok creators are picking up the vibe and making it their own.
What Is the Martha Stewart Aesthetic?
The aesthetic is a mix of country farmhouse charm, garden-fresh cooking, and classic home decor—rooted in nature, tradition, and thoughtful living. It blends elements we can all attain without a sprawling New York country estate, like:
- Fresh herbs and home-grown produce (from even a small backyard vegetable garden or patio containers)
- Vintage finds like silver trays or enamel bowls
- Tables layered with linen napkins and natural elements, like fresh flowers or citrus
- And of course, a sense of calm, order, and beauty in everyday routines
According to Pinterest’s recent summer trends report, searches for this nostalgic, elevated style are skyrocketing—especially around fresh summer recipes, cute summer crafts, and at-home entertaining.
Over the years, Martha has authored over 100 books that span everything from cooking and decorating to organizing and gardening. Her first book, Entertaining (published in 1982), made her a household name and is still iconic for its elegant photos and timeless party ideas. The Martha Manual remains a favorite for everyday tasks—organizing, setting tables, even basic home repairs—earning its reputation as a comprehensive life handbook. Fast-forward to today, Martha: The Cookbook (2024), has become a #1 New York Times Bestseller, compiling 100 of her most treasured recipes alongside personal stories and archival photos. And this spring, she returned to her roots in gardening with the newly released Martha Stewart’s Gardening Handbook (2025). Whether you’re planning a dinner party, starting a small garden, planning a wedding, or learning how to fold a fitted sheet, there’s a Martha book for that.
Martha-Inspired Summer Entertaining.
Martha’s empire started with farm to table cooking and simple hospitality. But you don’t need a farm or a magazine to create that same warmth!
Here’s how to bring that perfect Martha style to your summer dinner parties and gatherings:
1. Create Table Settings with a Vintage Twist.
Layer simple white dishes with linen napkins, scatter bud vases filled with garden blooms, and mix in one or two vintage finds—like your grandmother’s silverware or old candlesticks from a flea market.
Try using a natural fiber runner, rattan chargers, and a few sprigs of rosemary from the garden tied with twine for an extra Martha touch.
2. Fresh Summer Recipes to Channel Martha’s Style.
One of the biggest parts of the Martha Stewart aesthetic is her love of seasonal cooking and using fresh produce from her garden. Here are a few recipes that give a nod to her garden-to-table approach:
Asparagus, Mushroom, & Goat Cheese Frittata (A Healthy Brunch Recipe):
Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole (An Easy Overnight Breakfast Recipe):
Don’t forget to use some of your fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs in a refreshing drink, like a daily glass of green juice or summer detox drinks (cucumber mint water, anyone?). Or try other produce-forward drinks like citrus and herb iced teas or fruit-infused sparkling water.
Hugo Spritz Recipe: St. Germain Sparkling Summer Cocktail (A Delicious Way to Use Fresh Mint):
3. Simple Crafts & Special Touches for Martha-Style Entertaining.
Martha’s style has always included simple DIY elements—and you don’t need to be the queen of DIY projects to pull it off! A few easy ideas:
Nature-Inspired Crafts
- Mini flower arrangements in teacups or mason jars for each guest
- Citrus and herb ice cubes for cocktails or mocktails
- Floating flower bowls as simple, elegant centerpieces
- Pressed botanical art in thrifted frames
- Herb bundles tied with ribbon at each place setting or as part of a centerpiece
Table Decor & Place Settings
- Handwritten place cards tied with twine and a sprig of rosemary or lavender
- Pressed flower bookmarks or coasters as take-home favors
- Folded linen napkins with a tucked-in herb sprig or flower bud
- Mini cutting boards as chargers for a rustic tabletop feel
- Stamped name tags on kraft paper tied around cloth napkins or cutlery bundles
Even the simplest touch can elevate your gathering and make it feel more special.
Foodie DIY Touches
- Infused olive oil or vinegar in small bottles with handmade tags
- Jarred jams or pickled veggies as parting gifts (even store-bought with custom labels)
- Mini handwritten menu cards or tented recipe cards for dishes served
- Frozen fruit skewers for water pitchers or spritz cocktails
- Homemade herb butter wrapped in wax paper and tied with string
Cute Summer Crafts
- Painted terra cotta pots for herbs or succulents
- Hand-stamped cocktail napkins using rubber stamps and fabric ink
- Lemon or lavender sugar scrub jars for a spa-style favor
- Pressed flower candles made with simple wax kits
- Garden markers made from wooden spoons, popsicle sticks, or vintage silverware
Bonus Martha Touches.
Want to take it further? (Because Martha would.)
- Plant a vegetable or herb garden to harvest from (even if you only have room for container gardening.)
- Create some vignettes in the kitchen inspired by farmhouse cottage interiors (i.e. a basket of fresh veggies and fruit next to a beautiful cookbook, a rack of copper pots, or potted fresh herbs.) Even if you don’t have a full-blown farm cottage, you can still capture the charm with a few simple touches.
- Bonus points if you install a coop for a few backyard chickens.
more Timeless Aesthetic trends you might like
A Starter Kit for Martha-Inspired Living.
Inspired to live a little more like Martha? These handpicked pieces channel her timeless style:
Scroll through and click on the product to shop:
In Martha’s Spirit.
Martha’s entire philosophy has always been about slowing down, and finding joy in the everyday. She turned practical routines—like cleaning, gardening, preserving, baking, and setting a beautiful table, into popular hobbies. She shows that homemaking and domestic tasks don’t have to be drudgery, but if you do them well, they can bring a sense of purpose and pleasure to daily life. After all these years, I still find myself following Martha’s lead—making things a little prettier and a little more excellent, which makes my everyday life a lot more satisfying.
So whether you’re decorating with fresh flowers and natural textures, spending time puttering with herbs on the patio, or baking something seasonal just because it feels good, you’re carrying on that Martha spirit of intention and beauty.
And as Martha says, that’s a good thing.
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