Summer is the perfect season to spend as much time outside as possible. Why not tackle a few projects while you’re at it? That way you can add value to your home and increase your enjoyment of your outdoor space at the same time.
Let’s take a look at eight totally doable special projects to complete this summer.
Plant an Edible Garden
Maximize your outdoor space by cultivating edible plants. Depending on where you live, you can successfully grow many different types of herbs, vegetables, and even fruits. Berries, including blackberries and raspberries, tend to bloom in the summer months in the north especially, and citrus trees flourish in the south.
Choose your location for your garden beds or planters carefully, depending on how much sunlight the plants need. Be sure to enjoy the delicious payoff of your hard work!
Refinish or Stain Your Deck
If your deck is starting to look dull, now is an excellent time to give it a facelift. You’ll be amazed at how transformative it is for the look of your entire exterior. It isn’t just about appearances either.
Staining or refinishing can help protect the integrity of the wood, which will save you a lot of money down the road.
Install a Gravel or Stone Patio
Especially if you have a large yard, you can maximize the amount of outdoor living space by putting in an additional patio. The easiest way to do this is using stone or gravel. It isn’t a quick project, as you’ll need to level the ground and carefully lay your materials, but it is well worth it.
A great place to put an additional patio is off of any current deck that you have. Or install it underneath a large tree that provides plenty of shade.
Add a Fire Pit
Especially if you live somewhere cold, adding a fire pit can significantly extend the number of days you get to enjoy outdoors. Visit a home improvement store, and you’ll see that there are tons of options for fire pits for all kinds of yards and surfaces, including gas-powered, which saves you the trouble of firewood and ash.
Build a Tree Bench
You can add some serious charm and character to your yard by building a hexagonal or octagonal bench around a tree. This is particularly the case if the tree is already a centerpiece of your yard.
This project requires careful planning and measuring, but it’s well worth it for the beauty and tranquility it adds.
Create a Tranquil Fountain or Fairy Garden
If you like to enjoy your morning cup of coffee or evening glass of wine in your backyard, adding a fountain or fairy garden can give you additional serenity for your quiet time. The ambient noise is peaceful with a fountain and helps drown out any traffic or neighborhood sounds.
You can dig a fountain into the ground, or you can buy a simple one made from plastic or concrete and just fill it and plug it in.
DIY Privacy Fencing
This project is undoubtedly more major, but it’s well worth it. Putting in a fence adds tremendous value to your home. The nice thing about doing it yourself isn’t just the savings, but you can do it just a little at a time.
You can also customize it according to your yard, adding taller fencing where you need more privacy and even attaching lights or planters.
Create Shade with a Pergola or Canopy
If you live in a very sunny environment, extra shade is a must. You can purchase a kit to build your own pergola from a home improvement store or download plans and design it yourself.
Alternatively, you can have a canopy installed (even a retractable canopy) over a porch or other outdoor sitting area.
Either way, it will provide not only shade but also some weather protection.