Well, summer is officially here. While you could be thinking of going to Florida, the beach HQ of the country, know that there are a hundred and one places to visit in and around the country all summer long. Top of the list is Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Its show-stopping mix of hot spring and geysers are tough to beat. Then how about visiting Michigan’s car-free tourist destination in Mackinac Island. You’d undoubtedly be thrown back in time heading to that prized port.
But the adventure calling (and with the breathtaking display of fireworks this Fourth of July) can be just the icing on the cake. Even if you engage in a month-long travel-fest to satisfy your wanderlust (which is unlikely), you’re bound to come home. Ultimately, you’ll realize that your precious abode is the place where you’ll be spending most of the summer.
Making sure it’s summer-ready is, therefore, wise. And what better way to do it than give it a shot on weekends.
The good news is getting your real estate ready for summer isn’t exactly a tall order. For starters, your goal should be to make the most of your lawns and space outside. With lazy days ahead, completing proven-and-tested projects should be most rewarding with the sun high up on the sky.
Build a Tree Bench
Indeed, no poem is as lovely as a tree. So don’t let those cool shades turn useless. With summer packing heat, finding a nice cool spot is a bonus. And why not? The air outside is a lot purer than those you enjoy indoors. You have more oxygen in your air outside, but tons of indoor pollution can sabotage indoor air. We’re talking about fungal spores, smoke, and a host of chemicals (paint, varnishes).
Plus, you need not crank the AC to get the cool summer breeze outside. So, a good way for you to enjoy all the benefits of the outdoors is by building a tree bench. You can use wooden materials to make your bench look like it’s part of the tree. When it’s done, everyone should be having a good time lounging on the bench with all their gadgets.
Create an Outdoor Cooking Site
Think of the many advantages of taking on an outdoor kitchen project this summer. To boot, outdoor kitchens take a timely cut off your utility bills. With everyone enjoying their cooking and dining outside, the AC won’t have to work double-time to keep the house cool.
Take note that cooking itself spreads a lot of heat, making your indoors toastier than it has to be. When you broil, bake, roast, or fry foods in your indoor kitchen, you let the temperature of your house rise several notches higher. Put the heat of the summer sun in the picture, and your air conditioning should need more energy to work overtime. In short, your monthly energy bill shoots up.
Not only is an outdoor kitchen perfect for entertaining guests, but it can also save you a lot of precious dollars. Instead of going to restaurants that can put a damper on your savings, you can start your version of excellent patio cooking and dining right where you are in your backyard.
Transform Your Backyard into a Kid’s Playground
Are you worried about your children playing so many online games and not socializing? Then why not build them a playground right in your backyard? That can indeed be spot on for them.
If you have space, why not build a mini basketball court? Or, for that matter, how about a softball yard? If you want a more stately game, horseshoes, croquet, and bocce should be timely. When you do, you can have your backyard ready for other kids to chime in on the fun.
Grow Your Own Fruits and Veggies
There’s a chasm of difference between eating fresh-from-the-store tomatoes and those picked from your backyard. You really can’t beat the quality of fruits and veggies grown from home. Add the tangy flavor of newly-picked blueberries, and you know growing your produce is the way to go.
With the sun showing its full strength, there should be no better time than these days. You have to strategize right to make the most of your yard, no matter how small. An excellent way to overcome the shortcomings of a small yard is to plant vertically, or better yet, explore vertical hydroponic farming.
Put Landscape Lighting to Light Your Way
Nothing makes a place more magical at night than with lights. So a good project for you this summer is to spread the wonder of beautiful lights. You can start by illuminating your front walkway. That can certainly add a great measure of security and safety.
How about stonewalls and trees? You only need to look at a couple of garden wedding pictures to know how jaw-dropping the right lights can be. That way, you turn your midsummer nights into stunning love affairs.
With these ideas, you can enhance your home’s appearance. At the same time, you can be ready for the summer heat.
Meta title: Beating the Heat: Weekend Home DIYs to Prepare for Summer
meta desc: Summer brings a lot of heat. But it can be a glorious opportunity. Learn how you can enhance the summer that everyone finds the most enjoyable time.
