Summer is the best time of the year to roll up your sleeves and tackle big home improvement projects. The warm weather makes many tasks like landscaping and installing new windows easier. You won’t have to battle the elements, so your projects will go much more smoothly with fewer weather-related delays. If you’ve saved most of your vacation days for the summer, you’ll also have more free time to coordinate with contractors or do the work yourself. If you have kids who are home from school, they can even help you cross some projects off of your to-do list.
Need some help deciding which projects to take on first? Here are six summer home improvement ideas that will upgrade your home and increase its value without breaking the bank.
1. Paint your home
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Fifteen percent of homeowners don’t like the color of their house. If you’re one of them, now is a great time to repaint your home. Exterior paint dries best in warm weather, so you may get a better result if you put up a fresh coat during the summer rather than fall or winter.
As for what color to pick, neutrals like white, brown, and gray tend to be the most popular choices. But you can also make your home stand out by painting it a more vibrant hue like blue, green, or light yellow.
2. Build an outdoor kitchen
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An outdoor kitchen is a perfect place to entertain and can take your summer pool parties and barbeques up a notch. Installing one is also more affordable than you think. Outdoor kitchens start at just $5,000, which is much less than the cost of a real interior kitchen.
Building your outdoor kitchen yourself means that you can customize it however you want. You can keep things simple by installing a grill and fridge, or add extras like a sink, pizza oven, griddle, or smoker.
3. Install new windows
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If you have old, drafty windows, you may be losing up to 30% of your heat and air conditioning, which can cause your electric bills to skyrocket. Depending on what type of windows you have now, you could save hundreds of dollars per year just by replacing them. New windows are much more energy-efficient, so they’ll keep the cold air in and reduce your total cooling costs.
4. Update your bathroom
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Summer is not only a great time to complete outdoor home improvement projects—but it’s also the best season for tackling interior updates like bathroom renovations. Remodeling your bathroom can create a lot of debris if you need to haul out your old bathtub, cabinets, and toilet to the dumpster, but this is much easier to do in warm weather. You’ll also be able to use outdoor amenities like poolside showers during the reno, which makes going without a functioning bathroom less of an inconvenience.
Although summer is an ideal time for a full-scale renovation, you don’t have to rip everything out to give your bathroom a fresh look. Painting the cabinets, installing a new countertop, and swapping out the faucet are great ways to update your bathroom if you’re on a budget.
5. Renovate your kitchen
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If you’ve been thinking about renovating your kitchen, summer is the perfect time to do it. Remodeling your kitchen is one of the best ways to increase your home’s value. It’s not unheard of to get a 100% return on the cost of your renovation. Redoing your kitchen will also increase your enjoyment of the space, improve its functionality, and give your family a beautiful place to gather. Warm weather means you’ll be able to cook most of your meals on the grill, so you won’t have to deal with the hassle of setting up a temporary kitchen.
If you need some inspiration, here are a few things you can do to upgrade your space.
- Install new countertops. Even if you have older cabinets and appliances, installing a granite or quartz countertop will give your kitchen a sleek, updated look.
- Replace your appliances. New appliances not only look great but are also more energy-efficient. Upgrading your appliances could save you over $100 per year on your power bill.
- Paint your cabinets. If you can’t afford to replace your cabinets, repainting them is a great way to freshen them up. Go neutral by painting them gray or white, or choose a trendy color like navy blue or sea green to add a fun accent to your kitchen.
6. Landscape your yard
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Landscaping is one of the easiest, most affordable ways to increase your home’s curb appeal and value. Adding a few flower beds and trees to your front yard only takes a few hours and can boost your home’s value by as much as fifteen percent. Even if you’re not planning to sell your home soon, landscaping is still worthwhile—it can beautify your yard and make it a more relaxing, enjoyable space for your family.
Although you can complete many of the summer home improvement projects on this list yourself, hiring a contractor will ensure that the work gets done right the first time. Big projects like installing new windows or kitchen countertops can be challenging if you don’t have much construction experience. If you need help making your dreams for your home a reality, call us today for a free quote.
