Six DIY Projects You Can Tackle This Summer

Are you looking for some exterior improvement projects that you can do this summer to add value and curb appeal to your home? Here are six suggestions for DIY projects to accomplish exactly that.

1. Add mulch to your flower beds.

Source: The Mulch Depot

Mulch may not be the most attractive of DIY projects, but there is no denying its long-term effects on the state of your yard. Laying down one- to three-inch layers of mulch on your flower beds will spruce things up as well as choke out weeds and give your flowers a much more consistent source of moisture. What isn’t appealing about a well-kept yard with vibrant, growing plants?

If you’re not sure how to prep for or use it, Angie’s List has a few tips on both as well as maintenance once you’ve started using it.

2. Repaint the front of your house.

Source: CentraPro Painters

Can you remember the last time the outside of your house was painted? Then it might be time for a fresh coat. Whether you stick with the old color or pick out something new, your home’s exterior will look fresher and cleaner than it has in years.

Added bonus? A new coat of paint will help protect the outside of your home from being damaged by UV rays.

3. Remodel that front door.

Feel like it’s time for your front door to have a door remodel? Warmer temperatures make summer a perfect time to do it without freezing the rest of your family out of the house. Whether you are looking to add a decorative insert or replaced the dated one that is already there, this simple project can help the front of your home make a statement rather than make people shrug when they walk by.

Not sure where to find one? Start with some of these amazing decorative door glass inserts.

4. Light up the night.

During daylight hours, it’s usually easy to see where you’re going. At night, however, the lack of natural light can make it difficult to see where the driveway is, where walkway ends and the lawn begins, or where the front steps are at. To make it safer and easier to enter the front of your home at night, install low-voltage landscape lighting to illuminate these spots.

Or, if you want to ensure your front yard is visible and appealing in the nighttime hours, use them to highlight prominent landscaping features.

5. Seal the deck.

Source: Seal Wiz

Attractive outdoor spaces add tons of value to your home. One of the most sought-after is a well-maintained outdoor wooden deck area. While it is a beautiful feature, it needs to be resealed every year or two in order to protect the wood from sun and water damage. Neglect your deck, and it will become an eyesore before you know it.

Fortunately, it’s easy to find what you need to do the work yourself. Feel like tackling it, but you’re not sure how to get the job done? Look over DIY Network’s guide to cleaning and sealing a deckfor a list of materials and instructions.

6. Add some shutters.

Source: Shade & Shutter

Shutters have both practical and design value for the exterior of your home. Pick shutters that matches the house’s exterior style, but do not forget they need to be the correct size to protect your windows when Mother Nature throws her worst at them. Paint your shutters a color that compliments the rest of the exterior and adds to the overall visual impact of the outside of your home.