Preparing Your Home for Summer ( Guest Post)

With summer almost here, you already start to dread the hot days when even five minutes in the sun get you sweating. However, summer is a perfect excuse to do a small home makeover and prepare for the days when you will spend a lot of time in the shade. This is not anything expensive and some remodeling you can do on your own as a DIY project.

•        Clean your backyard

Usually, many tend gardens in the spring, but backyards stay quite neglected until late in the summer when you declutter them in the scorching sun. To avoid something so uncomfortable, start today. Declutter the mess made from foliage and overgrown plants, remove everything that doesn’t belong there and take a good look around.

There are several simple and not too demanding things you can do to create a gorgeous spot to enjoy summer evenings, entertain guests or create a vegetable garden. Start with assessing the state of your fence and fix it where needed. If you have a wooden one, consider painting it in a different color since this will give a different tone to your yard.

Add some awnings for shade and potted plants to cool the temperature down. If you don’t have grass, consider turning the ground into a lawn. One of the elegant and easy things to build is a fire pit. It will take you several hours to do so but during the summer nights, this will be the main attraction. Fruit trees are always a nice addition and you can choose from the variety of dwarf ones.  

•        Create a shade

Curtains are a nice way to obscure enough light so you aren’t blinded by the sun. If your home faces the sunny side completely, then consider installing shutters or shades. These will help you limit the amount of sun that comes inside and also keep your home cooler.

If you have a balcony or patio, create a temporary shading solution with a canvas or sunshade. This will also be good for the plants which you should definitely have on your balcony since they refresh the space. Check the sealants on windows and doors so the cool air wouldn’t escape out, and increase the energy consumption for your cooling unit. This outer space is also a great spot for the seating set where you can dine, relax and even work.

•        Clean your air conditioning unit

Regular cleaning and maintenance of your air conditioning unit are important to preserve the health of you and your family. Dust, dirt, and bacteria collect in the units over time and you have to make sure that they don't contaminate the air in your home.

As pointed out by the Climacool company: “A poorly installed or maintained system will not provide a quality heating and cooling service.” Additionally, the neglected units could create higher energy consumption and increase your bills. You should so a comprehensive servicing once a year and always before the period you know you will use it a lot. Clean the outer shell regularly with antibacterial agents and wash the inner filters with water at least once a month.

•        Change the décor

If you think that it’s time to make a few changes to redefine your space, then certainly do so before the summer. Spring is an ideal time to start the big cleaning of the house and renovations. You can remove some things, like blankets from the sofa or a thickly woven rug, and replace them with lighter versions.

Try some Wabi-Sabi decorative suggestions since it’s all about the natural and organic shapes and in trend this year. Paint the walls if necessary or add something new to the mix, like a detail here and there.

A new painting or mirror can mean a lot if you are not ready for any bigger changes. Fresh flowers in the vase or flowery details on the curtains, cushions or walls are also trendy this year, as are earthy tones and natural materials.

•        Try eco-friendly ideas

Preparing for the summer is an ideal time to join the global movement dedicated to saving our environment with simple eco-friendly ideas. If you have a garden, use solar lamps to light the path to the house. You can use these for the backyard, as well as candles in the enclosed candle holders, maybe just a simple jar.

Instead of using the water from the waterworks for irrigation, place a large barrel to collect rainwater since spring is the perfect time for that. All the foliage you collected can become compost which is a great fertilizer for the plants. Plant some wildflowers to attract the natural pollinators like butterflies and bees. If there are birds around your home, build them feeders and houses.

Lastly

There are so many things a person can to before the summer so they can spend that period in a more relaxing manner. Heat can be quite a nuisance for those who have to go outside or do something. That is why preparing your home in the spring will give you an ideal space to cool over the summer.

 

Audrey Taylor was born in San Francisco, and moved to Adelaide at the age of five. Marketer

researcher and social media manager on hold, full - time mommy of a cheerful two-year- old.
Graduated from Queensford college, worked in a couple of marketing agencies across Australia,
eager to learn more about business and share her experiences. Traveled across the Europe. Her
hobbies include: home decor, fashion, travel, music, old movies.