At this time of year, you might be wondering about how to get the most out of your home and your backyard all at once. Comfort is king, so you want to ensure that you don’t get too warm. You also want to use that beautiful natural light to its fullest, while keeping your bedroom cool and dark when you want to sleep.
Here are some tips to make sure your home and garden are summer ready.
Invest In Sheer Curtains
If you want to control the natural light and heat throughout the day, you can’t go wrong with sheer curtains. A sheer curtain can be placed over a door or large window. It’s classy and beautiful, but it’s most effective during the summer months when you get to make use of all of that wonderful natural light.
Rather than blocking the light, the curtain diffuses it through the room. However, it still stops anyone from being able to see into your home. Not only this, but sheer curtains also soften the light and heat coming from the outside. So, if you want to stay cool, these curtains can help you.
Of course, sheer curtains won’t do you much good in the mornings or the night, unless you enjoy waking up at the crack of dawn. It’s also a good idea to get some black out blinds for when you’re asleep. This keeps your room nice and dark.
Refresh the Paint
Some people like to refresh their homes more often than others, but the summer is always a good time to refresh your paint job. You can work with the windows open and, thanks to the long days, you can work for longer in natural light.
If you want a paint job to reflect the summer weather, light and bright colors are the way to go. You can still invest in warmer tones, as these can add a lovely terracotta feeling to the room as they react to the natural light, but you don’t necessarily need dark and cozy at this time of year.
Hard Floors and Rugs
If you live in a cooler climate, you likely appreciate how carpets keep your home warm and cozy, and your feet will thank you as well. But in the summer months, you might prefer something that can cool you down.
Most hard floors, such as tiles, lino, laminate, and hardwood, would work for this. Tiles are especially effective at keeping homes cool, which is why you’ll see them more often in Spain. But if you want to be comfortable all year round, it might be an idea to invest in hard floors and rugs.
The hard floor is nice in summer, and the rugs can be added or moved around as the days get cooler in the winter. Hard floors are also easy to brush or sweep clean.
Outdoor Structures
Ideally, you’ll be able to spend a lot more time outside in the summer, so you can enjoy the weather. This is the perfect time to level up your outdoor space. If you have a lot of exterior space, you can put it to great use with some additions to your property.
Arguably the most common outdoor structure is the garden shed. A shed can store a lot of outdoor tools and equipment. Some sheds are very simple and are just a structure, but you can also connect your shed to your home utilities to get more use out of it.
Whether you just use your shed for storage or you want to use it as a workshop, make sure that it’s in good condition. A shed should keep everything safe from the weather conditions outside, ideally all year round. This means that it should be waterproof and windproof. Keep it properly maintained and your shed should last for years.
But there are other structures you can build outside. For example, a garden room can be as equipped and insulated as any room in your house. Some people build larger structures that can act as small homes in their own right, which is ideal for guests or family members who want a little more privacy and independence. Garden rooms can be used for anything you like, including gyms, offices, or summer homes to relax in.
On the other hand, structures like greenhouses and dedicated workshops are designed for a specific purpose, and they fulfill that very well. In order to get the most out of your backyard structures, look after them and make sure they’re needed for your lifestyle. If you have a greenhouse but rarely grow anything in there, the space might be better used for something else.
Outdoor Dining and Relaxing
No backyard would be complete without somewhere to sit, cook, and eat food. After all, you might as well take advantage of the summer by having a killer barbecue at some point.
First, you will need somewhere flat and stable. Wooden decking would work for somewhere to sit and relax, but it isn’t ideal for cooking food. If you’re cooking with charcoal, sparks or falling charcoal can cause a fire. A paved area would work much better for your grill or barbecue.
You should also invest in some shade for your garden. Even if you love sitting in the sun and soaking up those rays, not everyone will. Some people get too hot very quickly or they might be prone to burning, so a shaded area will make sure that everyone is comfortable in your backyard.
Water Features
There is nothing more relaxing than paddling in a pool or sitting by a fountain in summer. If you have the space, a swimming pool is a fantastic way to level up your backyard. Otherwise, a smaller paddling pool or another water feature like a pond or fountain might be more your style.
However, if you want a water feature in your backyard, make sure that it’s safe for children and animals. Always supervise them in and around water as it doesn’t take long for tragedy to strike.
Caring for Your Plants
You can’t have a garden without plants. Even if you don’t have much space, you can still bring some greenery to your backyard with potted plants and flowers. Plants are beautiful and they’re good for you.
Unfortunately, for some people, plants and lawns mean hard work. If you enjoy gardening, you might like the opportunity to take on a project and have fun in your garden. Otherwise, you might look for other options.
A lawn is a classic option for a good reason. It’s relatively easy to look after, it’s attractive, and it’s practical. Some people like an ornamental lawn, but if you have children or dogs, a lawn might be an ideal place for them to run around and play in relative safety. You can always use lawn care services to keep the grass nice and well-controlled.
Another option might be to have a meadow or wildflower section of your garden. This is a great option if you want to encourage a little biodiversity in your local area. Pollinating insects will appreciate the flowers and there’s something so pretty about the imperfection and wildness of a wildflower garden.
But if you do enjoy gardening, you can get some great practical use out of your outside space by growing a vegetable garden. Again, there are even options for smaller spaces, as herbs can grow quite happily in pots.
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