Summer is a great time for home improvement projects and DIY updates around the house. Set some time (and money) aside this summer to give your home some TLC. Not only will it increase the overall value of your home, but little upgrades here and there can also save you a lot of money down the line.
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While some home improvements can be expensive, such as adding central air conditioning or remodeling an entire room of your house, there are more affordable projects that can give you the same effect for a much lower cost. Lumber costs are skyrocketing right now, so if your project calls for it, you’re going to want to plan ahead. Here are some simple, affordable home improvement projects to try this summer that won’t break the bank.
1. Declutter your home.
Organize your entire house if you really want to go all out, or pick a place in your home that needs it most and get to work. Decluttering doesn’t cost anything, and you can earn some money by selling items you no longer use. Plus, you can use your earnings toward other home repairs. “It costs nothing except a week or two of your time, and the ability to let go and part ways with unneeded clutter that no longer brings you or your home joy,” says Emilie Dulles lifestyle design expert and founder of Dulles Designs.
Your clutter is actually costing you money, and getting rid of things you don’t use can make a lot of room in your house and even give you ideas for other improvements. Because of the warm weather, summer is a good time to declutter and air out those oft-forgotten areas, like the garage, an outdoor shed, or basement, that tend to be used less during colder months.
2. Refresh your house with paint.
Summer is the perfect season for bigger paint projects. If you have areas in your home that you’ve been meaning to repaint, such as entire rooms or the exterior, summer is the time to do it—and a little paint could go a long way in transforming your space. The warm weather lets the paint cure properly and ensures that it will last longer. “I think painting is one of the best DIY projects because it can be easily corrected if you make any mistakes,” says Chicago-based real estate developer Bill Samuel. “It really has a huge impact on the overall space when you take your time to repair any blemishes and do a quality job.” Samuel says you can expect to pay between $15 to $50 per gallon; more expensive paints will usually cover the walls better and last longer. Dulles recommends painting parts of your home (or all of it) white to make it look bigger and brighter.
3. Check gutters.
This might not be the most fun or creative home improvement project, but it’s an important one to protect your home for the winter months ahead and against summer storms. “Winter, followed by a rainy spring, can take a toll on your gutters and downspouts,” says Bailey Carson, home expert at Angi, a digital company that helps people find professionals in their area for home projects. “If they’re ignored, you could end up needing to replace them altogether, or worse, dealing with foundation damage, interior flooding, driveway cracks, or landscape erosion.” The damage would end up costing you way more than cleaning your gutters, which costs an average of $160, ranging from $118 to $225. All you need (if you don’t have this equipment already) is a gutter cleaning attachment for your garden hose, a ladder, a bucket, a gutter scoop, and heavy-duty gloves. You could also buy a gutter guard to protect your gutters and prevent leaves from gathering in them—such as this gutter guard from The Home Depot that is currently on sale for $136.
Related: How to Clean Gutters Like a Pro
4. Spruce up outdoor areas.
Give your yard some attention, too—chances are, you’re probably spending a lot more time in it to enjoy the beautiful summer weather. While the cost of renovating your outdoor space varies depending on the project, there are simple DIY improvements you can make to elevate your backyard or front yard for a lot less. Commercial real estate investor and founder of Property Cashin, Maria Vaamonde suggests landscaping your front yard. “Gardens make homes more aesthetically pleasing, and they also can add to the property value. Summertime is the perfect time to plant perennials, a variety of beautiful-looking flowers that are low maint
enance,” says Vaamonde. She also suggests lupines and hydrangeas as other beautiful (and low-maintenance) additions to your garden.
Adding plants or flowers leading up the walkway to your front door can get you some instant curb appeal and liven up your front yard, says money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. You can do the same kind of sprucing up in your backyard to get rid of any overgrown or dead plants, trees, or shrubs, and add some patio furniture. You could also paint your patio furniture and make it look good as new. Hang some outdoor string lights to make your space a dreamy oasis perfect for hosting a backyard event.
5. Clean or replace AC filters.
Another not-so-fun but very important summer home improvement—cleaning or replacing the filters on your HVAC unit. Don’t worry: this one is quick and won’t take up as much time as cleaning your gutters. “Filters get dirty, especially if they haven’t been changed in six months,” says Rick Hoskins, home DIY expert and founder of FilterKing. Dirty filters can cause allergies by circulating dust, mold, and other allergens throughout your home when you have the AC on during the summer. All you have to do is find your AC and furnace vents, unscrew it, and clean or replace the filters. Hoskins suggests looking for filters with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 for optimal protection. The filters are fairly affordable, such as this two-pack air filter from The Home Depot that retails for $59.