Got the summer renovation itch? The builders are all booked up so you’ll have to scratch it yourself. These quick jobs all benefit from longer, drier days.
1. Swap out heavy curtains
Black-out blinds might be a must for summer bedrooms, but in living areas you want to diffuse bright light, not block it entirely.
Cool Danish brand Color & Co divide their bamboo roller blinds into four categories depending on how much light they let through. IKEA-style instructions are included and installation should only take a day.
2. Paint your front door
Put your faith in the forecast and dig out the sample pots on any day that looks particularly promising. I’ve just done my door in a gorgeous foggy green, which has given it all an instant lift.
Remove any hardware, scrape off flaky old paint and apply a primer before you reach for the roller.
3. Pressure wash the patio
Think your paving is in passable condition? Prepare to be humbled by the pressure washer.
Gushing water and cold weather don’t mix, so summer is the time to magic a year’s worth of mystery muck from drives, decks and patios.
Hire from the Library of Things if you’d rather not call in the experts, but don’t be tempted to hose down the house – you’ll spring leaks and possibly smash a couple of windows while you’re at it.
4. Steam clean the sofa
It’ll make you feel like a grinning loon on a shopping channel, but steaming your upholstery is the best way to revive anything without removable covers.
Spot clean any stains before going at it and then leave in a well-ventilated space to dry. If you’ve still got a little left in the tank then tackle the carpets, too.
5. Call in the window cleaners
The sunnier days have probably revealed a mass of smears on the glazing, even if your brain has graciously filtered them out.
Schedule a window clean now, as this one is time sensitive – heavy rainfall rules out autumn, while a winter cleaning risks frost and freezing.
.png?w=600)
