Freshen Up The Outside and Inside Of Your Home By Following These Tips

Regular maintenance is essential if you want to preserve, and even increase, the value of your home. Here's a good rule of thumb: when the seasons change, take the time to spruce up the outside and inside of your home and make all necessary repairs. Now that the weather is heating up, it's time to get your home ready for the summer. We've got some tips for you and a checklist that is simple to follow.

1. Spiff Up The Front Door

Your front door should convey the impression that your home is well maintained. If your front door is looking shabby, give it a new coat of paint or stain and apply a sealant. Clean all the transom windows and sidelights, inside and out. Replace the doorknocker if it looks old and worn, and be sure that your doorbell is in working order. Don't forget to add a fresh, new doormat to welcome your family and friends to your home.

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2. Give The Exterior A Facelift

Check out the front, back, and sides of your home to see what needs your attention. Make a list of items that should be addressed and get to work! For example, patch holes around the exterior of your home and replace missing trim. Fix loose siding, shingles, and roofing materials. Paint the exterior trim and siding, if applicable, so that your home looks well cared for, and if your home has shutters, don't forget to paint them, too.

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3. Tidy The Yard And Spruce Up The Landscaping

Give your lawn and garden some attention so that your front and back yards are beautiful all summer long. Remove all branches, twigs, and debris that have fallen on your property. Clean out the gutters or better yet, hire a reputable company to do it for you. Plant some shrubs in your yard and place some pretty containers with flowers on either side of your front door. Add some window boxes to your home for an additional pop of color, if you wish. For more advice from landscaping experts, read our article "How To Prepare Your Lawn And Garden For Spring And Summer."

4. Light Up The Outside

Proper lighting is essential for home security, and it makes your outdoor space more user-friendly at night. Install strategic, layered lighting that will provide added security and a warm, welcoming glow around the exterior of your home. Start with floodlights that distribute broad, even lighting across your yard and over the facade of your home. Place in-ground or low-voltage lights along paths or stairs to make it easier to move around safely when it is dark. Invest in some sconces or pendants to illuminate the front and rear entrances to your home. For the final touch, add accent lighting, otherwise known as up-lighting, to highlight your beautiful garden, your pool, or other special architectural features of your home.

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5. Create A New Outdoor Living Space

Extend your indoor living space to the outside of your home. Add an outdoor kitchen area where you can easily entertain and feed your guests during the warmer months of the year. To keep your family active and having fun all summer long, install a pool or sport court right in your own backyard. Want a peaceful place to relax and unwind? Refinish your deck or fix up your patio, then splurge on some new, comfy outdoor furniture and oversized, freestanding umbrellas that offer shade on a hot summer day. Or build a fireplace where you can roast marshmallows and spend time by the flickering firelight at night. 

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6. Ensure Your Family's Safety

Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, then test them to see if they are working properly. Make sure you have flashlights with new batteries placed strategically around your home in case of a power outage during a summer storm. Swap out the old fire extinguisher in your kitchen with a new one. Replace any burned-out light bulbs inside your home so that hallways and rooms are well-lit. 

7. Be Energy Efficient

Clean or replace dirty air filters and service your HVAC system so that it is operating properly and efficiently. Reseal windows, doors, and other openings and add insulation in the attic and crawl spaces to prevent air conditioning from escaping your home throughout the hot summer months. Set your ceiling fan blades to spin counterclockwise so they push the air down, creating a cool breeze. Don't forget to clean the blades so they are not spreading dust in the air. 

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8. Let The Sun Shine In

Let the sun shine in by cleaning your windows and glass doors, inside and out. Take down your heavy drapes and replace them with window coverings in lightweight, breezy fabrics. Switch out your dark throw pillows and slipcovers with light-colored fabrics in your living and family rooms. Buy a new comforter or duvet cover to change the look of your bedroom when it is summertime. Another easy seasonal update: add colorful accessories to your entry console or coffee table.

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9. Freshen Up Your Walls

It's easy to make a space feel fresh with a new coat of paint. Choose a room or two in your home to brighten with a vibrant, cheery color or a crisp, bright white. Before you paint, patch holes and sand rough spots so that the surfaces you are painting are even and smooth. Test the colors you are considering by painting swatches on your walls and view them at different times of the day as the light changes so you can be sure the one you choose is right for your room.

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10. Clean Out The Garage

Get rid of old items in your garage that you don't use or need. To free-up floor space, add hooks to hang bikes and other large items on the wall. Install shelving or drawers to store smaller items in an organized way. Fix any cracks in the walls and repaint or reseal the garage floor.

11. Bring The Garden Indoors

Lift your spirits by cutting colorful flowers and putting them in vases around your home to make it cheery. For a calming aesthetic, place potted plants in pretty containers in your living space. Freshen up your decor with fabrics in soothing colors that reflect nature, such as ocean blue or forest green.

12. Brighten and Lighten Your Table

Transform your dining table during the summer months with pastel-colored plates, cups, and serving dishes. Add some light-colored linens and textured placemats in natural-looking materials, and don't forget the freshly cut flowers. 

13. Change Up Your Artwork

Bring a burst of summer to your home with artwork that feels joyous and uplifting. Enlarge and hang some of the photographs that you've taken of beautiful places you have visited. Or buy some affordable paintings that will brighten your day and lighten your mood.

14. Declutter and Reorganize

Decluttering will give you a sense of well-being and order in your life. Empty your kitchen cabinets and get rid of dishes, glasses, utensils, serving pieces, or small appliances that you don't use. Go through your closets and dressers and purge any items that you don't wear and donate them. Reorganize by storing your winter clothing in clear plastic boxes with a fragrant dryer sheet to keep everything smelling fresh. Then place your summer-weight items in your newly-sorted-out closets and drawers. 

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At Meridian Homes, we specialize in luxury remodeling and custom home building in the Washington, DC area. Our mission is to create exceptional residences that exceed expectations. Our highly personalized design process and careful management of every project have earned us a reputation over many years for outstanding client service and solid, beautiful craftsmanship. Contact us today to begin your custom home or remodeling project.