14 To-Dos to Make the Most of Summer

Creating a summer want-to-do list is a great way to make sure you make time for whatever you want to do prior to the year slips by. You can probably think of lots of things to add to your list that involve outings, such as spending the day at the beach, going to a baseball game, jumping in a lake or ingesting a lobster roll at your favorite clam shack — but what about entertaining things you can do without leaving home? Think about adding these 14 ideas.

Streeter & Associates, Inc..

1. Photograph your residence. Years from today, if you still reside in your home or have moved on to a different place, it can be rewarding to have a few mementos of your home life as it is today. Simply take a few shots of the exterior from throughout the street and each room inside, plus any particular details, such as your kids ‘ height marks on a door frame or the view from the favourite window.

See how to shoot better photos of your Property

Wettling Architects

2. Set the stage for a staycation. A couple of days off at home in summer can be sweeter if you have taken the time to stock your home and patio with summer essentials. Clean up those deck chairs and treat yourself for a few fluffy new towels or cushions, a pile of books and your favorite icy drinks.

Find your summer patio design

Moving Home To Roost

3. String a hammock up . Just looking at a hammock swaying gently in the breeze is relaxing — really lounging in a single is even better! If you do not have a pergola to hang yours from, look for a hammock that accompanies its very own freestanding framework.

Annie McElwain Photography

4. Try out a fresh take on the guest book. Take a snapshot of each person who visits your home this summer, and tack all the photos up on your refrigerator or on a particular bulletin board. The growing jumble of photos will be like an ever-changing artwork display — and by the end of the summer, you’ll have enough to fill a record.

Carlos Delgado Architect

5. Add a summery exterior feature. An outdoor shower, pizza oven, fire pit, movie screen … any or all them can transform your outdoor space. And the beauty is, the majority of these jobs can be completed on many different budgets.

Clayton&Little Architects

6. Transform your garage or drop into usable space. Why let that garage or drop just sit, when it could be reimagined as an art studio, a workshop or a Ping-Pong room? Let your plans to your distance motivate you to have it cleared out and refreshed, so you can start enjoying it before the summer is over.

Dara Rosenfeld Design

7. Try out a nonlawn game. No lawn? Set up a game of bocce or pétanque on a gravel court or driveway.

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

8. Decorate with flea market finds. Freshen up your home on a budget by hunting at summer flea markets and yard sales for bargain finds. Spruce up your finds with a lick of paint or new knobs.

Get tips for creating your own classic style

Alex Amend Photography

9. Try out an upcycling project. Look at your cast-offs having an eye on repurposing, and you may be able to create something completely new without spending a dime. From the space shown here, an old boogie board tops a dining table, and camp blankets cover cushions and chairs. Start with materials you currently have and search for job ideas that appeal to you.

Step-by-step DIY jobs for indoors and out

Big Girls Small Kitchen

10. Preserve the harvest. The next time you come to a bounty of peak-of-season best create — if it’s from your own garden or a farm stand — get sufficient to place some by for later. Canning is a favorite alternative for keeping fruits, but when boiling jars isn’t your idea of fun on a hot summer day, consider freezing your haul instead. Just spread out berries or sliced peaches on a baking sheet and freeze them so that they do not stick together, then dump them into labeled freezer bags.

Annette Tatum

11. Camp out in the backyard. Preparing the tent, roasting s’mores over the fire pit and telling stories from the dark is equally entertaining for little ones if you are deep in the mountains or in your own backyard. In fact, even in the event that you don’t want to sleep outdoors, tents and tepees create great temporary summer playhouses for kids.

Simple to Beautiful Tepees and Tents

Alykhan Velji Design

12. Finally print all those pictures and set up a gallery wall. Ah, the electronic age. If you are anything like me, almost all of your photos exist only on your computer’s hard drive. Commit to making a change that summer by selecting your favorites to publish. Fill out an entire wall with frames for an enjoyable, eclectic look.

View gallery wall ideas for every character

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

13. Take on a major remodeling job. In case you’ve been planning a kitchen remodeling job, summer can be a great time to dive in. After all, when else would setting up a temporary exterior kitchen really seem fun?

Justine Hand

14. Simplify … and then only unwind. Streamline your possessions and reduce clutter from your life to make more space for what you really want to do.

Take the first step into decluttering

Tell us : What is on your summer want-to-do list?

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