Planning on home renovations this summer? Don’t let them steal your sunshine! Here are some easy, yet effective DIY summer home projects that you can complete in less than a week—perfect if you’re tight on time and want to keep your budget in check.

Five Easy DIY Summer Home Projects

Indoor Summer Home Projects

House Cleanup: Cleaning your house takes teamwork and planning. And you can easily tidy up your home in a week if you get the whole family involved on a room-by-room cleanup schedule. One day each week, pick a room (or have everyone clean their own bedrooms) and tackle it as a family. You can end each cleanup with fun rewards like taking everyone for ice cream or going to a movie.

Update Light Fixtures: Still have the same light fixtures as when you moved into your house? Time for an upgrade! Major changes may require the help of an electrician or create the need to replace drywall, but there are some easy fixes you can make in just a few days.

• Paint your existing light fixtures with a modern color and finish. (Ex. Go from dated brass to a sleek matte black or white.)
• Add new lampshades with a modern shape and color.
• Buy a conversion kit that makes it simple to go from recessed lighting to a hanging fixture.

Create a Reading Area: Having a dedicated space in your home for reading and relaxing is one of the smartest investments you can make. To start, you’ll need to find the ideal spot, somewhere that’s somewhat secluded and quiet, one that you’re not otherwise using. Usually, corners, nooks, or alcoves work great for this. Even an unused closet would be perfect. Once you have the space picked out, it’s all about making it comfortable. Buy pillows and blankets and add in some soft lighting. You can even make the lights dimmable so the space can work as a reading room or a nap area!

Outdoor Summer Home Projects

Build a Garden Bed: All of these summer home projects are not limited to the indoors. If you have the yard space (or even a small patio), it’s time to put in that garden you’ve always talked about! Once you measure out the area you have to work with, it’s easy to find a pre-made wooden frame to build your raised garden in. (They’re available and pre-treated at most home improvement stores.) Then a couple trips to the garden section for soil, seeds, and fertilizer and you’re well on your way to homegrown produce or beautiful flowers.

Pressure Wash Exterior: This one will only take a day or two, but it makes a big difference. Many home improvement stores rent out pressure washers, which use high-powered streams of water to blast away dirt and grime. You can use it on your house siding, sidewalks, decks, and other durable surfaces that need cleaning. While it’s fun and oddly satisfying to use a pressure washer, it’s important that you take safety precautions. Use eye protection and heavy-duty gloves, and start the process by spraying a detergent, which will make cleaning easier and reduce the risk of damage to your home.