9 Small DIY Projects to Tackle at Home This Summer

Looking to give your home a bit of a revamp this summer without taking on a full remodel? You’re in luck, as there are so many impactful DIY projects that you can take on both indoors and out, some of which will only take a couple of hours. Below, nine area designers share their go to summer upgrades that will make all the difference in your space.

Paint Your Front Porch Ceiling

You may have already hopped on board with the trend of painting indoor ceilings, but why not embrace the look outside, too, by tackling your porch? “Most people use a soft sky blue to mimic the sky, but you can be different and do a soft yellow or peach color, or even go black,” comments DC-based designer Rashida Banks. But don’t stop decorating once the paint is dry. “To push the look even further, you can also hang some baskets from the porch ceiling and add battery operated light bulbs to it,” Banks suggests. “Now you have a DIY chandelier.”

Make Dining Al Fresco Feel Like a Treat

Take your outdoor dinners to the next level by giving your patio a bit of a facelift. “A new table umbrella can make a world of difference,” comments Maiya Kathryn Dacey of Maryland-based Maiya Kathryn Design. “Don’t have an umbrella? Buy a tablecloth or get new cushions for your outdoor furniture,” she adds. “Just run to pick up a citronella candle and you are almost BBQ and summer cocktail ready!”

Clear the Clutter

Inside the house, make an effort to streamline all of the clutter that has piled up over the past several months. “In winter I’m guilty of loving ‘more is more,’ but by the time summer is here I want to put away all the extra things, even if they are pretty or sentimental,’ Dacey explains. For starters, why not streamline your frames? “Put away a few of the family photos on every surface, and prioritize what needs to be on view,” she says. “Hint: it’s less than you think!”

Create Outdoor Zones

Perhaps you’re wishing you could magically make your outdoor space feel a bit more cohesive—well, you can with this hack from Susan Sutter of Susan Sutter Interiors in Virginia. “An expansive outdoor area can be challenging to furnish,” she comments. “Make it more manageable—and create a nice flow in the process—by arranging distinct areas in the layout.” For example, think about how you’ll use your space the most and cater to those activities. Sutter says, “Having a designated section for activities like lounging and eating can help make the most of your design scheme. Consider introducing rugs for each zone to make even more of a statement.”

Stencil a Wall

“Tired of a boring wall? Consider trying a DIY stencil design from Royal Stencil and tackle it yourself,” offers Allie Mann of CASE Architects & Remodeling in Maryland. You can hire a pro, too, if you prefer, but either way, the results will be major. “This application would make a big impact on a feature wall, or a small space like a powder room, laundry room, or mudroom,” Mann says. “Wallpaper adds a finished look to a small space as well.”

Give Your Staircase New Life

Maryland designer Elana Mendelson of Elana Designs says, “A really fun, creative, easy, and unique DIY home project for summer is to add some personality to your staircase by applying stair riser decals to the risers (vertical plane) of the stairs.” The choice is yours when it comes to selecting a pattern—go colorful to pull in colors from neighboring rooms of the home, or keep things simple, she offers. “This will 100% transform a standard staircase and create a stunning, personalized, visual impact,” Mendelson says. Better yet, the upgrade is manageable for anyone. “This project is really easy even for a novice DIYer because riser decals are cut to riser size and readily available from many online sources like Etsy, Amazon and Wallalternatives, to name a few,” the designer explains.

Grow a Garden

It wouldn’t be summertime without a garden! Why not create your own and enjoy watching your tender loving care pay off over the course of the season? “I recommended investing in a few small planters for indoor, easy maintenance indoor plants that require low light, such as blue star ferns, variegated schefflera, jade plants (succulents), and olive trees,” says Casey Sanford of Casey Sanford Interior Design in Virginia.

Spruce Up the Balcony

No green thumb? No problem. You can still make your outdoor space shine with these tips from Amanda Martin of Amanda Elizaberh Interiors in DC. “I like to work from the ‘ground’ up,” she comments. “Laying interlocking deck squares is a great way to add visual interest and they’re easy to install.” Plus, she says, decking is more practical than your standard outdoor rug, which may hold onto moisture, and additionally, there are plenty of shades and patterns of deck squares from which to choose. She adds, “The overall look is aesthetically pleasing, and your friends will think you hired a designer!”

Upgrade an Out of Date Bathroom

Is that bathroom that looks like it belongs in the 1970s making you cringe on a daily basis? This summer, why not do something about the space once and for all? Kate Dreyer of Kate Decorates in Virginia has revamped many of her home’s dated bathrooms. “I often find older bathrooms have an unpainted wood vanity, old lighting, and funky tiles,” she says. “You may not be able to quickly replace the tiles, but I promise they will look worlds better with a few small updates throughout the rest of the bathroom.” Dreyer likes to first repaint the vanity using a color that complements the existing vanity top and any other features that you cannot change (such as the aforementioned tiles). Then, bring some personality into the space with new vanity pulls, shower rod and rings, and perhaps even a new faucet (if you’re an experienced DIYer). Then, work in some new textiles—shop for a shower curtain, hand towels, and bath mat or small bath rug in a shade that complements the paint you selected. Last but not least, don’t forget about your loo’s light fixtures. “We always find that updating the lighting makes an enormous difference for a very low cost,” Dreyer says. “Ideally you can update the vanity sconces and ceiling pendant, and even if this requires an electrician, it is usually not more than one hour of work. The end result is a very fresh feel in your bathroom, at a fraction of the cost of a full remodel!”

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9