12 summer DIY projects to improve your home

The warm weather is finally here and that long list of summer DIY projects is ready to be grabbed with both hands.

No list of DIY projects to do over the summer but still feel like trying your hand at knocking something together?

Here’s a list of cool summer DIY projects to do at home that’ll add new levels of functionality and style to your living space…

Build a garden office

With so many people working from home nowadays, a decent home office is at the top of the list for those who’ve been having to make do with an ironing board desk.

You might have considered converting a room or even building an extension to serve as a new home working space, but what if you could make a solution that would allow you to actually leave the house for work so you don’t feel like you’re sleeping at the office?

And if you really like the idea but don’t feel like you can handle any more summer DIY projects on your own, contact our Bury St Edmunds neighbours Smart Garden Office, who can set you up with an outdoor workspace that’s comfortable year-round from £10,020.

Recycled tyre coffee table

Reuse an old tyre (notoriously difficult items to dispose of in an eco-friendly way) and get yourself a conversation-starting coffee table in the process!

All you need is an old tyre, some wood board, rope, glue, varnish and paint. The result is a sturdy coffee table that costs next to nothing to make. One of the easiest summer DIY projects for beginners!

Embark on a loft conversion

If there’s one thing lockdown has taught us, it’s that we probably don’t have half as much space as we actually need when we’re living under each other’s feet. So, how much better would your homelife be if you could squeeze an extra room out of your house?

A loft conversion is one of the biggest summer DIY projects you could undertake. It’s doable, but you’ll likely need the help of some professionals that understand the structure and support necessary to make it safe enough to use on a daily basis.

Paint the kitchen cupboards

Summer is a great opportunity to give your kitchen a new look, but if a complete refit is out of the question, consider giving the cabinets a simple lick of paint.

If you don’t feel like paint is going to do the job of bringing your tired kitchen furniture up-to-date, you can cover surfaces with a layer of vinyl to get a wood-effect or shiny finish.

Build a home bar: the pinnacle of summer DIY projects

Admit it, this project ran through your mind more than just once during the lockdown. Having your own bar is on many homeowners’ wishlists, and you can get started with a basic setup in one weekend.

With a standard set of tools, it wouldn’t take long to build out the wooden frame for the bar itself – then it’s just about customising it to fit in with your decor.

If a simple bar setup isn’t quite quenching your thirst, take the DIY project a step further and build your own garden shed pub.

Dig out your own firepit

You, a bunch of your closest friends, a few beers, and the warm glow of your very own outdoor fire.

It’s quite possible to complete this very simple home DIY project in one weekend. All you really need is bricks or stones to line the pit and a spade to dig out the hole itself.

In no time at all, you’ll have yourself a garden feature that allows for impromptu barbecues in the summer and a warm place to gather outside in the winter.

Build a home gym

Did you end up piling on a few lockdown pounds while the gyms were closed? Protect your gains with a home workout centre that’ll give your local gym a run for its money.

Gym equipment can be pretty expensive and tends to take up a fair amount of floor space. But if you know what you’re doing, you can get a few useful pieces of equipment into your home without tripping over it all the time.

WARNING: Don’t risk a DIY gym project if you’re not confident you can make something that’s safe and will support the necessary weight. There are plenty of equipment-free workouts you can do instead and still get great results.

No space for a home gym setup? Sign up at the new PureGym in Stowmarket (SunSkips handled the waste management during the renovation).

Put together a custom bookshelf

How many more IKEA bookcases are you going to buy before you realise you can build something much better as a fun summer DIY project?

To make life easier, you could take a flat-pack bookcase and upcycle it into something a little more impressive, or create something unique from scratch.

A bookshelf is pretty much just planks of wood, so it’s a perfect summer DIY project for beginners, while the seasoned craftsman can easily take it up a notch.

Organise the shed for your summer DIY projects

Even with the best intentions to stay organised, sheds have a tendency to quickly spiral out of control and eventually you can’t find the nails you need – or even the hammer to drive them in.

But storage solutions from the hardware store often leave many bulky items in your shed without a place for them to fit – so your best bet is to build your own custom organisers.

Could you use the ceiling space to store some larger items? Can you wall mount some of your heavier tools to keep them off the floor or workbench?

When you know where your organisational weaknesses lie, you can design a shed that’ll save you the most amount of space and give all your tools their own place so you can find them when you need them.

Give your furniture a makeover

For just a weekend’s work and a small investment in some chalk paint, you can breathe new life into one or two pieces of furniture you’ve fallen out of love with.

You can make a tired old cabinet look like new again, or take a basic-looking flat-pack piece and give it a vintage feel.

First, you’ll need to clean down the item, but there’s no need to sand down the wood before applying chalk paint. Once it’s done, apply some wax to protect it. And if you’re going for the distressed look, use a sanding block to roughen up the edges.

Start a compost heap

You actually don’t really need to build anything at all to start your own compost heap, but with a few old wooden pallets, you can create a decent bin to help nurture your pile of organic mush into “black gold”.

The trick to composting is getting the blend of carbon and nitrogen waste right, but the bin itself can be knocked together in no time.

‘Steel-frame’ the shower door

 

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You don’t need to become a qualified welder to give your bathroom a fresh industrial look.

With a roll of black electrical tape (£1 or £2 from a hardware store), you can make that shower screen look infinitely more robust and give your bathroom some extra character. You could even pick up some spray paint while you’re at the shop and get yourself some matching taps.

Got a bit more waste leftover after your summer DIY projects than you’d planned for? Book your skip today and get your work area cleared away in no time.