Summer is renovation season for a lot of homeowners. With school being out, longer days, and better weather, it’s easy to understand why.
If you’re considering summer remodeling projects, you may find yourself struggling to decide which projects to prioritize or how to increase your home value through renovations. Should you make curb appeal upgrades or renovate your kitchen? Is it time to upgrade to hardwood flooring or maybe make some small fixes around the house? There’s definitely no shortage of projects you can tackle.
We’ve broken down some of the smartest summer home renovation ideas into three main categories: exterior curb appeal, interior comfort and function, and energy efficiency. Whether you’re thinking of selling down the line or just want to enjoy your home more, these summer projects are worth your time and budget.
1. Focus On Improving Curb Appeal
First impressions matter. The outside of your home sets the tone for everything else. Even if your interior is magazine-worthy, buyers (and guests) start forming opinions from the sidewalk. These summer home renovation ideas are all about your home’s exterior.
Spruce Up Your Outdoor Living Spaces
Summer is the time to be outside. Whether it’s grilling on the deck or sipping iced tea on a shady porch, your outdoor living space is what lets you make the most of the good weather.
So why not start there for your summer renovation? Think decks, patios, or a fresh coat of stain on your porch.
Here are some outdoor summer home renovation ideas to get you inspired:
- Build a new deck or upgrade an existing one
- Add a screened-in porch to keep the bugs out
- Upgrade your outdoor lighting
- Add a pergola or shade sail for sun protection
- Install an outdoor kitchen or grilling station
- Refresh railings of steps for safety and aesthetics
Making upgrades like these is a great way to not only extend your living space but also boost your home’s appeal. And while we’re on the subject, don’t forget landscaping!
Tidy lawns, fresh mulch, trimmed hedges, and pops of color from native plants can make your home even more inviting. Basic landscaping upgrades can add upwards of $6000 to your home’s resale value. Focus on keeping things neat and well maintained. With landscaping, sometimes less is more.
Replace Your Garage Door
It’s definitely not the most glamorous upgrade and probably not what you had in mind when you started reading this article, but a modern garage door makes a huge visual impact. And it adds a lot to your home’s value.
Believe it or not, as of 2024, a garage door replacement is the best value-for-dollar upgrade you can make in your home with a 194% return on investment. Replacing your front door with a steel door is another great investment that also adds security and energy efficiency to keep the hot summer air out.
Paint the Exterior Of Your Home
Painting the outside of your home refreshes its look, while also protecting it from weather and wear. In South Carolina’s sunny and humid climate, that protection matters. A well-done exterior paint job can add $7,571 to your home’s resale value – a 152% ROI.
When painting your home’s exterior, stick with neutral colors. Opt for soft and warm tones that complement the neighborhood. And don’t overlook small accents. Painting your front door a bold color can instantly give your whole house a facelift.
2. Make the Inside of Your Home Work Better For You
Curb appeal upgrades are great for adding resale value to your home, but let’s be honest, you live inside your house. Summer is a great time to make those interior upgrades you’ve been dreaming about. These are the kinds of projects that make daily life easier while boosting long-term value.
Improve Your Daily Life With a Kitchen Refresh
You don’t need a full gut job to make your kitchen shine.
Focus on cosmetic changes: reface your cabinets, upgrade your countertops, add new hardware, install energy-efficient appliances, or swap out lighting. A fresh backsplash or updated sink can also make a big difference.
In the South Atlantic, minor and midrange kitchen remodels have the best ROIs but don’t let that keep you from going big. As the heart of your home, it’s worth investing in your dream kitchen if you enjoy cooking and hosting friends and family for meals.
As one of the most used areas of your home, refreshing your kitchen is one of the summer remodeling projects that will have the biggest impact on your daily life.
Read more: 10 Ways to Modernize Your Outdated Kitchen with Remodeling
Invest in Comfort With Bathroom Upgrades
Buyers love clean, updated bathrooms, and you will too. Replace that old vanity with something modern and functional. Upgrade to LED lighting. Install a low-flow toilet and new faucet.
Improving ventilation is also a must in humid climates since it helps prevent mold and keeps things feeling fresh. And even small touches like a new mirror or rainfall showerhead can give your bathroom a spa-like feel.
If you want to go all out for that spa-like feel, check out our suggestions for design features to include in a luxury bathroom.
Upgrade to Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors won’t improve your daily life in the same way that a kitchen or bathroom renovation will, but they’ll make your home feel new. They’re also a great investment. According to the National Realtor Association’s 2022 Remodeling Impact Report, 118% of the cost of installing new hardwood floors is recovered, while simply refinishing existing hardwood floors recovers 147%!
Related: How to Choose the Right Flooring for Home Remodeling
3. Get Smart (and Efficient) with Energy Updates
Energy-efficient homes are good for the planet and your wallet. These upgrades not only make your home more comfortable to live in and attractive to future buyers, but they’ll also help you save a lot of money on your energy bill.
Seal Up or Replace Leaky Windows
Drafty windows are a big energy drain that could be driving up your energy bills. Energy-efficient windows can recover about 68-72% of their cost and they make your home better to live in.
Vinyl windows help with temperature control which is a huge plus during hot summer months. Plus, buyers will appreciate the comfort and the promise of lower energy bills.
Depending on where you live, installing storm shutters and impact windows can also preserve your home’s value and appeal to safety-conscious buyers.
Install a Smart Thermostat
This is a weekend project that can really pay off. Smart thermostats learn your habits and optimize heating and cooling schedules. This helps lower your monthly utility costs while also reducing strain on your HVAC system.
Some models even let you adjust the temperature remotely from your phone.
Smart thermostats are a modern feature, and increasingly more home buyers value smart home features. According to Zillow, smart home technology is highly important to 42% of buyers.
Summer Is Renovation Season!
Summer might be short, but the impact of renovations can last for years. If you’re thinking of selling or just want to love where you live a little more, now’s a great time to tackle those upgrades.
From curb appeal upgrades to making your home more livable, small changes can positively affect your daily life.
At Kamanski Construction, we believe in doing renovations right the first time to make your home more enjoyable and valuable. We take the guesswork out of renovations and help you prioritize the projects that matter. If any of these summer home renovation ideas spark a project, get in touch. We’d be happy to help you bring it to life!