Make it happen - 5 tips to make your outdoor DIY dreams come true

By emily.bailey

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

5 tips to make your outdoor DIY dreams come true

With this easy DIY list, any homeowner can up the ante on their home’s curb appeal and get the summer started right!

Summertime is for fun in the sun, enjoying the great outdoors and getting active! There’s no better way to do all three than cracking open the shed and getting down to business making sure your home’s exterior is primed and ready for cook-outs, pool parties, or whatever else you have planned. With this easy DIY list, any homeowner can up the ante on their home’s curb appeal and get the summer started right!

1. Get cooking

Why just grill when you can grill in style? And we don’t mean breaking the bank by creating the ultimate backyard oasis – there are lots of simple ways to make your grilling area stand out. Add some sparkle with decorative LED lights; hang them on a trellis above the grill so they do double-duty as task lighting. Just make sure they’re hung high enough to avoid excessive heat exposure!

Even if you like to keep the formal eating area separate, make sure you have some kind of seating near the grill – especially during parties. Similar to having a breakfast bar in the kitchen spread with snacks, this lets you keep chatting with your guests and being the life of the party while you’re preparing them an epic meal. And snacks. Always have snacks.

You can also pick a theme like nautical or surf style to give your outdoor grilling area a memorable personality. You don’t need to buy expensive outdoor furniture – a few small but well-placed decorative touches can be enough to make a statement.

2. Make the cut

Never underestimate the power of landscaping. A well-groomed yard is non-negotiable when it comes to upping your curb appeal. There’s no need to become a master grower and design intricate gardens. Make an impact with just a few solid standbys: regularly trim the grass and bushes, and make merciless war on weeds. Your neighbors will thank you for it!

3. Touch it up

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do. You can go the whole nine yards and choose a fresh new palette, or simply refresh what you already have to add polish. Easy DIY painting projects that can freshen up your exterior include shutters, trim, doors, and porch enclosures. Annual touch ups are also a great way to prevent damage that can happen when paint is allowed to weather and flake off. Check out this article from Houzz to learn the right way to do outdoor paint touch ups.

4. Beautify

Thanks to the latest innovations in paint, even the saddest and sorriest looking outdoor furniture can be revived. Make sure the furniture is still structurally sound. If it isn’t and it’s plastic or metal, it may be time to go shopping for something new. If it’s wood and can be repaired, you can easily brighten up the look of it. The latest spray paints can adhere to just about any surface, and weather the elements like a champ for a long-lasting finish. This is an easy outdoor project than can be completed in the space of a weekend to add a bright, summery touch to your outdoor space.

5. Modernize

Every parent knows that summertime is the time when the kids run rampant! Keep better track of their comings and goings – and add a little flash to your front door – with a smart lock. This is an easy 10-minute update, and you can pair it with an elegant handleset grip in the perfect finish to add curb appeal – our adjustable throughbolt helps ensure you won’t have trouble fitting your new Schlage handleset grip onto your door. But your favorite thing about a connected lock is bound to be the convenience.

With a Z-Wave enabled lock like the Schlage Connect™ Smart Deadbolt, you can connect it to your existing smart home or alarm system so it works with your other smart devices and allows you to check in remotely and make sure the door is locked, or unlock it for a guest when you’re running late. Set up a smart home automation scene so your entry hall lights come on as soon you unlock the door at night. There are many possibilities, and exact features offered vary depending on the smart home system. Most will let you use your lock with Amazon Alexa voice control services, so the next time you need to lock the door behind you but your hands are full, you can easily do it just by asking Alexa.

A Bluetooth enabled smart lock, like the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt, doesn’t require an existing smart home system – you can use it with your smartphone right out of the box. Add a Schlage Sense WiFi Adapter so you can pair the lock with your home WiFi network and lock/unlock remotely, as well as customize notifications so you always know when the kids get home. The Schlage Sense lock also offers voice control integrations with Alexa and Google Assistant.