Eye for interiors
Is the summer sun shining a light on areas of your home that need a little TLC? Here are satisfying jobs you can tackle in a day
Got the summer renovation itch? The builders are all booked up so you’ll have to scratch it yourself. These satisfying jobs all benefit from longer, drier days.
1. Paint your front door
Put your faith in the forecast and dig out the sample pots. I’ve just done my door in a gorgeous foggy green, which has given it all an instant lift. Remove any hardware, scrape off flaky old paint and apply a primer before you reach for the roller.
2. Pressure wash the patio
Think your paving is in passable condition? Prepare to be humbled by the pressure washer. Hire from the Library of Things if you’d rather not call in the experts, but don’t be tempted to hose down the house — you’ll spring leaks and possibly smash a couple of windows while you’re at it.
3. Steam clean the sofa
It’ll make you feel like a grinning loon on a shopping channel, but steaming your upholstery is the best way to revive anything without removable covers. Spot clean any stains before going at it and then leave in a well-ventilated space to dry. If you’ve still got a little left in the tank then tackle the carpets, too.
4. Swap out heavy curtains
Black-out blinds might be a must for summer bedrooms, but in living areas you want to diffuse bright light, not block it entirely. Cool Danish brand Color & Co divides its bamboo roller blinds into four categories depending on how much light they let through.
5. Call in the window cleaners
The sunnier days have likely revealed a mass of smears on the glazing. Schedule a window clean now — heavy rainfall rules out autumn, while a winter cleaning risks frost and freezing.