Decluttering Tips to Prep Your Home for Summer
With some clever planning and smart storage solutions you can freshen up your home and enjoy a little easy living in the sunshine
It doesn’t take long to get your home organised and ready for summer. Think clean, crisp lines, bright white décor, calm surroundings and light interiors, then set aside a few evenings or weekends to declutter, reorganise and refresh. By the time you’ve finished, you’ll be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy summer at home.
Tidy your outside space
After the long winter, your garden may be a little untidy and overgrown, but you can easily fix this with a quick declutter. Mow the lawn, cut back any overgrown hedges and branches, and tidy away stray pots and other garden items. Straighten up any garden ornaments or plants that have fallen over, then wash down your patio or decking area and outdoor furniture.
After the long winter, your garden may be a little untidy and overgrown, but you can easily fix this with a quick declutter. Mow the lawn, cut back any overgrown hedges and branches, and tidy away stray pots and other garden items. Straighten up any garden ornaments or plants that have fallen over, then wash down your patio or decking area and outdoor furniture.
Refresh your interior
With more sunlight flooding in, it’s time to brighten up your interior to match.The ultimate way to do so is to clear out unnecessary items. Donate and recycle things you don’t need or use any more to create an uncluttered, open living space for the fresh air to flow in.
With more sunlight flooding in, it’s time to brighten up your interior to match.The ultimate way to do so is to clear out unnecessary items. Donate and recycle things you don’t need or use any more to create an uncluttered, open living space for the fresh air to flow in.
Create a cool bedroom sanctuary
Now’s the time to swap your winter clothes for summer ones, so why not declutter your wardrobe at the same time?Before you pack away your jumpers, check every piece of winter clothing to see whether you’ve used it over the last few months and if you still want it. Only keep the winter clothes you’re definitely going to wear again.
Don’t forget your bedding, too. Replace your heavy winter duvet with a lighter summer one, and check your bed linen to see if you’re completely happy with everything. Are there pieces missing? Does it look tired? Do you need to replace your old bedding?
A tidy, organised wardrobe and crisp, clean sheets will help transform your bedroom into a relaxing summer haven.
Need to update your bed linen? Check out these fresh ideas
Now’s the time to swap your winter clothes for summer ones, so why not declutter your wardrobe at the same time?Before you pack away your jumpers, check every piece of winter clothing to see whether you’ve used it over the last few months and if you still want it. Only keep the winter clothes you’re definitely going to wear again.
Don’t forget your bedding, too. Replace your heavy winter duvet with a lighter summer one, and check your bed linen to see if you’re completely happy with everything. Are there pieces missing? Does it look tired? Do you need to replace your old bedding?
A tidy, organised wardrobe and crisp, clean sheets will help transform your bedroom into a relaxing summer haven.
Need to update your bed linen? Check out these fresh ideas
Anticipate the end of the school year
With the arrival of summer comes the end of the school year and an influx of paperwork. From projects and artworks to report cards, kids arrive home on the last day of school laden with all the work they’ve done during the year. Plan ahead and allocate storage boxes, drawers or box files to neatly store it all away
Sort through the end-of-year paperwork early and dispose of anything unwanted, so neither you nor your children have to look at it again for the next two or three months.
With the arrival of summer comes the end of the school year and an influx of paperwork. From projects and artworks to report cards, kids arrive home on the last day of school laden with all the work they’ve done during the year. Plan ahead and allocate storage boxes, drawers or box files to neatly store it all away
Sort through the end-of-year paperwork early and dispose of anything unwanted, so neither you nor your children have to look at it again for the next two or three months.
Prepare for alfresco dining
It’s lovely to eat outdoors during summer, and some simple organisation can turn your garden into an extension of your dining room.
Keep outdoor dining items, such as dishes, glasses, napkins, cutlery and candles, in a covered area nearest to your garden – this might be a shed, garage, utility room or your kitchen. That way, all the items are within easy reach, so if you get a fine day, you can quickly set up dining outdoors.
Don’t trust the British climate? Here’s how to weatherproof your patio
It’s lovely to eat outdoors during summer, and some simple organisation can turn your garden into an extension of your dining room.
Keep outdoor dining items, such as dishes, glasses, napkins, cutlery and candles, in a covered area nearest to your garden – this might be a shed, garage, utility room or your kitchen. That way, all the items are within easy reach, so if you get a fine day, you can quickly set up dining outdoors.
Don’t trust the British climate? Here’s how to weatherproof your patio
Sort out your summer kit
Gather up all the accessories you and your family will need over the summer, such as hats, sunglasses, lightweight jackets, swimming costumes, armbands, insect repellent and suntan lotion – and don’t forget an umbrella.
Store these items near an easily accessible area, such as the hallway or by the back door. They’ll be easy to grab on the way out and it will encourage everyone to use them.
Gather up all the accessories you and your family will need over the summer, such as hats, sunglasses, lightweight jackets, swimming costumes, armbands, insect repellent and suntan lotion – and don’t forget an umbrella.
Store these items near an easily accessible area, such as the hallway or by the back door. They’ll be easy to grab on the way out and it will encourage everyone to use them.
Wrap up winter hobbies
Clean up and repair sports and outdoor gear that was used over the winter, ready for autumn. Clean grubby hiking boots, wellies, helmets and gloves, then store them away over the summer. Don’t forget to repair items such as torn school uniforms, too.
Clean up and repair sports and outdoor gear that was used over the winter, ready for autumn. Clean grubby hiking boots, wellies, helmets and gloves, then store them away over the summer. Don’t forget to repair items such as torn school uniforms, too.
Get stuck in
Thanks to the longer days, the summer is a good time to tackle some of the bigger jobs around the house and garden.
Outdoor areas such as the garage and shed are ideal places to tidy up during the warmer weather. And with the kids on holiday, it’s also a good time to employ their help in sorting out their bedrooms one weekend. Children often love getting their rooms redecorated, so maybe a bit of initial decluttering is in order before you get out the paintbrush.
Thanks to the longer days, the summer is a good time to tackle some of the bigger jobs around the house and garden.
Outdoor areas such as the garage and shed are ideal places to tidy up during the warmer weather. And with the kids on holiday, it’s also a good time to employ their help in sorting out their bedrooms one weekend. Children often love getting their rooms redecorated, so maybe a bit of initial decluttering is in order before you get out the paintbrush.
Organise your entrance
We all spend more time outdoors in summer, especially the children, so it’s important to get the entrances to our homes organised. Set up storage systems to catch everything that’s coming in and out of your house to help keep the rest of your home uncluttered.
Whether your main entrance is the hallway, back door or utility room, put two pretty baskets nearby – one for dirty shoes and the other for flip-flops or slippers. This makes it easy to change footwear and avoids grass being walked onto your clean floor.
Alternatively, set up a simple peg and basket system for every member of the family. On the peg they can hang summer jackets, beach towels, sports bags and rucksacks, while in the basket they can put hats, skipping ropes or picnic blankets – whichever items they want to use outside.
Systems like this encourage all the family to look after their own things. It will also keep your entrance nice and tidy.
TELL US…
How do you prepare your home and garden for the summer? Share your ideas in the Comments below
We all spend more time outdoors in summer, especially the children, so it’s important to get the entrances to our homes organised. Set up storage systems to catch everything that’s coming in and out of your house to help keep the rest of your home uncluttered.
Whether your main entrance is the hallway, back door or utility room, put two pretty baskets nearby – one for dirty shoes and the other for flip-flops or slippers. This makes it easy to change footwear and avoids grass being walked onto your clean floor.
Alternatively, set up a simple peg and basket system for every member of the family. On the peg they can hang summer jackets, beach towels, sports bags and rucksacks, while in the basket they can put hats, skipping ropes or picnic blankets – whichever items they want to use outside.
Systems like this encourage all the family to look after their own things. It will also keep your entrance nice and tidy.
TELL US…
How do you prepare your home and garden for the summer? Share your ideas in the Comments below
Are there lots of odd jobs or big tasks you’d like to see done by the end of the summer? Walk around your home and garden and list everything you’d like to repair, alter, improve and restore. You’re not necessarily going to get it all done, but having a list will focus your mind.
With September as your end goal and a list in hand, you can prioritise what you really want to achieve and make arrangements to do just that, based on your time, holiday plans, budget and family’s help.