Category: Garden

Home Improvement Projects Kids Can Help With

Josie

These home improvement ideas are the perfect projects that you can do with your kids!

Photos By: Unsplash

Household improvement and construction can be a drag. For example, when rebuilding a bathroom, your bathroom could be out of commission for several days. This means that you have to find another place to use all of the facilities until your bathroom is complete. Bathrooms are a trendy renovation in homes, and they can turn out very pretty and well done. 

But, several other home improvement projects may not be as overwhelming and require outside help. These projects are some that you can do with your kids. Hard work at a young age, through responsible and supervised projects, such as home improvement projects, can be a great way to instill a sense of pride and work ethic in your children. 

DIY Outdoor Playsets 

Building your outdoor playset can save you a ton of money. The premade treehouses, swings, and sandboxes can cost a fortune, but starting to develop sandboxes and swings as a weekend project can help avoid having to pay this massive fee.

Not to mention how comfortable and kid-friendly these projects are. If you are interested in getting your kids involved with household projects, these outdoor playthings, such as sandboxes and swings, can be a great place to start. Your kids will be thrilled that they are getting a new swing or jungle gym, so they will be happy to help out with the project. 

Shop for Supplies With Them 

It is hard for some of the more significant home improvement projects to get your kids fully involved with them. There could be dangerous power tools and nails sticking out of the floorboards, so you probably don’t want your kid around. But, one thing you will always need during these projects is tools and materials. 

You can always take your kids shopping for the materials and supplies you will need at the hardware store. Plus, this can give them a good education of what is to come in the future when they have to do their projects. 

Starting a Garden

Starting to make a garden with your kids is a great way to do a small project that must be maintained daily. Making a garden is one of the easiest projects to do in terms of hard labor, building, and power tools, but it is also one of the hardest to maintain because of how much attention they need.  A garden is a perfect way to show a young child responsibility, and there is an excellent reward afterward. 

No significant job should go unpaid, and because it was your children helping with the projects, you can not just hand them a paycheck. Instead of paying your kids with money, take a family trip somewhere enjoyable to show them that all of their hard work did not go undervalued. 

If you are looking for a great vacation spot, there is a lot of real estate for sale in Whistler. Whistler is one of the most relaxed ski resorts in North America, and there is something fun for everyone to do at these resorts and available houses for rent and purchase. More importantly, your kids will have learned that hard work pays off.

Easy DIY Backyard Projects to Keep You Sane During Quarantine

Josie

Make the most of quarantine with these DIY backyard projects!

Photo By: Better Homes and Gardens

Up until now, our lives have been pretty routine. We’d wake up, go to work or school, socialize with friends, and visit family. We’d host family barbeques, have date night and even go away on vacation. But, now? COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in our day-to-day routines and many of us are stuck at home in quarantine until this passes — or at least is contained.

It’s understandable to get frustrated. It’s understandable if you’re feeling like you need to do something or you’d go crazy. So why not take all of that pent up energy and do something to make your backyard into a relaxing oasis with these DIY projects?

Flex Your Green Thumb

Plants are a fantastic way to add some life to any space, be it inside or out. Now’s the perfect time to transplant your favorite flowers into larger pots so they have more room to grow. Use this time to prune back bushes that have become unruly. You can weed the flower beds, care for the lawn, or start a garden!

Refinish the Deck/Patio

Weather has a nasty way of turning a once beautiful patio or deck into a dingy shadow of what it once was. With summer just a few short weeks away and there’s no clear date when the quarantine will end, why not refinish your outdoor living space? Break out a power washer and revitalize your patio furniture. Restain your deck so it looks brand new. Add some fresh paint to flower pots. You’d be amazed how a little bit of elbow grease can make a huge difference!

Make Easy Repairs

Have you been putting off minor repairs outside? You know, repairs like fixing (or cleaning) the gutters, replacing outdoor light fixtures, or taking down Christmas lights. If you’re thinking about selling your home any time soon, these repairs will be one less reason buyers would have for submitting a offer below asking price. 

Build Something Useful

If you’re pretty handy with power tools, why not build something practical like a new picnic table, put together a swing set for the kids. You could make a fire pit out of cinderblocks if your neighborhood allows it. Of course, if you’re not keen on making anything big, start off small by making a birdhouse or make window planters for flowers. You can even make a raised garden plot!

Start a Compost Pile

Now, this idea may not be for everyone and it will take some time before you can actually use the compost, but a compost pile is a fantastic way to reduce the amount of waste you throw away. It’ll provide you with nutrient dense soil that you can use for potted plants, flower beds, and that raised garden we mentioned. Keep in mind that maintaining your compost pile is going to require getting your hands dirty, but it’ll be worth it in the long run!


Photo By: Edible Columbus

Clean the Plool

Before opening the pool for the summer, take this time to thoroughly clean the pool. You can use the vacuum to clean any debris that may have settled at the bottom of the pool while it was closed for the winter. You can change the filter and run several backwashing cycles. You can scrub the deck, clean the liner or scrub the tiles, depending on what kind of pool you own. By taking the time to thoroughly clean your pool, your weekly maintenance will be that much easier.

A lot of people are feeling the stress of being stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be productive and make your little corner of the world your own little oasis. Whether you’re repairing creaky doors or re-staining the deck, these little improvements will add little value to your home, but it’ll make you feel like you accomplished something. Plus, once social distancing regulations have been relaxed, you’ll be ready to invite family and friends over and not be ashamed of your unkempt yard.