Now that school is out, it’s summer and the kids are at home, it might just be the perfect time to do some home improvement projects. You can enlist the extra helping hands to make improving your home easier and faster. Here are some good home improvement projects you can do this summer:

Organize Your Photos

If you have a box or stack of photos perpetually waiting to be sorted and properly organized into frames or a photo album, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Somehow organizing photos is one of those tasks that always gets postponed or forgotten. A great way to organize and display your beautiful family photos is by having a photo book made. Enter a professional printing service like Shutterfly, which offers photo book making services as well as framed prints, canvas prints and other gift items like mugs and tumblers.

If you don’t have the time or patience to sort through hundreds of photos, you can have a team of designers curate your photos for you and put them together into a beautifully laid out book. If on the other hand you prefer to take care of all the details yourself, you can also opt to completely customize your photo book on ShutterFly.com. Either way, this is a wonderful and easy project you can do with your kids.

Declutter

You’d be surprised at how much junk and clutter we accumulate throughout the years. There’s no better time than the present to declutter and get rid of some of the useless junk that might be lying around your home. Sort your belongings by putting them in three boxes: one for things to sell, one for things to donate, and one for things to discard. Letting go clutter and unused items can go a long way towards making your home cleaner and seem brighter and more spacious.

Paint Your Walls

Summer is a good time to give your walls a fresh coat of paint, as the warm weather allows you to open your windows so the paint can dry. Painting your walls is one of the most effective yet inexpensive ways to give your home a whole new look, and a drastic change in paint color can dramatically transform the entire atmosphere of your house. However, if you want your home to feel fresh and bright, opt for light and soothing neutrals like soft grays, beige and pastel colors like light blue, green or yellow.

Improve Your Curb Appeal

It’s not just the inside of your home that matters; the outside of your home deserves some TLC also. Improve your curb appeal by painting your front door, or doing some landscaping in your front yard. A well-maintained exterior instantly boosts your home’s appeal and gives a good impression.

Spruce up Your Outdoor Area

Summer is a great time to enjoy the pleasant weather and soak up the sun. Make sure your backyard or front porch is conducive to spending time outdoors by revamping your patio or deck. You could give it a fresh coat of paint, add seating, and style it with plants or flowers. Enjoy the warm weather while you work to create a space that your whole family can enjoy.

Summer is the perfect time to make various improvements to your home. Take advantage of the fair weather while it lasts, and enlist the help of your whole family to make the work go faster and to spend some quality time together. This way, your home can have a fresh new look before the summer ends.