From long days spent at the beach with an iced latte and açai bowl in hand, to hot nights where the ceiling fans are spinning so fast you feel like they could fall off the ceiling – there’s nothing quite like an Australian Summer.
With the Christmas period taking up most of December, it’s safe to say that that month is generally always a complete blur. So much so that often we’re so focused on the season of giving that we forget about the season of warmth.
Now that the bells and whistles have blown away, January is a great time to set up your home in full Summer swing. January is also the time where, if you’re good, you’ve generally set a couple of New Year’s resolutions and there’s nothing quite like a fresh home makeover to set you up for success for the year ahead.
So that you aren’t spending your time having a complete meltdown and twiddling your thumbs wondering “where do I even begin?”, we’ve come up with our top five tips and tricks to set your space up for the Summer season and the rest of 2023.
1. Give the bones a good birthday
Summer is an ideal season to get exterior paint jobs done thanks to its reliably dry weather, and can instantly boost your curb appeal. Some of the paint jobs to add to your to-do list include:
- Repainting your front door
- Giving your garden fence some lurv
- Touching up tired looking window frames
Although January to March/April is the best time of the year for exterior painting, try to avoid revamping your door or window frames in a complete heatwave as they paint could end up drying too quickly.
2. Give the inside some TLC
If the interior of your home is looking slightly sad or you’re just wanting to bring in some of the outside-in, break out into fresh colours to create an easy-breezy vibe at home.
With most of the working world now operating in a hybrid model, it’s important to ensure when the dreaded day of returning to work rolls around, that we’re working in a pleasant environment.
This could look like zoning a room using paint, layering a few scatter cushions on your sofa, or simply buying some new bed linen which feels as bright as Summer mornings. If there’s one colour that will bring instant joy to your space, it’s yellow. Yes I know, I know, yellow is a pretty rogue colour option, but Sunny yellow brings a touch of warmth and optimism. It’s the perfect shade for bringing a sense of positivity into the home and is also a soothing colour, particularly when mixed with cool, calming tones like grey or pale, muted blues (think of the home office vibes!).
Another way to joosh up the interiors is adding some indoor plants. Not only do indoor plants look great, but they also have some added health benefits too. These include improving air quality and your sense of well-being, reducing stress, supporting cognitive health and improving environmental awareness.
3. Deep clean your BBQ
Ideally barbeques should be cleaned after every use (who knew?), but it is recommended that they are deep cleaned on occasion as well. With BBQ season now well and truly in full swing, now is the perfect time to slip on your Marigold gloves and remove the grease and grime in time for some alfresco dining.
To do this, start with the interior. Turn on the grill to its highest temperature setting and close the hood. After 10-15 minutes, open the lid and scrape the grates with a non-bristle metal brush. Move onto the grill’s interior grillbox, which can be emptied and washed out with warm soapy water. Then, remove the grime, tough stains and any burnt-on food using a specialist product.
4. Prepare your pool
Obviously with Christmas now having come and gone, you probably already have had your relatives come over to cool off with an afternoon swim in the pool. However, if you were fortunate enough to narrowly escape hosting this year, and thus haven’t readied your pool quite yet, now is a great time to ensure it’s all ready to roll.
Make sure the pool is clean, the filters are functioning properly, chemicals and PH levels are in balance and you have enough chemicals in stock to keep it going.
5. Keep critters at bay
It’s never quite a Summer in Australia if you aren’t finding a few dozen creepy crawlies seeking refuge in your home. Particularly on those scorching Summer days when they’re desperate to find some cool shelter and take advantage of your blasting air-con – I mean who can blame them?
Ensuring your house is clean is a good way to prevent pests, but also consider having your home professionally sprayed if you’re having serious issues. One of the biggest nuisances over Summer are mosquitos. Stock up on citronella candles to keep them at bay, ensure the insect screens on your doors and windows are intact and clear away underbrush around trees and shrubs, where they’re likely to hang out.
Whether you’re looking for general real estate advice, or to further your understanding of how to keep those wretched insects out of your beautifully air-conditioned paradise, please do not hesitate to reach out to our friendly team of Negotiators today.