Summer projects that can add value to your life and home:

The Kitchen

How about we start with everyone's favorite room in the house, the kitchen! You don’t need a big budget to upgrade this commonly used room in your home. The tips below are both easy and can be inexpensive - a win-win! 

Replace the hardware.

A super simple way to personalize and upgrade your kitchen is to replace the handles and knobs on your cabinets and drawers. Who knew something so simple could make such a big difference? 

Add smart plugs.

Smart plugs are a great way to add smart home capabilities to standard small kitchen appliances. With ADT smart plugs, you can control all connected smart home devices right from your ADT app. You can use them to turn appliances on and off from your phone, control them remotely and check to make sure you turned them off when you left home.

Build a coffee bar. 

What are the mornings without coffee? Or the afternoons for that matter? Definitely not something we want to think about! In our opinion, coffee (which we like to lovingly call the most important meal of the day) deserves its own designated spot in the kitchen. Some things every coffee bar should have: a coffee maker, a cute sugar bowl, a variety of syrups and flavors, your favorite mugs, and maybe even an espresso maker for all those caf-fiends out there. Adding a coffee bar is not only aesthetically pleasing, but functional for those early morning brews!

Pro-tip: Did you know you could set up your coffee maker to an ADT smart plug and have the ability to brew coffee from bed every morning? 

Get organized.

Clear bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost anything in your pantry and cabinets. Plus, not only will the bins keep you organized, they help keep your food fresh for longer too!

Install a new faucet.

Why stop at just replacing the hardware? We think you deserve a new faucet. The faucet of your dreams, even. A quick fix such as replacing your sink’s faucet can make a huge difference to your kitchen’s aesthetic. 

The Deck

Alright, now let’s head outside. We think this is the year you finally turn your deck or patio into the place to be this summer. The place that all your friends want to hang out at. Landscaping can be a daunting task (especially in warm weather), but there are simple things you can do to really transform your home's exterior space. Don’t forget to send us an invite when it’s done!

Add a pergola.

Find the sunniest spot in the yard and add in a pergola. Pergolas are a great way to add optional shade, but still be able to bask in the sun when you want to. Decorate the inside with comfy outdoor chairs and lounges, and maybe even a mini bar if that’s your style. 

Build a privacy wall.

Actually, build a living privacy wall. Way cooler. Take a trip to your local hardware store to purchase some lattice trellis panels. Add on some vines or plants to grow through the holes, giving you some more privacy. 

Use your trees as a design element.

A nice big tree, the OG backyard statement piece. If that oak in your backyard is looking a little lackluster, we recommend designing around it, or with it! Dress up any tree by planting a garden around the base. Dig up the surrounding grass, add in some mulch and plant whichever flowers, bushes or plants your heart desires. A border made of brick or stone is a great final touch to your new garden bed. If you are not into gardening, you can still spruce up your tree by building wooden furniture around it. A table or bench is a great option for wrap-around tree furniture.

Add some shade.

Block the sun with umbrellas that complement the color of your home. Neutral or colorful, you can’t go wrong! You’ll want to sit under the umbrella sipping lemonade all summer long.

Keep an eye on things.

Now that you spent so much time and effort fixing up your deck, you’re going to have to protect it! Add an outdoor cam onto your ADT system to keep an eye on all your hard work with 1080p HD video, two-way audio, and night vision! 

The Shed

What do you do when you run out of rooms inside to renovate? You take it out back! More and more people have been converting their unfinished sheds into sweet hangout spots and sharing their journey on social media. Converting your shed is a great way to expand to the great outdoors for a cool hangout space. 

Clean up.

Everything. All of it. The junk, the dirt, the dead bugs. Clean it all out thoroughly because when you're finished with it, it’s no longer going to be a storage shed. Rather, it will be an outdoor hangout room! 

Add some natural light.

Save on your electric bill by adding natural light to your shed in the form of windows or a skylight (or better yet, both.) 

Install drywall and paint.

Once your shed is as clean as you can get it, install some drywall and paint it your favorite color. We think it’d be fun to go all out in this room. Since it’s disconnected from the house, don’t feel pressured to go neutral or have it match your interiors - truly have fun with it! 

Add rugs.

Dress up your floor with outdoor rugs. You can install flooring if you’d like, but just covering the existing floor with area rugs will do the trick.

Furnish.

Time for the fun part! Furnish your new shed and add your own stylish touch. We recommend heading to the thrift store for inexpensive furniture since your shed may be slightly exposed to the outdoor elements.

Deck it out.

Alright, now time for the really fun part - making your shed fun! Add in entertainment with a mini-fridge, Bluetooth speakers, and a TV with gaming consoles. Don’t forget the window A/C unit if you live in a warmer climate.

Protect your hard work.

After all that work, you need to keep it protected. Extend your ADT smart home security to your new space.

We think it’s time for a trip to the home improvement store! Happy DIY-ing.

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