3 DIY Summer Projects for Your Apartment

Most people are eager to be outdoors in the summer, but it’s also a great time to initiate new projects at home. From redecorating your living space to making seasonal treats in the kitchen, there are plenty of creative ways you can brighten up your apartment this season. Here are three easy and fun DIY ideas that can improve your place:

Decorate with Flowers and Plants

While residents at Habitat Apartments enjoy landscaped community grounds, they still have the opportunity to spruce up their own private apartment homes. Liven up balconies and living rooms during the summertime with colorful flowers and plants.

Find fresh seasonal or perennial blooms at the Farmers Market in Downtown Boulder and Longmont or at Passion Flower Design, a local florist in North Boulder. Purchase a variety of stems and create your own bouquet at home, using either a store bought or homemade vase; aluminum cans, wine bottles, and unused bowls can all be refurbished as containers. Fill your vases with roses, lilies, daisies, hydrangeas, dahlias, tuberoses, and other beautiful flowers, in order to add color and fragrance to your Gunbarrel apartment.

You can also decorate your place with green plants this summer. McGuckin Hardware, located a short drive from our rental complex, has a great gardening section where you can purchase plants and pots. You can buy an assortment of flora to place in a large planter for your balcony or patio. Cacti and other succulents are particularly wonderful for Colorado’s dry, hot summer climate. They can easily be potted in small, repurposed containers—like mason jars and teapots—and placed around your home, wherever there is access to sunlight.

Hang New Blinds or Curtains 

Summer brings with it extra sunshine, which means it’s a good time to reconsider your curtains or blinds. Whether you’re looking to let more or less light in, you can fashion new window shades for your apartment this season. Our rental units come equipped with blinds, but tenants can add their own vibrant embellishments.

Located a few miles south of our apartment community, Jo-Ann is a nearby craft store that can supply you with the materials needed to create curtains. Design translucent shades using linen, chiffon, contact and crepe paper, or work with heavier fabrics to block out more daylight. You can stencil, draw, or sew on your own patterns, for a unique window treatment.

Make Cold or Frozen Treats  

Once you’ve redecorated, it’s time to enjoy your revamped apartment. Spend some time indoors by preparing delicious seasonal eats and drinks. In addition to refreshing cocktails, ice pops also make for tasty cold treats during the summer.

You can stop by Peppercorn on Pearl Street Mall, a few miles south of our apartment complex, for any necessary kitchen tools to make your own popsicles. It’s easy to create your own flavors: just puree fresh seasonal fruit like berries and peaches in a blender or food processor (with added sugar or water, to your liking), then pour the mixture into a popsicle or ice cube mold, and put it in the freezer. You can also blend in peanut butter, fudge, and milk, to create a creamier ice pop.

Summer is not just reserved for outdoor recreation; it’s also a fun time for indoor activities, too. When it’s too hot to go out or when you’d just rather stay in, spend some sunny days in your apartment by either utilizing the kitchen or revamping your décor. From creating icy cold snacks to designing your own colorful decorations, DIY projects can keep you entertained at home this season.