How to Construct the Perfect Summer Home

A summer home can be a wonderful way to break away from the monotony that can be everyday life. It means not having to worry about whether or not you have a place to stay during a vacation, and might even be a great way to bring in some extra cash by renting it out when you aren't there. If you don't have one yet and are considering one, here are some tips to help you construct the perfect summer home.

Plan Your Home

Before you even get started with building, there are some things you need to think about when planning your home. You have to choose a location for your home first. Consider how much you're willing and able to spend constructing and furnishing your home. When designing your home, think about what you intend to do in it. If you plan to host large parties, an open floor plan might be a good option. If you're looking for a place to get away from all the noise and confusion that offers privacy, a more closed floor plan might be a better fit for you.

Create Summer Vibes

A summer home should have a summer vibe to it. Whether you're embracing summer paint color trends or charting your own color palate course, consider integrating summer colors into your interior design. Flowing window curtains can accentuate genter summer breezes and contribute to a light, airy ambience. Select furniture that accentuate that summer feeling. Take both the materials that make up the furniture and the coloring into consideration when making your choice. Don't forget to account for how individual pieces will fit into the bigger picture of the entire room.

Add Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is essential for being comfortable indoors during the summer. Central AC is a common method for cooling a home, but if that's not a good option for you, there are other ways you can cool your home. Individual rooms can be cooled by portable AC units. Ductless systems and window units are also options. If you choose to install an HVAC system, balance your airflow periodically to ensure comfort and system efficiency.

Energy Efficiency

When you are building your home, construct it to be energy efficient. This will improve the comfort of your home while reducing the cost of utilities. Constructing an energy efficient home might include using quality insulation and installing energy efficient windows. Adding solar panels can help offset the cost of electricity while providing a sustainable source of energy. Installing energy efficient LED light bulbs is another great option. When furnishing your home with appliances, select ones that are energy efficient for even greater power and financial savings.

Backyard Features

Back yards are a summer home essential, considering how much time you are likely to spend outdoors. Consider adding a deck or patio to your house. You can add features to your deck that make it great for hosting large gatherings. Swimming pools can be great for beating the summer heat. Outdoor lighting can make your yard fun and exciting to play in no matter what time of day or night it is. A fire pit can be great for outdoor cooking and roasting tasty treats in the evening. If children will visit your summer home, consider adding a swing set or tree house for extra fun.

Outdoor Kitchen

Speaking of outdoor cooking, if you want to really beat the heat indoors, do your cooking outside in an outdoor kitchen. Ovens and stoves can generate a surprising amount of heat, so cooking outside means that all of that heat stays out of your home. It can be great for entertaining too, since you can hang out with everyone outside while you're cooking. When making plans for an outdoor kitchen, consider what sort of cooking you're most likely to do and design your kitchen around that. Make sure you have a way to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold to keep them safe and out of the food temperature danger zone.

Landscaping

Landscaping is another important factor to keep in mind when constructing a summer home. This has both fun and practical importance. Good landscaping is pleasant to look at and enjoyable to spend time in. It's also more likely to be easier to maintain and can protect your property from water damage. This is especially important if your house is located in an area that experiences significant amounts of precipitation, regardless of what season it occurs in. It's important even if you live in a dry area, since it's possible for your sprinkler system to malfunction and result in a large quantity of water being spilled.

Add Greenery

Adding greenery to your summer home has multiple benefits. Trees have a cooling effect and can offer additional privacy to your property. Shrubbery and flowers can elevate the beauty of your property. When done well, beautiful and balanced greenery looks amazing and can boost your property's value. When selecting plants and greenery to add to your property, consider what season they look best in, the height and spread of the plant, and the color. All of these factors play into how well the plant will fit into the overall picture you're trying to create and may help you place it optimally.

Water Features

Few things say summer like water, and water features are a great way to give your summer vacation home character. Water fountains and waterfalls provide the relaxing sound of running water. Tranquil koi ponds offer the opportunity to view mesmerizing fish whenever you want. Outdoor showers let you wash off the dirt, grime, and sweat from playing outside, keeping the outdoors outside where they belong, rather than tracking it through the house to get to the bathroom. You can even add your own personal little stream and enjoy the sight and sound of a babbling brook without having to leave your property.

Summer vacation homes can be a great way to get away from it all. When constructing your summer vacation home, plan it well and make it a truly relaxing place you'll want to visit again and again. You might find you're able to better face normal life after a relaxing stay at your home away from home.

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