Take a moment this weekend to get going on these fun summer preparation activities so your summer is a breeze!

1. Add lighter and brighter accents to your home – Get rid of the winter feel in your home and add some fresh cut flowers. Brightly colored flower pots outside with bright throw pillows on your patio furniture will help create a summer feel.
2. Clean out your freezer – To make more room for popsicles and burgers for the BBQ! Throw out anything that has been in your freezer for over a year.
3. Get your summer-time party dishes out – Do you have accident-proof dishware? Make sure your blender is ready for margaritas and you’ve done your research on Pinterest for some yummy warm weather appetizers.
4. Improve your summer breeze flow – Replace your air conditioners filter. If you have ceiling fans, make sure the blades are tilted upward as they spin to push air downward, creating a stronger draft.
5. Clean your windows – Invite summer inside with sparkly clean windows, inside and out! Change out your thick, heavy drapery for sheer material that flow in the summer breeze.
6. Pay special attention to your deck – Your patio or deck will be a main hangout this summer so why not spruce it up. Clean your outdoor furniture and add candles, flowers and pillows.
7. Clean up your BBQ – Disassemble your BBQ and clean all the parts with soapy water. Make sure to disconnect the gas first!

Check out our helpful tips to creating the perfect backyard for you to enjoy all year long.

Perfecting Your Deck Or Porch – You want to make sure your deck has ample room.  This doesn’t mean it has to be really big by any means, just making the space user friendly is important. Arrange BBQ’s and patio furniture on your backyard patio so you can easily move around it. Instead of crowding the floor space with potted plants, try hanging these plants or placing them on the grass where they won’t be in the way but still provide color to enjoy.

Make The Outdoors Comfortable – Just because you are outside in your backyard doesn’t mean you have to suffer. It is important to have protection from the sun and other outdoor elements. You may want to enclose your porch or build a cover for your patio. A good idea is a retractable canopy or awning so your patio isn’t always covered.

Outdoor Furniture – There are so many different styles of outdoor backyard furniture to choose from you don’t have to settle for options that do the bare minimum of simply providing a place to sit. Find furniture which allows you to relax in comfort for as long as you desire.

Choose Quality – Just because a backyard idea may seem flashy and fancy at the time doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a good idea. Be careful going overboard on creating a lush and tropical backyard getaway. You want to make sure you can get a return on your investment. Choose backyard upgrades that will add lasting value to your home.

The Lawhead Team would like to share some great tips for making your backyard patio the perfect retreat this summer.

1. Add that relaxing sound of water. Enhance your relaxing moments on your backyard patio with a small fountain trickling over large stones.
2. Create a spot in the shade. Take advantage of that big shade tree in your yard. When it’s hot out during the summer or you need a break from gardening chores, you’ll have a nice quaint shady area to relax in.
3. Add a flower border to the edges of your patio. If your patio looks like it’s just been dropped in your yard, plant flowers like annuals, perennials and shrubs around the edges.
4. Add a rug or carpet to your patio. There are a lot of options when it comes to high quality and weather resistant rugs for your patio. Choose a colorful rug to spice up your backyard.
5. Add fun and charming accents to your patio. Do you have an old wagon or wheelbarrow? These can be turned into decorative holders for your container garden or you can simply plant flowers right in your accent as well. If you want to brighten up your accent piece, add a fresh coat of brightly colored paint to your wagon or wheelbarrow.
6. Build a fire pit or use a propane fire pit on your patio. You can easily make a fire pit out of flagstone slabs or small boulders. This make for a great warming outdoor space in the spring and fall.
7. Add a wandering path with fragrant flowers alongside. While you’re relaxing on your patio, you can enjoy the rich aroma of the beautiful flowers you’ve planted.
8. Use accent and mood lighting on your patio. Add ambiance to your favorite seating area with low voltage solar produced lighting. Also adding tiki torches will bring a tropical feel to your yard.
9. Add a planter box to your patio décor. Planter boxes are a great way to showcase your favorite small plants. There are always new colorful annuals coming on the market every year.