Your home deserves to be as fabulous as you are (yes, I mean you!). Here are some ideas—some big, some small—on how to ‘oomph’ up your space, budget-consciously.
1. Create a Food Garden
Sustainability will never go out of fashion, and there’s nothing more satisfying than cooking an arrabiata with tomatoes picked off the plant or making a salad with rocket grown in your own garden.
Your food garden can be big enough that you can share your produce with your neighbours and friends or small enough to fit on your windowsill. Whatever space and time you have, rest assured that it will yield tasty rewards.
How to Start Growing Your Groceries
If you’re wondering where to start, begin by saving any seeds you get from your produce.
If you shop at a local farmers’ market or have fresh produce delivered to your house, you may end up with some delicious heirloom vegetables.
On the other hand, you can also consider a sprouting rack or growing some adorable microgreens to add colour and flavour to fresh meals if you live in an apartment.
If you want to green-up your porch, sweet potatoes turn into beautiful flowering creepers. Granadillas, known for their otherworldly flowers, can trail beautifully under awnings.
2. Collect Your Rainwater
Water collection tanks are an amazing source of free water for gardening, washing dishes, showering and anything else that doesn’t require potable water. If you’d like to use rainwater in your cooking, you can buy a water filter to get rid of any chemicals or unusual taste.
In order to collect this, you’ll need to alter your gutter system to redirect any rainwater into a collection tank.
You can easily do this by using a downpipe and a soft connecting hose. Simply turn the downpipe in the tank’s direction and affix the wide hose to the end. This creates a direct feed off your roof and into the tank.
It’s suggested that you have a small pump in your tank to stop stagnation and to pump water efficiently to wherever you choose to direct it to. Don’t forget to have an overflow too for those particularly rainy days.
3. Add an Outdoor Shower
An outdoor shower is easy to install and is cost-effective too. Plus, it doesn’t necessarily have to connect to your primary water supply if you collect your rainwater.
All you need is a small space you can screen off, a flagstone or other outdoor-suitable flooring, a plumbing connection and showerhead. To keep costs down and use less electricity, warm your water using a solar geyser.
Plants Love Steam
The runoff from the shower as well as the steamy environment created can sustain a number of different plants. Ferns are a superb choice since they add a tropical feel, but you can choose whatever suits your aesthetic and overall garden style.
Whatever plants you choose will create a soft, green haven, and your shower will be appealing, attractive and au naturel in every sense of the word!
4. Upgrade Your Patio
A paved patio is a wonderful addition, and it’s surprising how quickly it can become the heart of a home.
If you have a section in your garden that’s sheltered from the elements or gets a lot of sun, this is the perfect spot to tile and create an outdoor entertainment space.
Once you’re done with the tiling, you can add a café style table and chairs for your morning coffee or a larger table where you can dine alfresco. You could also add comfortable patio furniture and lounge chairs so you can relax and read a book or chat with friends and family.
The addition of soft lighting so you can enjoy your outdoor space at night is an excellent idea, and fairy lights create a superb ambience. Your patio is the perfect spot for potted plants too, and you can have troughs of flowers, bushes, small trees or even grow vegetables.
5. Create a Paved Path
Rather than a patch of unused lawn, your garden can be a paradise of scents and flavours, with tiny details that are easy to notice.
Map a path between flowers, herbs and vegetables so that you can lead your family and friends on a journey or you can enjoy the space on your own.
You can also lay garden paving in your preferred design and make that path a permanent feature. You’ll not only encourage people to explore your garden, you’ll keep their feet cleaner and drier in wetter winter months while preserving your lawn too.
Having a stone path gives the garden a sense of belonging, as you know that you and many others will walk on that path for many years to come. If your paving matches your patio, you can create a sense of seamless harmony between your garden and outdoor living space.
Be Inspired
If you want to add value to your home without spending a fortune, these DIY renovation projects are a great place to start.
A well-tended garden that offers a space where you can relax and spend time outside can go a long way towards boosting the value of your property. But once you’ve added all these things, you may decide that you don’t want to sell after all. In which case, you’ll be the one benefiting from all the value you added—and there’s nothing wrong with that 🙂
