Spring is a time of cleaning, organizing, and renewing. While invigorating and refreshing as this time of year is, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with big to-do’s and project ideas. Check out these Top 5 DIY projects for spring!

1. Plant a Garden
2. Window Herb Garden
3. Laundry Room Organization
4. Add a Retractable Screen
5. Overhaul Garage Storage

 

1. Outdoors | Create a Raised Garden

Staying on trend with the eat local, fresh, and pesticide free movement; a raised garden offers a sustainable and hands option to get involved. A raised bed is advantageous over a ground level garden, as you can fill it with the exact soil of your choice. Plus, there is less worry about contamination from the surrounding soil.

How to build a raised garden? Lowe’s offers a great instructional video and even links to the necessary materials. Watch the video and get started!

Not sure what to plant? The plants listed below are hardy and what some would call beginner crops. They have no problem surviving a few cold spring nights.

• Lettuce Varieties
• Arugula
• Radishes
• Beets
• Carrots

 

2. Kitchen | Window Mounted Herb Garden

Spring is a great time of year to start your herb garden – indoors that is. Most herbs thrive in window spaces with ample light. You’ll be more likely to reach for a fresh sprig of thyme when they are right in your kitchen. Fresh is always best! Depending on the style of your kitchen you can adjust the pots accordingly by painting or decorating in any which way that suits your style.

Steps to creating your own herb garden can be found here, thanks to HGTV.

 

3. Laundry Room | Space Saving Accordion Drying Rack  

Although usually a small section of your house, keeping your laundry room organized helps free up space and makes this necessary chore less daunting. We suggest installing an accordion drying rack like this one. It folds right up when you are done using it! No need to take up extra space when not in use!

We also love this idea from The Sunny Side Up Blog, placing laundry baskets within drawers that are already in your laundry room. This way you don’t have to look at dirty laundry while waiting to wash your next load!

This trick is simple enough to emulate, just find a laundry basket that suits the size of your drawers and plop into the frame!

 

4. Exterior | Add Retractable Screens to your Doors

Easy enough to install yourself, a retractable screen helps keep the bugs out while still enabling you to enjoy the fresh spring air. After a long cold winter it’s nice to let some crisp air in to freshen up your space. Retractable screen doors are more convenient than traditional screen doors as well.

Overview

Time: A retractable screen door will take on average 4-6 hours to install, depending on your skill level and familiarity with the product of course.

Tools: All you need are a few basic hand tools and a cordless drill/driver.

Tip: Before purchasing a door, measure the inside width of the doorway at the top and bottom of the opening. If the door frame is out of square by 1/4 in. or less, you can go ahead and order the screen door. If it’s out by more than 1/4 in., you’ll have to adjust the jambs to square up the frame.

For exact installation instructions refer to the manufacturer’s instructions or read this general picture guide from This Old House.

 

5. Garage | Rev up your Garage Storage

We all have great intentions of having a perfectly organized garage with minimal clutter, and with this easy to install ceiling mounted garage storage system, you can make it happen. Using storage bins and plywood you’ll be on your way to a less cluttered garage in one day or less!

Follow the steps HERE and start this spring season with a less cluttered garage.

To save time and frustration, the following is a list of the necessary tools you will need to begin this project.

• Circular saw
• Cordless drill
• Drill bit set
• Hammer
• Level
• Miter saw
• Safety glasses
• Socket/ratchet set
• Stepladder
• Stud finder

What Spring DIY projects will you be tackling? Any on this list or do you have something else in mind? Let us know in the comments!