Late spring and early summer bring longer days, brighter light, and the perfect excuse to refresh your home. With just a few weekend projects, you can transform both indoor and outdoor spaces – making them more inviting and ready for warm-weather entertaining.
“It’s the season of renewal, and there’s no better time to tackle projects that bring light, energy, and joy into the home,” says Orlando Luis, CEO of Brights Hardware. “We find customers are looking for quick, impactful ideas they can do themselves – without spending a fortune or calling in a contractor. The key is choosing simple upgrades that don’t take weeks of effort but still deliver that ‘wow’ factor.”
Here are five easy projects to try this season:
1. Create a Vertical Herb Wall
Instead of cluttering your kitchen counter with pots, turn an unused wall or balcony corner into a living herb wall. It’s a vibrant, space-saving way to add greenery while keeping fresh herbs at arm’s reach for your spring cooking.
How To Do It:
- Fix a pallet, shelving unit, or pegboard securely to a sunny wall.
- Attach small planters, empty tins (labels on or off), or old jars using brackets, hooks, or cable ties.
- Fill with soil and plant herbs of your choice.
- Add plant markers for a polished finish.
People love this project because it’s both decorative and practical. You get a feature wall and fresh flavour for your meals. Even a few small planters with basil, mint, or parsley can transform a kitchen corner.
2. Build a Fold-Down Balcony or Garden Bar
Outdoor entertaining calls for clever use of space. A simple fold-down bar attached to a wall or fence creates the perfect spot for evening drinks without cluttering the garden, or if you live in an apartment, it works just as well on a balcony. Add hooks for glasses and shelves for mixers, and when you’re done, fold it flat to save space. It’s the ultimate weekend project to impress guests this season.
How To Do It:
- Cut a treated timber board to size for the countertop.
- Fix it to a sturdy wall, balcony railing, or fence with heavy-duty hinges.
- Use a chain or folding bracket to support the counter when open.
- Add a shelf or hooks above for glasses and bottles.
- Sand and seal the wood to weatherproof it or paint it a colour of your choice.
Whether you’ve got a garden, patio, or just a small balcony, a fold-down bar instantly creates an entertaining spot. With just a board, hinges, and some screws, you can build something that feels custom-made for your space.
3. Transform Your Bathroom into a Spa Nook
Bathrooms often get overlooked when it comes to DIY, but with a few clever touches, you can turn yours into a spa-like retreat. The beauty of this idea is that it works regardless of the size of your bathroom: in a compact space, a slim wall-mounted cabinet keeps things neat, while in a larger room, you can upcycle a small, free-standing unit or an old cupboard. Painted in a calming shade and stocked with spa essentials, it becomes a personal sanctuary.
How To Do It:
- Choose your base: a new or second-hand wall cabinet for smaller bathrooms, or a free-standing piece like a side table or cupboard for larger spaces.
- Sand, prime, and paint it in a calming colour—pale grey, white, or pastel green are great spa tones.
- Line the shelves with decorative adhesive vinyl or waterproof paper for a clean, finished look.
- Stock with spa must-haves: candles, bath salts, scented oils, and rolled towels.
- Add a battery-powered LED light or waterproof Bluetooth speaker to set the mood.
Bathrooms don’t usually get much DIY attention, but small changes can make them feel luxurious. Whether it’s a compact wall-mounted cabinet in a tiny flat or a free-standing piece in a bigger bathroom, creating a spa nook is affordable, quick, and makes everyday routines feel indulgent.
4. Give Interior Doors a Spring Makeover
Doors are often overlooked, but refreshing them can instantly transform a room. A pop of seasonal colour, textured moulding, or new handles adds character and makes interiors feel updated without replacing the doors entirely.
How To Do It:
- Lightly sand and wipe down the door.
- Apply stick-on moulding, beadboard, or wallpaper panels for detail.
- Prime and paint in a fresh colour such as sage green, pastel blue, or sunny yellow.
- Replace handles with a modern or statement design.
Updating your doors is one of the most affordable ways to give a whole room a lift. A tin of paint and a new handle can completely change the look, and it’s a project you can finish in a single weekend. It’s those kinds of changes that make people fall back in love with their homes.
5. Create a DIY Cinema Experience
Celebrate longer evenings with a cinema setup, whether in your garden, on your patio, or right in your living room. Outdoors, it’s a magical way to enjoy films under the stars; indoors, it’s the perfect way to turn an ordinary evening into a fun family night. All you need is a blank wall or a simple screen, a projector, and a little imagination.
How To Do It:
- For outdoors: build a wooden frame or repurpose a flat surface like a garage wall, and stretch a clean white sheet or canvas drop cloth tightly across it.
- For indoors: choose a blank wall or hang a white sheet securely.
- Set up a projector a few metres away (or connect a laptop to a mini projector).
- Add string lights, lanterns, or fairy lights for ambience, as well as cosy throws and cushions for comfort and warmth.
You don’t need a big garden, or even a garden at all, to create the experience. Indoors, a blank wall works just as well, and outdoors, a simple frame and projector can make an evening feel special. Add snacks and drinks, as well as good company, and suddenly your space feels like a private cinema.
Fresh Season, Fresh Home
These projects are achievable in a single weekend, but the results last all season. Whether it’s enjoying fresh herbs, a colourful new doorway, or a starlit cinema evening, they show that DIY isn’t just about repairs, it’s about creating joy in your home.
Brights Hardware stores are located in Boston, Blackheath, Langebaan, Mitchells Plain, Richmond Park, Plattekloof, Stonewood, Brackengate, and Sunningdale. Customers can also shop online at www.brights.co.za, with delivery across South Africa, including express delivery in Cape Town.
