Forget spending a fortune on a villa in the sun, many of us are spending cash on 'making our homes our castles' this summer. Research from online marketplace eBay.co.uk shows that a third of Britons (33%) are spending more on doing up their home and garden than on their summer holiday this year, with nearly a fifth of us (18%) spending the same on both.
Home and Garden on Female First
The research shows that we're spending an average £432.94 on our homes over the summer with those in the West Midlands proving the most house proud, spending nearly £30 above the national average (£461.35).
- See the upside of less sunshine this August, prepping exterior walls and applying a fresh coat of paint, the finish will be better if you don't apply in direct sunlight
- Put up a swanky shed, our most expensive sells for £10,000
- Turn an older shed into a playroom to contain the kids or create your own games room, gym or sanctuary
- Prepare for glimmers of sunshine by creating an al fresco dining area with some decking and a state of the art BBQ (eBay.co.uk lists 3,000 of them)
- If the weather holds off and you need more room for guests, give your garden a touch of the tropics and put up a hammock
- Display your crafting by hanging box frames with pressed summer blooms or finds from the beach and hang up that bunting.
- Get pruning and trimming - get rid of stray branches which could cause damage ahead of muggy summer thunderstorms
- If you have vacationed or 'staycationed', put up shelving to house well-thumbed holiday reads or travel treasures
- Repurpose old furniture, sanding and painting to turn shabby into chic
- Take advantage of a rainy day by stencilling and turning a wall into a work of art.
eBay.co.uk spokesperson Laura Wilkinson-Rea says: 'It seems like we're all going on a summer Holi-DIY this year, whether it is investing in essential home improvements or enjoying a little summer luxury during a staycation at home.'