Summer Cottage Prep

Even though summer is in full swing, there is still plenty of time to use a summer cottage if you are fortunate enough to have one. If it has been sitting empty all year, however, the thought of cleaning and fixing it up might be daunting enough that you want to just forget about it until next summer. It doesn’t have to be, however, with some tips to make the most of our time you can have that cottage vacation ready quickly, leaving plenty of time for the actual vacation!

Clean

To maximize your cleaning time, Bed Bath & Beyond recommends starting at the top and working your way down as well as focusing on one task at a time rather than one room at a time. Clean the ceilings first including light fixtures and sweeping for cobwebs, then move to the windows dusting the frames and using a window cleaner on the glass and washing curtains. Next focus on washing down the walls and cleaning any artwork and lastly take care of the floors by vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.

Repair

When a place is unused for a good portion of the year there are often repairs that need done. Check big items first like furniture that may be ripped, rugs that may be stained, and appliances that may be broken. After those are taken care of by professionals, move on to smaller items such as pillows, decor and curtains, most of which can be fixed quickly by hand.

Decorate

After the hard work is done, it is time for the fun part, decorating! Whether you need to update the whole style, or simply add a few new pieces to breathe some life into the place, decor is very important to set the mood of your cottage. Make sure whatever you choose reflects all the things you love about summer, from beachy accents to summer florals to country charm, and enjoy your cottage.