Thanks to a stable economy and a tight housing market, home improvements are growing in popularity again this year. Even simple home improvement projects can add immense value to a property, but they can also improve quality of life for the homeowner. According to HomeAdvisor’s 2017 True Cost Survey, homeowners have spent 60% more money on home improvement in 2017 than in 2016. That’s a tremendous increase, especially since summer is typically primetime for renovation and landscaping projects.

Some popular home improvements are additions to the home, but we’re not talking about adding square footage or an extra bathroom to the home itself. In particular, many people are investing in porch additions, usually a porch enclosure or screened in porch, and backyard storage sheds. Both of these additions have many benefits associated with them.

A screened in porch can provide an enhanced aesthetic look while also adding more recreation space either in the front, side, or back, of the house. While some homeowners might use a porch as little more than a mudroom for coats and shoes, this space can also be put to creative use. It’s an excellent place for a porch swing, outdoor furniture, and creative lighting fixtures. When placed in the front of the home, it also can be used as a warm and welcoming entrance area for visitors. No matter how it’s used, a screened in porch is a good investment if you have a more active social life.

Of course, some outdoor additions to the home are more functional. The classic backyard storage shed is primarily used to store large, bulky, things like a lawn mower and other yard work tools. Usually, they’re full of gardening and yardwork supplies, but they can also hold things like firewood, spare parts, or tools. For anyone that spends most of their spring and summer outdoors, a high quality garden shed is a must-have.

Not only will these structures add to your enjoyment of your home, but these structures can also add value to your home. Screened in porches and raised decks, especially larger ones built for entertaining, are particularly of interest to certain homeowners. They’re great for social functions and grilling out, which can greatly improve the curb value of your home.

Building these additions from scratch will take a lot of work, but they can also be purchased ready-made for your home. However, remember that they can take up a lot of space, so make sure you carefully measure your available space.

If you’re interested in improving your outdoors spaces this summer, then one of these popular additions might be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.