Spring: Time to refresh your home
It’s the time of year when we feel renewal of energy, witness the rebirth of color through spring blooms and feel warmth in the air. Spring naturally inspires a desire to start anew, and there’s no better time to spruce up your home. There are many easy ways to refresh this season while not breaking the bank.
Flowers, flowers and more flowers
There are so many gorgeous, bright and colorful blooms in season that make us feel joy simply by seeing and smelling them. For an amazing flower selection at reasonable prices, Trader Joe’s can’t be beat. An even cheaper alternative is to gather some wildflowers on your next walk or hike.
Get creative in how you display these beauties. Think outside the box for unique vessels. Pitchers, mason jars, a favorite mug or a mint julep cup are all interesting ways to showcase fresh blooms. Chances are you may own some of these already—if not, try shopping at antique stores or vintage shops to find a unique steal. A few local shops to try are Ardesh Finds & Furnishings, the Champlain Valley Antique Center and Brianne’s Vintage Chic, all in Shelburne, and Anjou & The Little Pear Home in Burlington.
Bring on the color
We often decorate for holidays, so it’s fun to think more seasonally for décor rather than in celebration of one specific day. There are so many ways to do this on the cheap.
Pillows: Swap out your existing pillow covers with fresh ones. Put them over your existing throw pillow inserts on your bed, sofa or accent chairs. Using an indoor/outdoor fabric for pillows on a bench or chair on a porch or patio is fun, too. Bright spring colors and patterns will immediately warm up your space. Etsy has so many pillow shops to choose from and endless options to suit your style.
Rugs: It’s not practical or cost efficient to change out your large living room rug every season, but other smaller area rugs or door mats are easy to change. Indoor/outdoor rugs are usually a cost-efficient and practical option for high traffic areas or for those of us with kids and pets. Plus, they can offer up a fun color or pattern for your space. Try Dash and Albert online or Home Goods and Target nearby.
Art: Are your children bringing home colorful, spring-inspired artwork from school? Pick up vintage frames to showcase these, or even grab inexpensive artwork you may encounter at the vintage stores mentioned above. It’s a creative way to add more unique style in your home.
Furniture: Maybe you have a solid, lovable piece of furniture that just needs a refresh. Painting a table, chest or accent chair with a fun color to give your space the pop it needs may be the answer. Just pick a coordinating color that works with your current color scheme. Benjamin Moore has been my go-to for paint selection. Finish off the piece with some new hardware or knobs.
Paint and wallpaper: Fresh paint can do wonders for livening up a room. Perhaps your walls (like many of us with young children) are smeared with finger stains and dirt marks. Or your trim looks old and chipped. It’s amazing what a new coat of paint will do to brighten up your space. Maybe even go a few shades lighter or choose a more daring color. Depending how daring you are, consider painting or wallpapering a dramatic accent wall. Accessories: Small details have a bigger impact than we often realize. Decorative objects, throws, candles, hand towels and other little touches lend another layer of warmth and energy to a space. Experiment with moving things you already own from room to room if you don’t want to buy something new.
Clean up
There really is something to that old cliché of “spring cleaning.” Many of us innately get the urge to purge in the warmer weather, and it helps us feel light and unburdened moving into the new season. Organize your surroundings. Tackle one room at a time.
Bring nature inside
If nothing else, just open your windows. Let the sounds and the smells of spring waft through the house. Hearing the birds chirp and smelling the flowers outside is always a good idea.
Jen Novak is a locally based interior decorator at The Gilded Elephant Home Design & Décor in Charlotte. She works with clients on everything from interior design consultation to full-scale design projects. You can find out more at The Gilded Elephant website.