Spring decor
With spring officially starting tomorrow, it’s time we get our spring cleaning and organizing done before we head outdoors to the garden and landscaping projects we’ve been dreaming about and planning all winter long.
Spring decor is light and bright. We want to create a sense of renewal, new beginnings and a rebirth, so start by removing any unnecessary items from your rooms, such as excess accessories. Edit, edit, edit and lighten up the amount of accessories in your rooms.
Too many pillows and throws on the sofa that have accumulated over the winter months need to be toned down, and perhaps the bed linens need to be switched out to lightweight fabrics and airy textures.
Too many magazines stacked beside a favourite reading chair? Recycle them.
Too many knick- knacks on the fireplace mantel? Pack them away and leave the mantel clean and bare.
Take care of the clutter as well — get everything organized and stored properly, and toss away any unnecessary junk.
Broken, tattered and over- used items need to be replaced or repaired. If you can’t repair it, then toss it. If it needs fixing, then fix it. These next couple of weeks are the perfect time to tackle those repairs we avoided all winter.
Don’t be afraid of what may seem like a larger, more foreboding job, such as painting. If your walls won’t wash clean, then get out the supplies and fix them with a fresh coat of paint.
The same goes f or broken, scratched or dented furniture. Re- glue loose legs and handles, and give all your wood and leather furniture a thorough waxing and conditioning. At your local do- ityourself centre, pick up a product to take minor scratches out of stainless steel and give the kitchen sink or fridge a once- over. You should also pick up a good grout cleaner and give tile surfaces an overhaul. Add citrus oils to your air diffusers to bring in a fresh, clean scent. Replace worn out entrance carpets with new mats.
Once all the repairs, cleaning, decluttering and refreshing is complete, the fun begins. Time to decorate for spring.
Consider crisp white linen slipcovers on dining chairs or even on a leather recliner in the living room.
Set a vase filled with fresh white tulips on the kitchen countertop, in the powder room, and on the nightstand next to your bed. Fill other vases with newly budding twigs and treat yourself to a beautiful new tropical plant to fill a vacant corner.
Bring home a toss cushion or two for the sofa ( now that you’ve reduced the number that accumulated over the winter). There are some beautiful pillows out there this year that sing spring with bright hues and floral or butterfly motifs.
Take care of your home and it will take care of you — that’s living fabulously!
Cheryll Gillespie is an award- winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her at www. rockhousestyle. com.