Rejuvenating Your Space For Spring...
Ready for spring, but your room still reflects winter? It doesn’t take a
lot of time or dollars to transform your winter setting into an inviting
spring space. Every room needs a lift come spring to keep the vitality
alive! Let your space welcome the new season along with you.
Just as you review your spring wardrobe, you should have that same
critical eye on your home as well. Although many of us do not have the
funds to completely redo our rooms each season, there are many simple
things that can be done to add a new vitality to your space.
Start by taking a good look at your surroundings. Sure they are cozy
with all the wool afghans and chenille pillows, but do they convey the
message and feeling you want for spring? Does your mantel still have a
holiday feel? Do your feet sink into your area rug? Time to give your
space a facelift.
Start by removing the thick area rug. I know you love to sit and cozy up
to the fireplace in the winter, but it now feels just plain heavy. This
is a good time to send the rug to the cleaners while you place a natural
fiber rug in its place. Sisal, sea grass and jute are just some of the
many options available. Your room will instantly feel lighter.
Now is also the time to replace all the wool throw pillows with brighter
lighter fabrics, such as linen. This season is filled with an array of
beautiful colors in fabrics and accessories. Toss in some tangerine and
aqua and see how your room jumps to attention! While you’re at it, take
down the drapes and let the sun shine through. Replace with sheer panels
that blow in the breeze or simple unlined linen or cotton duck. Keeping
the fabrics simple adds to the overall relaxed feeling of the season.
Lampshades are easy to replace for the season. Purchase some inexpensive
shades and have some fun embellishing them with gross-grain ribbon, bead
trim, buttons or fabric paint. How about hot gluing some seashells to
the shade and placing a large bowl filled with shells and pillar candles
on your coffee table?
Clean out the fireplace and don’t forget to use the ashes in your
garden. There are many perennials and plants that love the addition of
ashes to the soil. Don’t leave the fireplace bare, but fill with a
display of candles, a decorative pot with a silk fern, birch logs
stacked with only their ends facing into the room, etc. Have fun with a
fireplace screen that you make yourself. Cut a piece of plywood or MDF
board and decoupage a floral design on the front or have fun with 3D
paint and gems. Perhaps a simple screen which has been stained or
painted in a geometric pattern would better fit your space. The sky is
the limit.
In the spring and summer when the days are longer and the feeling seems
less hectic, your mantel should reflect that feeling as well. Keep it
simple. Remove everything and start fresh. Perhaps just a simple
painting or mirror resting offside with a couple of interesting
accessories is all that is needed. Throw some caution to the wind. Don’t
think that the candlesticks need to be positioned on each side of the
mantel. Lighten things up a bit. How about just a simple row of votive
candle holders spaced evenly along the ledge. Place a single blossum in
every other votive instead of a candle. A glass vase overflowing with
branches of forsythia or dogwood make for a refreshing site of spring.
Slipcovers can do wonders. Simple, white duck cloth with a contrasting
piping looks clean and crisp on your sofa and side chairs. Not only will
the white slipcovers add new life to your space, but they can be washed
easily for those with children and pets.
Finally, lets not forget the power of paint. A fresh coat of paint on
the walls is your least expensive way to give a total impact to your
room. A coat of paint can also rev up your garage sale finds -- paint a
wall cabinet, a side table or an old side chair. For a few dollars, you
will be amazed at what a couple coats of paint can do. Have fun with the
colors as well. Try mango on your wooden side chair with a fun citrus
colored fabric on the cushion. Go for a lavender on the inside of the
painted wall cabinet and fill with simple white platters.
So don’t despair. It’s easy to transform your winter space a few simple
changes. Enjoy the seasons.
Toni C. Mott
Designing Spaces
610.407.9336
Read another interior decorating article...
Taking the Guesswork out of the Guest Rooms
There are many things you can do to make guests feel welcome, even if
you have only a small amount of space to offer. The ultimate goal is to
make your houseguests feel comfortable, welcome and to be able to
discover their own little place for privacy.
