©lolatemie
All the best changes start from within and at home. The way your home is can play a big part in your mood and general countenance so it is always good to take care of your living space and in some cases give it a wee revamp from time-to-time. If you caught my first blog post in the spring-spiration series you'll know that I already touched on all the feelings that spring evokes. One of them being change and the birth of new things.
So if you're excited for all the transition in your own life that comes with this season, then making some changes at home is a great place to begin, without spending a fortune too.
| SPRING CLEAN MACHINE |
©idealhomeuk
Spring is a great time to face those household tasks. I mean, they don't call it a spring clean for nothing! For me, it doesn't just mean giving the house a quick clean, it means giving it a DEEP clean. Like on your hands and knees scrubbing the skirting boards deep clean! A lot of the time, just by being and looking that extra bit cleaner, it gives your home a better ambience Get the dusters out, get the heavy duty bin bags and intense cleaning products and once the place is looking spick and span, invest in some scented candles or room diffusers to give off fresh, floral, spring scents.
Now that the sun is a little more prominent and the blinds won't be shut all the time, I want nothing more than to let all that light in, so one of my favourite spring cleaning tasks, is giving the windows a good wash. If you're blinds are going to be open, it's easier to see the dirt and marks on your window that you would't usually notice and once they're clean, it also means we're that been closer to summer and having them open.
A thorough clean may sound like a tedious task but you'll feel so good once you've done it. Promise!
| DECLUTTER THAT CLUTTER |
@ikeauk
It is time to declutter. Yes, that pile of old books and mail that has been increasing over time in your bedroom and that corner of the house which you've conveniently "forgotten about" or not had time for is calling your name! Whether you're rocking life in your one bed flat or in a house full of family, getting the house cleared out of the things you no longer need that's taking up space and making you procrastinate like you've never procrastinated before is so necessary. However, if you're a serious hoarder or have just accumulated a lot more things since the end of last year, or just simply a busy person, this can also seem like such a daunting task.
What's great about doing a declutter and reorganise of your belongings is that you don't have to do your whole home in a day but you can spread it over a few days or weeks. Sort through your wardrobe and see what you can give away to charity, while at the same time making more room for all your winter coats and heavy jumpers that need to get stored away. Get yourself down to IKEA and grab some storage boxes, label them with the things that need to be kept and get rid of all those bits that you've been keeping for years 'just in case'. Be thorough and be brutal about what you keep and what you throw away, not only will you accumulate more space, but just like spring cleaning, it will feel oh, so satisfying!
| COLOURS AND TEXTILES |
©loafhome
Let's be honest, spring is ALL about colour, whether in the form of clothing, design and even just the day-to-day things that our eyes are drawn to. We all know that Burgundy plum and orange shades are associated with autumn. Similarly, bright, pastel colours are part of the spring palette. Adding distinct pops of colour to your home can help make it look new and different to match the changing seasons and also the changes that may be happening in your own life around you. Colour plays a crucial part in changing seasons as well as our own changing moods and personalities.
Now I don't mean do something drastic like repainting all your walls (emphasis on the word 'pops' of colour) but this can be as simple as getting some coloured vases or ornamental and decorative pieces and dotting them around the place. Changing the colour and fabric of your cushion covers on your sofa, can make a huge difference too. Velvet is definitely very much still in this season, so just by adding some vibrant velvet cushions to your sofa can help give it feel of revival and luxe. Trade in any darker shade of bedding that you have for something lighter, but more importantly, lighter fabric all round too now that the winter days are *ahem-slowly-ahem* making an exit.
| REPOSITION, REPOSITION, REPOSITION |
©heals_furniture
Sometimes it isn't just about getting rid of or replacing things to really embrace and experience change, other times, it's more about actually physically repositioning things/yourself in life, whether that be going away on a break, getting a new job or moving location completely. With regards to the change in your living space, moving home every spring is a little farfetched but in this case, it can be just about moving your furniture.
Reshuffling furniture helps give a room you are familiar with a completely brand new feel and atmosphere without it costing an arm and a leg or doing anything too drastic (like moving house). Have a play with the placement of things - sofas, tables, cabinets even your digital devices (if wall sockets allow), photographs, artwork and decorative pieces. In doing this, it won't just make the room alone feel different, but it will make you feel different every time you're in the room.
| PLANT POWER |
©madedotcom
If you already love your home and are into home design and decor trends then I imagine you have extra housemates knocking about in the form plants. No? Then what are you doing?!?! Plants have regained a name for themselves in recent years, with everyone wanting to create urban jungles in their living rooms and with the new found knowledge of their health benefits, the houseplant hasn't just become a must-have trend accessory but also a home necessity for some; with studies showing that indoor plants offer improved air quality, psychological wellbeing and physical wellbeing.
You're thinking, "but spring is all about flowers and our dining table space is already occupied by an outrageous bouquet". Well the truth is, those flowers will be dead within a week so rather than just purchasing another bouquet, why not shake things up and make a foliage bouquet from palm and banana leaves or just using a simple bundle of eucalyptus can create a nice statement piece on your coffee table. If you change the water and trim the stems regularly, these will stay fresh for longer. If you've just done a huge spring clean and are left with lots of clear space, why not opt for a hanging plant or large standing house plant, which again, if looked after properly will last you a good while and save you some extra cash!
| GET GROWING THE GOODS |
©bandq_uk
Having a rather drawn out winter and just winter in general means that us Brits probably haven't spent all that much time in our gardens. We've recently spent a couple of days attending to our very overgrown garden. We've slowly spent a little bit of time here and there over winter doing a few bits, but now that it's bearable to be outdoors for longer than half an hour, it's meant that we can really give it our time and attention. It's a great time to get your garden ready for the summer.
For those of you who have your garden in order already, then spring being the season of bloom is your time to shine. If you grow your own flowers then you can also cut some of those, make your own flower arrangement and have them indoors. Jump on the homegrown fruit and veg bandwagon too. Nothing says change like eating healthy produce that's been grown in your own back garden. The possibilities are endless of what you can grow with what's available season. You don't need to be an Alan Titchmarsh to know you're way around the garden, a lot of products are very user friendly for complete novices, just start off with a small patch or even just a single plant. Who knows, it might even become a new hobby.
What do you usually like to do to get your home ready for spring or when you just feel like your home needs a little sprucing up? Leave a comment below to share your own tactics.
