Freshen Up Your House With Spring Decor, step by step
Who wants to make like Will Smith and get springy with it?
Q: Hey folks. I am so not in the mood to work this morning so I thought I’d ask you a question. With the seasons changing, what are some of your must haves for spring? Like, are there certain décor switches you make to get things feeling a little sunnier and fresher? Are there any pointers you have or things people can do regardless of their color scheme or current décor that would instantly transform a room from winter to spring? Do you keep specific décor items on hand specifically for spring? Thanks! -Jennifer
There is nothing better than when spring is at last in the air after a long cold winter. Heck, even when the weather is still on the chilly side and the grass has not truly greened up yet, it is remarkable what simply a taste of nearly-spring can do for the psyche. And when it comes to our decor, there is nothing I like more than breathing a little fresh spring-like life into Casa Petersik. And there are tons of low-cost and plain ways to do that- like a few vases of fresh flowers peppered around your home (you can even bringing in leafy or flowering branches from outside for a free spring pick-me-up).
Another straightforward spring switch is to introduce a few bright & glad pillows, throws, and even some lighter bedding (a cheerful spring-like duvet from Ikea can only set you back 12 or 14 bucks). And of course simply putting away those heavy wool blankets and throwing open the windows to catch a warm breeze can truly make your house feel fresher and lighter in a snap.
We do not do anything that is specifically Easter themed with bunnies or baskets full of that fake grass stuff, but we enjoy the idea of introducing simply two new punchy green, yellow or blue pillows (or any other glad spring color) in the place of more subtle or subdued pillows on your sofa or bed (and you can spend less than $14 for two of them at places like TJ Maxx and Home Goods). We also enjoy the idea of a especially low-cost cake stand from Marshall’s or Target with a bunch of colorful lemons and limes (or oranges and bananas) on it in the kitchen to make your whole house feel like spring.
And beyond bringing in accessories in brighter and happier colors (like orange, yellow, lime, turquoise, fuschia, etc), crisp white accessories truly feel springy – especially in the place of anything in the mocha, maroon, red, evergreen or burnt orange color family. So if you look around and see tabletop accessories in those tones, try switching them out for white lacquered boxes, clean white vases or even a green potted plant in a sleek white Ikea planter (they are simply $1!) for an instantly fresher display.
At the same token, any throws, pillows, bedding or even curtains in those deeper more wintery tones can be swapped out for something lighter and airier (and it does not have to break the bank thanks to two-for-$9.99 white Ikea curtains and clearance duvets & shams from places like Marshall’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and of course Ikea).
And there are so many more small spring-y things you can do to add some plain freshness and style to your casa in honor of the impending warmer weather, so here are a few more ideas:
1. Bring home a ceramic bowl or two in a sunny springy color like lime, yellow, turquoise, orange, or fuschia and use ’em to corral your keys on the kitchen counter or pop a candle inside of them to create instant spring votives.
2. Toss a colorful scarf over the back of your home office chair or hang it on a hook in your mudroom:
3. Switch out a black and white portrait for something colorful and lively (Etsy has tons of lovely handmade art for low-cost- like this deliciously spring-like print that we snagged for $12.50 for the nursery).
4. Fill a glass hurricanes or a clear cylinder vase with oranges & lemons or lemons & limes for an straightforward and festive springtime centerpiece:
5. Pick up three fairly white scalloped bowls (or loot your cabinets for something festive) and fill them with jelly beans. Set them out in a line down the center of your dining or coffee table for a sweet springy “runner” that look as good as it tastes.
6. Grab punchy patterned, floral or striped wrapping paper and use it to cover those ugly manilla folders on your home office desk. Heck you can even frame it as art or cover some cardboard shoe boxes for fairly storage bins that add to the spring ambiance.
7. Paint an old lamp base in a bright glossy hue and top it with a crisp white shade (if you do not have one on hand you can pick one up at a yard sale or thrift store and use high-gloss spray paint for the makeover).
8. A bold table runner (or two) can add so much color to your whole kitchen or dining area. Top them with plain white vases or bowls to keep things from feeling too crazy:
9. Find some inexpensive botanical prints (like this) and frame them in any space for an effortless dose of nature (bonus: you do not even have to water them).
10. Little ceramic birds like these would add freshness to any console or side table:
11. Grab a canvas from an art store and some 99 cent paint to create a showstopping abstract art piece (like this) for above your sofa or bed.
12. Whip up an upholstered headboard in a lively punchy hue (lime green? coral? sky blue?). Here is a step by step walkthrough for you.
13. Paint the inside of any lamp shade a spring-like color so it subtly shines through when it is on (soft pink consistently makes for a flattering glow).
14. Line your drawers for a lively dose of pattern and hue whenever you open them (here is how).
15. Hit up the fabric store for a yard or two of fabric to make your own low-cost and plain table runner.
16. Save old wine bottles, remove their labels (here is how), grab a few vases in a second color and display them all en masse on a tray:
17. Keep all of your bedding the same but swap out your pillow cases for something bright (teal? lime? daffodil yellow? rose?) so you wake up glad and energized.
18. Grab some bright outdoor pillows and planters to punch up your porch or patio (we got all these from Home Depot on the low-cost):
19. Toss a brightly colored tray on your coffee table or ottoman (filled with anything from hardcover books to glossy magazines) for a pleasant dose of cheerful saturation.
20. Soft colored blooms grouped in a similarly toned vase consistently looks chic without much arrangement effort at all:
21. Hang breezy white sheers or soft fluttery curtains on any window (again, they are especially low-cost at Ikea or you could make your own) for an instantly softer and lighter effect.
22. Take the paper covers off your hardcover books to reveal their colorful spines (we found that some of ours were coral, turquoise, lime green, and even pink paisley) and display them in a stack on an ottoman, side table, coffee table, or console table.
23. Cloth napkins in a bold hue look casual and lively on a dining table with some hand snipped leafy branches from outside (read: free) in a clear vase:
So those are simply a few ideas to add a little spring sparkle simply in time for warmer weather. From spray paint to wrapping paper and beyond, there is no limit to the low-cost-o changes that you can introduce for some festive flowers-are-blooming-and-birds-are-chirping ambiance. And we’d enjoy to hear what you folks do to usher in the season of buds and bumble bees. Any spring decorating traditions or projects that you are itching to take on? Do tell.
