Question of the Day: How Do You Refresh Your Home for Spring?

by Mandi on April 2, 2011

source: Ana_Cotta

I don’t know about you, but I have been anxiously awaiting spring since about mid-November. Now that it’s here, we’re opening the windows to let fresh air in whenever the temperature peeks above 50 degrees, and we’ve been busy spring cleaning and decluttering. All I need now are some fresh tulips for the kitchen!

I love the freshness of spring after a cold winter, and although we don’t do a lot of seasonal decor, I’m definitely looking for ways to embrace the season in our home.

So today I want to know…

How do you refresh your home in the spring?

Do you have seasonal decor that reflects the season?

Do you use fresh flowers more often in the spring?

In what other ways do you refresh your home in the spring besides through your decor?

Looking forward to reading your answers!

http://ellasmindlessmusings.blogspot.com/ Ella

The first is to lighten things up decor wise. Out come the lighter weight curtain panels & shower curtain with brighter/lighter tones. Throw pillows/slips & throws in similar tones are switched up (in the living & dining rooms). In the master bedroom our shell is neutral so it’s easy to switch things up seasonally. In spring and summer, I love echoing the lush greens with hints of yellow from the great outdoors. In the fall winter, I love bringing in colors (soft blues w hints of rose & pink) that cheer me and chase away the gray tones of colder colder norther weather. Second, I love brining in fresh flowers especially in whites and pale tones for spring. Lastly is to open the windows and air the house out. There is nothing like a freshly aired house to usher in spring!
- http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way
  
  Wow, Ella — I’m impressed! So how do you store your seasonal decor?
http://www.familybalancesheet.org Kristia

I don’t really change the decor, but just opening the windows and letting the fresh air in freshens up the house after being closed up all winter. I also cut some fresh flowers from our yard.
http://www.facebook.com/mindiesther Mindi Anderson

I also throw open all the windows for some fresh air flow. I typically start pulling out the warm-weather clothes and washing (coats/snowsuits) then, packing my winter clothes into storage.

Yay – Spring!
Melissabearm03

I open the windows more, we decorate with easter items and we seem to use lots more flowers in the house. We aslo get out the lawn chairs and spend more time outside.
Michelle

I open the windows the first day I can and that fresh air is just wonderful! I don’t have a lot of spring decorations (and my cats would unfortunately chew on fresh flowers ), but I like to freshen things that don’t normally get much attention (like washing pillows, etc.). Along with spring cleaning, I am in the mood for organizing and try to make each room look a little better that way.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GC7ZBIGOWOUT5OZM2LAABU4EW4 Kristin

I made pillows for the couch out of a bright green, blue, yellow and white stripe, which looks very cheery/summery/spring. I made slipcovers in a cream color out of fleece, which looks and feels warmer in the winter. They didn’t take hardly any money, or room to store, yet the change makes a huge difference in the living room.
- http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way
  
  Sounds beautiful!
http://livingthebalancedlife.com Bernice Wood

Great information. Inthe metro Atlanta area there is a HUGE international farmer’s market. It is an awesome place and always packed! They have so much to offer and I used to think it was such a great place. Well, it is STILL a great place for getting things we may never be able to get. However, your post has helped me to see that for the things that I CAN get locally, I should. I had looked into local farms and CSAs and I definitely want to get in the habit of buying close to home!
Thanks for all the info!
Bernice
- http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way
  
  It’s so funny how our perspective changes over time, huh? I think an
  international farmer’s market still sounds wonderful, but it is good to
  think about getting what you can more locally!
Sam

good thoughts. I am really starting to work on reading the labels & thinking about where that produce is coming from instead of just grabbing cuz it looks good! We do have a large garden & for the last several years I can quite a bit….this summer I’m hoping to try new & more things & lay out more of a plan than just winging it!
- http://yourway.net Mandi @ Life Your Way
  
  I hope to reach this point someday with my own garden. For now, I’m looking
  forward to the local farmer’s market opening this weekend so I can start
  there!
http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

Thanks for the simple reminders. I would like to add worrying about things that are out of your control. We can’t do anything about them, so no need to go crazy over them.
- http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek
  
  That’s so true. It took me a long time to figure that out!
- Carla
  
  People worry too much about having to make a decision about something. Sometimes no decision is required at all on your part and things work out. Another thing is that people have preconceived notions about the way things will be at an upcoming event (for example: a meeting, date, or interview, to name a few), when they will really have little to no control over the situation. They cause themselves to stress out about it. Usually thing work out more positively than they ever thought it would.
http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

Absolutely! It feels unnatural to say no, but the benefits, including more time to spend with your family or on your business, can outweigh the uncomfortable feeling you get when you turn someone down.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1001650339 Susan DeMark

I appreciate the timely wisdom. Each of them adds up to the sum of trying to squeeze ourselves into things that don’t work for us — whether it’s unrealistic goals, decision-making without considering our options, or planning approaches that do not work for each of us.

I’d like to add another: Trying to do too much at once instead of slowing down and pacing ourselves to accomplish what we need and want to do. I feel our ultra-connected world, while I am all for it, puts people in the situation of feeling like they need to respond to everything at once. I’ve recently begun to pace myself much better and I find I accomplish more.

Again, thanks!
http://twitter.com/WorkingNaked Lisa Kanarek

You’re right, Ryan. It took awhile for me to get used to saying no, but it’s been an invaluable skill. Thanks for your comment.