After a long cold winter, nothing warms a decorator’s heart like the first signs of spring. Spring is a time to pack up the old, usher in the new, kick off the snow boots, and slip on the gardening gloves. If the warm weather has you itching to spruce up around the house, here are a few budget-friendly ideas that spring to mind. (See also: Your One-Month Guide to Spring Cleaning)
1. Clean the Windows
Let a little sun shine in. Clean your windows inside and outside to frame all that springtime green. For an easy homemade glass cleaner, mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Pour into a reusable spray bottle and channel your inner Hazel.
2. Declutter
No matter how wonderful your design skills or refined your tastes, clutter detracts from the overall function and beauty of your space. Box it up, bag it up, sell it, or donate it. It’s time to clear your mind by clearing some space.
3. Accessorize
Simple accessories like new towels in the bathroom, new pillows on the bed, or a new area rug can change the vibe of an entire room (and change your mood). If you don’t want to spend on new, check out the deals at your local thrift store.
4. Replace Hardware
Replacing knobs and drawer pulls on kitchen cabinets or a bathroom vanity is an easy way to update a look quickly. For a more coordinated look, match the finishes between door knobs, hinges, knobs, pulls, and other hardware like faucets, towel bars, and robe hooks.
5. Green It Up
Whether you grow plants, have a window-sill herb garden, or just arrange a few fresh cut flowers, adding a bit of green is a quick way to spruce things up. Get cuttings from friends or make dramatic bouquets with wildflowers, budding branches, and sculptural driftwood.
6. Reorganize Closets
Almost everyone hates to do it, but cleaning closets is nearly a rite of spring. Focus on one closet at a time — decluttering, cleaning, and organizing as you go. Trust me, Monday mornings won’t seem nearly so bad when you’re facing a meticulously organized closet.
7. Revitalize Furniture
Give natural wood a new lease on life with furniture wax or polish. For pieces that are a bit worse for wear, try a scratch cover that’s formulated to match the wood’s original stain. You’ll be amazed how far a little elbow grease goes.
8. Paint It
Repainting is a simple way to get big design bang for your buck. Paint can update old furniture; brighten a room; or freshen up a front door, mailbox, or window trim. Choose timeless and coordinating (not necessarily matching) colors for a professional look.
9. Rearrange and Refresh
Sometimes sprucing up is as simple as rearranging what you already own. Rethink rooms and reconfigure furniture. Decorate subtly around a theme, bring in accent pieces from other rooms, and don’t be afraid to experiment with an eclectic mix of periods and styles.
10. Choose One High-Profile Project
If you decide to splurge on a single item, make sure it’s high-profile. Investments in good paint, a deluxe area rug, one professionally reupholstered chair, or luxurious bed linens will set the stage for the rest of your more frugal spruce-up ideas. Anchored by one high-profile project, all the smaller details will shine more brightly.
I hope a few of these ideas inspire some warm-weather decorating ideas of your own. Remember, spring is the beginning of yard sale season too — keep an eye out for great bargains and weekend decorating projects you can do on a budget.
What are your spring spruce-up projects? What projects have been waiting for your creative touches all winter long?
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