Spring Refresh

Spring is around the corner, which means summer is getting closer! There is something unique about spring in that it provokes a sense of hope, prosperity and youthfulness.

Spring cleaning is almost a given during this season, but sometimes a deep clean just isn’t enough and a home may need something extra. Here are five low budget (or free) ideas to refresh your home and welcome in the new season.

PERFECTLY PAINTED

Updating your home for home for spring might be as simple as giving a few rooms a fresh coat of paint. This year’s colour palette has a range of neutral and interesting hues, some of which perfectly compliment the season.

Farrow & Ball’s 2020 Colours of the Year offer up some inspiration to help with selecting the right colour for spring. I am particularly drawn to ‘Setting Plaster’, which oozes femininity and is reminiscent of the blossom that appears on trees during this season.

Although blossom is beautiful and leaves you feeling hopeful and refreshed after a long and cold winter, it eventually falls and gives way to vibrant, green leaves. The ‘Sap Green’ colour from Farrow & Ball is reflective of fresh new leaves, and will will emit a sense of calm and optimism when incorporated into an interior scheme.

‘Hay’ is the third colour that this British paint company has teamed up with Setting Plaster and Sap Green. It would be too cliche to liken this tone to the sun that we see start to see much more of over the spring season. So, we will say it is light, bright and warming which is how I am sure we all want to feel as we transition from winter to spring.

Whatever the colour you go for, painting a few walls will give your home a new feel quickly and at a low cost. Painting is an easy DIY project, as it requires relatively few materials that are readily available at local hardware shops such as B&Q, Homebase or Wickes (Poundland also seem to be selling emulsion paint, however, I wouldn’t count on a wide variety of colours being available!)

LET THE LIGHT IN

Dark mornings and evenings will slowly fade away over the next few months so it is worth embracing the improved light levels by replacing or updating your window treatments. There are a wide variety of ways to dress windows (curtains, blinds, and window films to name a few) and each option has their pros and cons. Depending on the material and thickness, curtains are perfect for temperature and sound control as well as light control. Textile curtains also attract a fair amount of dust, acting as a filter from of grime coming in from the outside. The downsides to curtains are that they can be very expensive – especially if you have tall ceilings and wide windows!. You can DIY curtains for cheaper by using material found in haberdasheries or shoos like IKEA, however, they will not be as effective at sound, light and heat absorption. Blinds are typically cheaper – they consist of less material and are easy to install. In terms of light control, blinds can be a better as you can control them in two ways depending on whether you want the window fully or partially revealed. Blinds do need more cleaning and can be a hazard to young children so if you do not want the extra hassle, it might be best to avoid. Window films are great for offering privacy whilst allowing lots of light to enter a room which is why they are great for cloakrooms and bathrooms. Unless specialised/certified, films do not offer any thermal or acoustic benefits. Whichever option you go for, think about how the material, pattern, texture and colour of the window treatment will compliment the overall look and feel of your room.

REPLACE YOUR CROCKERY

Another low cost, but big impact idea might be to replace your tableware. If you’ve had the pleasure of raising children, you may have found that they break your plates or simply throw pieces away by accident. If this sounds familiar, then it is likely that you have mismatched crockery. Buying a new set for the home (even if it is just for special occasions!) can drastically improve the dining room decor by adding style as well as functionality. Beautiful pieces can be picked up for a minimal price at places such as Sainsbury’s, IKEA or even Poundland. If you do not want to buy a full eight-piece set, you can buy a smaller set that complements the set you already have. Different pieces can work together, as shown in the image below – try to play around with colour, texture and shape to give maximum visual interest. Along with new crockery, you could also think about getting a new table runner or other decor items such as candle holders and vases.

MIX IT UP

If you do not have the spare cash to spend on new items for the home at the moment, then rearranging, the furniture in a room, or swapping a few complimentary pieces between rooms can have a massive impact. Often, we kit a room out with furniture and leave the layout exactly the same for years on end – even if individual pieces are replaced along the way. Changing the orientation or arrangement of furniture, can alter the way light, air and people move around the room thus creating a new feel entirely. Another benefit to rearranging furniture is that you can take the opportunity to deep clean the room properly by getting into all of the corners and behind heavy items such as wardrobes. Additionally, switching things around can help to save or even out the wear and tear on your carpet, as you can hide areas that look worn and reveal the areas that were once protected.

IF YOU’RE FEELING BRAVE

Adding a garden room, such as a home office, gym or summerhouse can add a small amount (roughly 5%) to the value of your property. It is a cheaper way of extending your home without having to add an extension and depending on the size of the garden room, you may not even need planning permission. Garden buildings start from around £1,5000 and are quick to construct and not particularly disruptive in their construction. If you decide that this is the kind of project you want to undertake this year, be sure to consider the location and orientation of the building. Think about how the building will be accessed from the main house, how the light from the sun will affect it and whether there are onlooking issues from the neighbours. If you are going to invest in a garden room, you want to be sure that it is going to be practical for your family. If you like the idea of refreshing your outdoor space but do not want to commit to a more permanent structure such as a garden room, why not opt for a pergola? These can be beautifully styled to be the perfect space for outdoor entertainment.

Refreshing different spaces in your home is just one way of getting ready for the spring season and transitioning through the winter blues. While implementing your big spring plans, do not forget to actually go out and enjoy what nature has to offer over the next few months. Why not take a detour and drive down a tree lined street filled with blossom, walk through a park and observe the daffodils or visit your local farmers market for a taste of everything the season has to offer.