Spring through Summer Sparkle

Spring has sprung and you can bring its freshness into your home with these 5 tips!

  1. De-clutter!  Time to put away the winter boots, hats, gloves and winter paraphernalia that we in the Chicago area have to live with.  Even if you have to pack them into plastic bins and store them in the attic or basement, your home will look instantly fresher and more seasonal without all that heavy stuff lying about.

A light and airy entryway!

 

2. Get rid of grime! Nothing is as beautiful as the sun streaming through clean windows, and you’ll enjoy the fresh breezes with clean screens.

3.  Change accessories! Put away the heavy winter throws and pull out (or pick up) some pillows and accessories with a little pop and pizzazz. Think outdoor colors and lighter weight accessories like a wicker basket for books near a cozy chair, or some brightly colored candles on the mantle.

Bright and light throw pillows and lighter weight rug create a summery feel

 

4.  Flower power! Never underestimate the effect of fresh flowers.  Whether it’s a few sprigs of lilac from your yard, or a bunch of jonquils from the supermarket, flowers bring a breath of fresh air indoors.  Place them all over the house, like the guest room, powder room, and don’t forget the foyer for a warm welcome to your guests.

Flowers from your yard add beauty!

 

5.  Get cozy!  Find a sunny spot for a cozy sitting area.  Maybe it’s a porch, maybe it’s in the family room, or just a sunny spot in your bedroom.  Pull up a small chair and maybe a little table for a beverage, have a seat, relax and dream!

A cozy spot to read or dream!

Enjoy!

 

Spruce up this Spring!

Now that Spring has arrived, you’re probably assessing your home to determine which projects you’ll focus on in the coming months.  Sometimes that can be overwhelming as there’s often so much you want to do and for most of us, time and budget limit our choices.  The good news is you can often do some simple sprucing-up and make a big impact without having to blow the budget.  A recent client of mine is a great example.  They wanted to change the color of their family room, and add new artwork and a valance over their patio doors.  Here’s what it looked like:

The "before" picture. Sorry about the guy in the picture. They were having their windows cleaned!

I suggested a slight re-arrangement of their furniture, and we selected  a paint color that softens the room and blends well with the furniture.  Our valance incorporated most of the furniture colors but brought in a new pattern that’s sophisticated and some fun trim.  Once all that was done, we found artwork that made the space warmer and more inviting.

Here's one "after" view

 

Here’s another vantage point:

A simple color change along with new artwork and window treatment makes all the difference!

What rooms in your home need a tweak?  Don’t forget the outside of your house!  More on that in an upcoming post…

Happy Easter, and Happy Passover!