“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

-Doug Larson

Doug’s got it right! Don’t you just feel so empowered and peppy this time of year? Maybe you’re a Michigander and know the flux of seasons we can experience in one week, but one thing remains the same: the date on the calendar. You know it’s just a matter of time before harsh weather mellows out and warmer temps start to equalize. The extra hour of sun at night pushes us along saying, “Soon you’ll be outside to enjoy this accession of my light.” Oh the day when we aren’t experiencing a high of 41 degrees! Soon. Soon.

I start to geek out with spring rolling around to start a bunch of fun projects and one of my absolute fave things to do is… decorate! I’m one of those people that decorate for every season, and yes, spring is especially exciting. There’s something about making your home feel A) clean and fresh and B) welcoming and fabulous that really get my creative juices stirring.

You’ve heard the phrase “spring cleaning”. Well sometimes it’s about purging old stuff to make room for new, but it’s also a great time to freshen up the décor already present in your home. So below I’ve put together some tips for achieving the fresh home décor spring bolsters.

1. Silk Flowers

Never underestimate the value of fake botany. It’s nearly impossible to walk into a space that is thoughtfully decorated with beautiful flowers and not think it looks nice. Again, working with our spring theme here, nothing says “fresh start to the season” like a chic spread of flowers. And the best part is, you get the satisfaction of looking at luscious greenery without the hassle of watering. Ok, maybe it’s not a hassle to feed your plants, but if you’re like me, it doesn’t always happen.

• I’m sticking this subsection here because I do think a nice bouquet of real fragrant stems is always a nice touch. They’re alive, just like your home, and they can add some serious happiness to an otherwise drab area.

 

2. Utilize What You’ve Got

My home has a pretty generic color scheme while we are temporarily parked at this apartment. Z already had the leather couch and basically everything else from his bachelor pad before we got together. It’s a bunch of black and glass, classic but not overdone. I purchased some large “candle sticks” used at our wedding and have several lanterns lying around which are pretty straightforward pieces too. What I love about them, and the basic style we’ve got going in the living room, is that everything can transcend any season. You can add some garland and red berries (which I do) and call it Christmas. Add some coral flower buds and call it spring. Themes are endless.

Don’t let those decorative details just sit there; dress them up! There’s no need to go out and buy a ton of home décor for every season when all you need to do is rework it with interesting and season timely accents.

    

3. Scents, Ooh La La

If you’re like me, you associate memories with different scents. Certain smells bring about potent thoughts and feelings. Something I’ve found is that a good smelling house doesn’t just make you think of different times in your life, but it’s also very welcoming. I like to use a candle warmer that melts those little wax cubes. I’ve accumulated several scents, and each one sets a different tone. Note: for those sensitive to specific smells, experiment with natural scents that aren’t overwhelming. You can also go the diffuser route and avoid candles altogether.

Walking into a fresh smelling home sends a message, whether it hits you hard when you walk in, or it’s a subtle scent that takes you somewhere else entirely.

4. Get Creative

I found this white cake stand for super cheap at T.J. Maxx last year. I had a general idea of what I was looking for, and that was it! Naturally you’d guess I was using it for a cake, its regular use, but no. I needed a springtime/summertime coffee table centerpiece, so taking the stand I simply put a set of three candles on top and threw in a couple flowers to make it look snazzy. It’s simple, but effective.

There is always something lying around the house that isn’t being used and could be used for something other than its intended purpose. Find those basic household items and give them a facelift.

 

I hope these were helpful, or at least jumpstarted some ideas for you. Remember, decorating isn’t always about entertaining or impressing guests. You are the one who has to see it everyday, so make yourself happy! If you hate that chartreuse rug, do something about it. If you want to hurry along spring by adding some good vibes into the house, go for it! Have fun with it. So let’s get decorating!

 

Cheers!