If spring cleaning isn't rejuvenating your home the way you'd hoped, it may be time to stop de-cluttering and start decorating.
As interior designer Janine Wilson explains, introducing a bit of seasonal flare can freshen the atmosphere of your living space without spring cleaning your bank account.
Wilson, who owns The Mill home design store in North Vancouver, says one inexpensive way to prettify the home for spring is to place some long budding branches in a vase and display them on the mantle or dining room console table.
"That's a really cool way to kind of bring spring inside," she says, explaining magnolia buds or simple green buds make an attractive indoor accent. "They last for a long time. You can just change out the water and they look beautiful."
Foreseeing a seasonal attraction to all things growing, The Mill will be offering terrarium-making workshops in April where people can create their own miniature green wonderlands to display at home or work.
Wilson, who also does design work for local developers, says she is drawn to curiosities that remind her of growing up in Montana.
"I'm trying to not duplicate what you can find everywhere else and really try to offer something different and eclectic and one-of-a-kind." Another inexpensive idea to liven up the living room or bedroom for spring, she says, is to add a few new throw pillows.
"They're not a big money commitment and they're usually pretty fun and bright," says Wilson. "Or a toss blanket in the
living room in a bright colour if you're not a pillow person."
New in store for spring are knit blankets in a variety of vibrant tones.
"We're doing a lot more stuff in brighter colours. This year's definitely not going to be shy on colour, I don't think," says Wilson.
For more daring decorators, there's always paint. At $20 to $50 a can, paint is an economical do-it-yourself design job that is as temporary as you want it to be. Wilson suggests a bold splash of colour on a small wall.
"I have an unexpected three-foot wall between my living room and dining room and I have that as an accent wall," she says. "It's tiny but it's a good place to bring in a bright colour."
Finally, there's a spring design solution for frugal folks who want to achieve a fresh look without spending a dime.
"The one free thing that seems to come to mind is just rearranging your furniture," says Wilson, explaining a few repositioned pieces can make a dramatic difference, especially in the living room.
