Refresh your home for the season ahead with these clever tips and tricks
As we bid farewell to the chill of winter, there’s no better time to breathe new life into your home and welcome the freshness of the next season.
It’s often subtle changes that can make the world of difference when it comes to the look and feel of a house – whether that’s introducing lighter colours through soft furnishings, adapting window dressings to suit the longer daylight hours, or incorporating biophilic (connecting to nature) design principles into your decor. Here are five easy ways to help your space blossom this spring.
1. Introduce lighter colours
Adding softer hues to your home is a surefire way to get you in the mood for spring, says interior stylist Sally Cullen (@sally_stylist). She recommends swapping heavy, wintery soft furnishings such as dark velvet cushions for lighter linens and pastels tones, and packing away heavy throws and blankets. If you can stretch to upgrading your furniture, she recommends neutral sofas and armchairs.
You could even go one step further and add a gentler wash to walls, or for a quicker win, switch your artwork to floral accents for an easy nod to the new season.
2. Maximise natural daylight
As spring arrives, so do the long-awaited extended days. Make the most of the increasing daylight hours by maximising your source of natural light, says Sally. ‘Ensure your windows are clean inside and out and swap your heavy curtains for lighter voiles (or no window dressings at all) to let the light flood in,’ she advises.
Sheer drapes are a great way to filter sunlight and create a warm glow inside, while strategically-placed mirrors can expand the look and feel of a space. You could also rearrange furniture to ensure light reaches every corner of the room.
3. Adjust your light settings
An easy way to create a welcoming ambience is by tweaking your lighting scheme to reflect the soft glow of natural daylight at this time of year. Sally recommends swapping winter daylight bulbs for a lower Lumen rating to reflect the brighter evenings, and investing in dimmer switches for flexible lighting options.
‘Think about how you want to feel when you’re in your space, too,’ she says. ‘If you want to feel uplifted, consider adding layers of lights, from the table to the floor.’ Place lamps on furnishings like low-level side tables or this almond-coloured Bellino Footstool from DFS, or add pendant lights to open-plan areas to create a sense of spaciousness and mirror the bright mornings.
4. Switch up your scents
Few things are more powerful than the ability of scent to alter our mood. Swap heavy wood and spicy aromas for fresh and floral fragrances like citrus or lavender, or bring in earthy elements like cedar and eucalyptus to sync up your senses to the season. Sally suggests scented candles and essential oil diffusers as a potent way to perfume a room, but adds that fresh blooms and growing spring bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips or hyacinths, will also do the trick.
5. Bring the outside in
As well as fresh flowers, adding natural elements such as potted plants, trees and foliage to your home is a great way to boost health and wellbeing and create a connection to the natural world, according to Sally. She suggests adding in biophilic design features such as foraged flowers and greenery from the back garden, a monthly floral subscription and nature-inspired decor such as botanical prints or wooden accents to bring the blossoming outside in.
