I know it’s really spring when we start talking about washing the windows. A clean window can change my perspective on the world!
Other than washing the windows, what else can you do to freshen up your home for spring? If you’re not in the mood to paint walls and don’t have the resources to buy all new furniture, there are still some fun, attainable things you can do.
Here are five simple and easy ways to freshen up your home.
- De-Clutter
Have you seen the Febreeze commercials about how we become “nose blind” to the odors in our home? I can relate. I also become oblivious of the clutter than can build up over the indoor seasons.
Designate one room each day and look at the room with fresh eyes. Go through the room and its contents and gather misplaced items and items you no longer need. Either get rid of stuff or put it away in its proper place.
My sister and I have a collaborative massive garage sale each year. As I go through this de-cluttering process, I fill up garage sale boxes with things I no longer need or use. At my stage of life I have downsizing on my mind so each year’s garage sale is well stocked!
Do you have some nice storage boxes or baskets? Rethink the storage items you have and make them more useful. If you don’t have a bunch of boxes or baskets, use cardboard boxes and cover them with pretty sticky paper. These can turn into decorative elements in your space.
- Houseplants bring freshness
I possess scant gardening skill, although I won’t give it up. Outside gardening is a massive challenge to me, but most of us can handle a houseplant or two. They bring life and freshness to a room.
(Pssst! It’s supposed to be pretty hard to kill a spider plant although I have done so. It’s a good plant to start with.)
- Move things around
I still have kids at home who remind me that sometimes you need to shake things up a bit! Literally.
Can you move your existing things around to give a new perspective? Maybe it’s putting that table under the window, or positioning that tall lamp behind a corner chair or moving the couch so it’s at a diagonal.
Clean over, under and around all your pieces and when you’re done, you’ll have a really fresh room.
- Wall maintenance
Washing walls, while not a walk in the park, is easier than a complete repainting.
Even easier than washing is dusting the walls and ceiling and spot cleaning the troublesome areas.
Do your baseboards need a good scrubbing? If you feel slightly ambitious, you can put some fresh paint on the woodworks. This will brighten things up a lot.
- Change a few items
I did a lot of redecorating this year, but a couple of simple things have brought me great pleasure. My daughter bought new throw pillows for me for Christmas. I got a new comforter and a few new small area rugs. Every time I look at these items, it reminds me that there IS newness in my home, however small, and somehow increases my level of contentment with my home.
Is that weird? I’d really like to move to a smaller, newer space at some point (I fantasize about having a NEW bathroom), but until then I want to be grateful to God for what He has given me. For me, that starts with taking care of what I have and being content with my blessings.
And so I’m learning all the time.
How do you plan to freshen up your space this season?
