When we hear the word “refresh,” we think new and clean. As cold winter days give way to warmer temperatures, longer daylight, and a brand-new season of possibility, we look towards refreshing our homes both in style and cleanliness. Here are some of our favorite ways to refresh a space for spring, courtesy of Havenly design expert Melissa Wagner.
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
You don’t have to be religious to know the divine feeling of a freshly cleaned home, and there are tons of ways to cleanse your space aside from your typical vacuuming and dusting. First up in your spring refresh? Textiles.
“Drapery and pillow covers have gone through so much more this winter than most winters (thanks, COVID-19),” Melissa says. “Brightening up those overly snuggled pillows and shaking the dust out of your drapery panels before open-window season arrives will help lift your home to lighter and brighter times.” Just be sure to follow all manufacturer cleaning standards, she says.
You probably have your go-to dusting spots (heck, you might even be expert at getting those hard-to-reach ceiling fan blades), but what about the places you wouldn’t think to clean? Case in point: “Vacuum your lamp shades. You might not see it, but if you look closely, your lamp shades are probably pretty dusty. Snap on that brush attachment.”
Fully carpeted rooms are easy to vacuum, but do you give enough love to your area rugs? Give them a shake!
“Nothing says ‘winter’ more than cozying up with your favorite throw and sinking your toes into your living room rug. Give your spring pedicure a little more love by airing out your area rugs and shaking out those winter vibes on your back porch,” Melissa says. Better yet, have a professional rug cleaner to pop by to pick them up for a deeper clean that will help your rugs last longer. They usually deliver them back to your home after the cleaning, too! Of course, if shaking out those over-loved area rugs just isn’t doing it for you, try something new, neutral, and easy on the feet.
New Season, New Styles
The best part about a new season is all the style potential that comes with it. What fun would home design be if we kept the same colors, patterns, and textiles year-round?
“Say goodbye to the wool and faux fur you brought out for winter, and say ‘hello, we missed you!’ to some cotton and linen,” Melissa says. “From pillows to throws, drapery and table accents, you can lighten any room with lightweight, clean, and bright fabrics to really thaw things out for spring.” These throw pillows add the right amount of color while keeping things cozy, and paired with this fun, textured throw, we’re feeling serious windows-open-birds-singing spring vibes.
Melissa shares that greenery also offers an instant mood boost, so fill those vases. “Fresh green cuts, floral bunches, and baby buds are some of the best ways to announce the new season of life into your home. You may even want to get a head start on a few potted herbs for your kitchen by sprouting new basil, thyme, or rosemary seeds,” she says. If fresh flowers give you the sniffles, opt for faux plants instead. Need some new homes for your fresh cuts? Melissa suggests choosing something funky and textured or classic and chic. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Keep It Light
This spring, take stock of your artwork. Swapping out framed prints can instantly transform the vibe of a space. “Change out prints with updated color palettes and content. Consider printing and framing abstract photos from past travels or purchase new prints that can usher in a style update to your home,” Melissa says. In need of some console table decor, too? Remember: light and bright. We’re loving this stone taper holder—a material that really speaks to the earthiness of spring.
Lighting, like the rest of your springtime space, should be updated and seasonal. “If you don’t have the fireplace lit to set the mood, do it with lamps and accent lighting instead. Adding table lamps to surfaces with lower-watt bulbs can help your home feel calm and serene in those evening hours,” shares Melissa. “Try leaving your canned ceiling lights and chandeliers/pendants off, and turn on just your floor lamps and table lamps. Now, we’re ready for a glass of rosè. Here’s our current table lamp pick—ceramic effortlessly says “spring.”
Need some inspiration for figuring out your spring style? Take our style quiz and discover what spring means for you!