Without a doubt, the outdoors is coming alive. Now to bring all that freshness inside.
Here are a few ideas for easy, budget-friendly touches around your home that will make it feel like spring has truly sprung.
A pretty spring wreath. Now’s the time to put up a welcoming and flower-festooned wreath to let guests and neighbors know that, yes, you do indeed know what time of year it is. In the interest of reducing waste and saving money every spring, I recommend buying a high-quality faux (but realistic-looking) fabric version that you should plan on using again and again for the next five years or so. For that functionality, I like designs such as Monique Lhuillier’s Faux Lemon Wreath & Garland ($126 on potterybarn.com), which looks completely real and brightens up any entryway.
Bring the outside in. While I absolutely love having fresh blooms around my house, it can get expensive and a little annoying to have to constantly replace flowers after they die. Here’s something that lasts a lot longer but has the same net effect: spring branches. Buy some or get them from your yard — a bundle of branches from trees like forsythia and quince just need a few days in water indoors to start blooming. And they last up to a month if you change the water every week.
Swap out the placemats. You don’t need to go buy a while new set of serveware; just change the background for a brand new look. I prefer placemats to tablecloths because they’re modular and if you spill on one, there’s far less to wash or clean up. Also, since they cover less space, you can take a few more risks with wild patterns that make a statement. Consider something like the Citrus Garden Placemats by Matouk ($108 on bloomingdales.com), which makes a big, bright impression through the meal. Or get a little mod at the kitchen table with the Mirimo Florapop Spring Placemats by Deny Designs ($50-$75 on target.com). I love their fun, casual whimsy.
Brighten up the bed. Lighten up your nights with a new, thinner, lightweight duvet, and then cover it with something that freshens up your entire bedroom. Go for something sweet and lovely like the Spring Party Duvet Cover ($211 on annieselke.com) — with a bevy of little blooms dancing across it. Or go a little bolder with the hot pink-and cherry red Unikko Duvet Cover & Sham Set by Marimekko ($129.99-$179.99 on nordstrom.com).
Add more natural light. One of the smartest and simplest ways to add more natural light is to capture light near a window and reflect it. By adding a medium- or large-sized mirror to an entryway, for example, you’re creating different points of light and all kinds of new dimensions. And I love choosing mirrors that are themselves a work of art — like vintage-y, 1920s-inspired Daughtrey Modern & Contemporary Accent Mirror ($133 on wayfair.com), or big-drama shapes like the Elinor Rattan Wall Mirror ($229 on westelm.com).
Bring on the bright sofa pillows. There’s no need to buy the whole shebang, in many cases you can just purchase the pillowcase to refresh the look. That’s the case with the Palm Pillow Cover (on sale for $39.99 on serenaandlily.com) in a warm sunflower hue. Or double down on the natural vibe with a softly colored design like the Ivory Coral Whimsy Embroidered Pillow Cover ($89 on garnethill.com). Added to your sofa or favorite chair. It’s as good as instant sunshine.
Source: bostonherald.com