What’s better in the spring than some fresh new interior decorating to spruce up your home?
Start with the lighting. Bring more light into your home by taking down heavy draperies that are thick with pattern and color and replacing them with gauzy sheers to let the light in. If you want some added privacy then install light limiting blinds. They’ll basically disappear during the day letting your treatments garner the attention and then at night the blinds will keep light and prying eyes at bay.
To further update your lighting look at your lamps. By replacing old lamp bases with glass bases you open up your tabletops and give the illusion of expanded space. You can purchase these lamps rather inexpensively at a department store, or be even more creative and design your own by using a favorite glass vase for the base.
And once you’ve started with the glass it’s hard to stop. Replace solid vases with glass ones and fill them with marbles, shells, or even sand to give more depth to your floral arrangements. Consider purchasing a fairly inexpensive coffee table made of metal and glass to update your living space for the season. You don’t have to throw away your traditional, expensive table, just give it a little vacation. In fact, you can even replace end tables with something more airy and open.
With the increased lighting and fewer pieces blocking and absorbing light your home will have an entirely new feel.
If glass tables aren’t an option (children anyone?) or you’re just not a fan of the look you may want to replace your coffee table with an ottoman. Oversized ottomans are very popular and you can even select your own fabric. Spicing something up with a contrasting color or something unexpected can really brighten up a room and it’s a nice soft landing spot for toddlers. If you still want the table space you can purchase ottomans with reversible cushions that are fabric on one side and solid wood on the other. Or you can pick up a couple of nice decorative trays and lay them on top of the ottoman.
And don’t forget the flowers. Nothing says spring more than a splash of fresh flowers. If your budget doesn’t allow for weekly cut flower displays (and who’s does) then consider picking up some forced bulbs or try forcing them yourself (http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/daffodils_garden_and_show/50724). These beauties bring color, fragrance and life to a room after a long dead winter.
Whatever you do to freshen up your home think light and bright and you’ll love the results.
