Here in Sydney, Spring has officially started. We are getting spoilt by the sunshine, energy is high and now is the ideal moment to change things in your interior, do a spring clean, make your home fresh again after hibernating through the winter.
Here are a few suggestions on how you can refresh your home in preparation for the warmer season:
Plants
What better way to get in the spring mood than by surrounding yourself with the natural beauty of nature?
Indoor plants immediately give your house a homely feeling, and they look great in every room (even the bathroom). They might require a little maintenance to keep them fresh and beautiful, but any florist will tell you it’s totally worth the effort.
These are some of the perfect potted plants for Spring:
Rubber plant - These beauties are hardy, hardly need much care and can grow to give boring corners a great shot of character. They don’t require direct sunlight, and are wonderful at cleaning the air in a room.
Calathea Orbifola - This gorgeous striped prayer plant can add a little touch of Bolivian flair to any space.
Aspidistra - This sharp, stylish little plant suits any room and can survive even the brownest green thumb.
Boston Sword Fern - While this lush, voluptuous plant can fill any space, and is the most popular of all ferns, it can be fickle to keep alive.
Succulents - These trendy desert plants need almost no water or sunlight, so they make the perfect piece for shelves, desks and bedside tables. Did you know Asparagus is a succulent?
Declutter
Having trouble throwing certain pieces out as part of your Spring Clean?
We love following this simple principle by William Morris: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be beautiful or useful”. This will streamline your spring renovations and bring clarity to your de-cluttering.
It goes hand in hand with Marie Kondo’s philosophy from her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organising. Respect your belongings, give away whatever doesn’t bring you joy and tidy your home by categories.
I highly recommend that read - an international bestseller, if you haven't come across it yet.
Rearrange existing vignettes
You really don't need to run out to the store and stock up on new accessories just for spring. Simply reassess and rearrange your existing accessories. Select the vignette spaces in your home that you would like to style, then work with them one at a time. May be you’ll add one new piece to a setting, or transplant a piece to another room. The occasional reshuffle does wonders, both for your home and yourself. It can even get your creative juices going, giving you more ideas for what you need before a trip to the store.
Use items you love
Much like assembling an outfit around your favourite part of your wardrobe, start each vignette with an item you love and add to it. When you design a room, working with your existing accessories and potted plants can homogenise the palette.
Set a timer
It’s easy to get side-tracked and distracted when re-styling. What we find helps is setting a timer to keep ourselves on track with the task at hand. Allocate thirty minutes to a task, then go for it. Thirty minutes is not too long, and is usually just enough to get the task done.
Engage a professional with your spring overhaul
If you lack the time or the knack for glamorising your pad, come and see us! You might find a handful of hours with a professional designer by your side is all you need to get your home looking beautiful in time for summer. The October long weekend (1-3) is the perfect time for accomplishing home improvements, so speak to us today about a free consultation.
