Miraculously, it’s looks, smells and sounds like spring outside. So, why not bring that delightful sense of spring indoors?
Here’s how to shed wintertime heaviness in your home and welcome spring with lightness, airiness and space.
• Clean the windows to let the sun shine in. Screens may also need a scrub to remove dirt.
• On fine days, open the windows and let the mild spring air breathe new life into your home. Listen to the birds.
• Clean the porch and patio of winter grit and put away snow shovels, sand or salt and other clutter.
• Open up indoor floor space as much as possible. Remove furniture that is not needed or crowded into a small space, as well as piles of magazines, books or papers that have accumulated over the winter.
• Remove heavy, dark-coloured curtains and replace them with lighter sheers or a light-coloured curtain, if possible. If privacy or sun protection is not an issue, consider leaving the windows without window treatments or with just delightfully gauzy sheers. If your curtains or drapes are not changed seasonally, vacuum or launder them to remove wintertime dust.
• If you have heavy, dark-coloured rugs, consider storing them and replacing them with lighter cotton throws, or sisal rugs. If you do not change rugs seasonally, clean them with a non-toxic carpet cleaner.
• Vacuum upholstery. Consider using washable slipcovers in pastel or bright colours or summery botanical or other prints, especially if you have dark-coloured or wooly-looking upholstered furniture. Also replace warm, “fuzzy” throw cushions and throws with light-weight alternatives in summery shades.
• Wipe ceiling fans to avoid dispersing dust accumulated over the winter.
• Dust thoroughly, including baseboards and behind and underneath furniture.
• Clean vents on air conditioning vents or window units.
• Bring fragrant and colourful spring flowers into the home, including forced tulips, narcissus, daffodils, or hyacinths.
• Replace flannel or dark-coloured bedding with lighter cottons, preferably in light patterns or shades. Similarly, use towels in spring pastels in the bathrooms. In the kitchen, consider sparkling new tea towels.
• Decor should be light and colourful. Consider glass vases, bowls of lemons or citrus fruits, bright plates with floral or other summery patterns.
• Once the weather has become consistently warmer, wash or launder and put away winter coats, hat, scarves, gloves and boots. Clean and store them in waterproof containers or coverings.
• Prepare warm-weather clothing for wear. Wash and iron them if needed. Put away or protect clothing that you wear in the winter, like long-sleeved sweaters and tops, woolen pants or jackets.
– Sylvia Putz is a journalist with an interest in decor and design. She’s written for the TV show Arresting Design; sputz@arrestingdesign.com.
