Is your home looking a little sad without its Christmas finery? Let’s talk about How to Make Your Home Spring Ready without breaking the bank.
In the next few weeks, I will be sharing my bedroom spaces and a Spring Refresh for the Great Room. In the meantime what can we do to get ready for Spring?
SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SPRING-READY
#1 ADD FRESH FLOWERS OR PLANTS
Trader Joe’s has great spring flowers this time of year. I just picked up beautiful tulips yesterday. Arhaus has some great vases (all on sale) here if you are looking for an interesting vessel for your plant or flowers. I particularly love this blue-mottled number here.
#2 CLEAN YOUR RUGS, CARPETS, AND UPHOLSTERY
We bought an inexpensive carpet and upholstery cleaner when we lived in our Chualar home. It has come in handy here with white carpet. It also works great on our upholstered furniture. You can buy it here on Amazon. We have certainly gotten the mileage out of ours.
#3 REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE
Using a piece of furniture in a different way can bring a whole new dimension to a room. In our former home, I had the pair of chairs that you see in a different spot in the same room. One day I randomly moved them to that spot and could not believe what a difference it made.
#4 CHANGE OUT PILLOW COVERS AND THROWS
I am currently working on adding a few new pillow covers for Spring in our great room and new throws.
I made up my mind and ordered a rug for the seating area and a rug for under the dining table. In the inspiration board below I am sharing my choices. It always helps me to get an idea of what the items will actually look like in the room first. I wanted to tie in the Salmon doors that I most likely will put back up on the mantle with the colors of the outside stone (browns and caramels) and the pool. The pillows and rugs are linked below the picture. FYI I am a huge new fan of Rush House Rugs. They are reasonable, and practical, and you will find them used by many high-end designers.
SHOP GREAT ROOM TEXTILES
#5 A FRESH COAT OF PAINT
What about painting your bedroom or bath a fresh color? Paint is one of the least expensive ways to freshen up a space. The walls in this guest room of our former home were linen white for years. One year for the One Room Challenge I painted the walls in Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan cut in 1/2. I used that color in so many homes over the years and I might just use it in our powder room eventually. You might enjoy my post My Favorite Neutral Paint Colors here for more of my favorites.
SHOP MY SPRING TEXTILES
If you are looking for a few things to freshen up your house this month is a great month to do that. Many of your favorite online furniture and decor spots are having huge discounts:
SERENA AND LILY FRESH START EVENT
20% off everything and 25% off above 5K
Ballard Designs
Pottery Barn
up to 50% off The Big Refresh Sale
That wraps it up from my desk. Thank you for reading How to Make your Home Spring Ready. You might enjoy visiting my post Simple Ways to Refresh Your Living Room for Spring, or Refresh your Living Room with Red Pillows (if you are a red lover). This has been a bit of a rough few days here. We lost a dear friend today, a couple of other family members are in the hospital, and more. Thank you to you all for always being so supportive. I am overwhelmed by the comments from Sunday’s posts. You ladies are so inspiring and I love how you lift each other up.
Cindy, I am a bit late for this post…I hope it pops up for you there…now February!
My life has been a bit of a challenge lately here… losing people that are dear is so difficult to bear. One very special gardening mentor died, after a mercifully brief struggle with cancer. Her beautiful home is now sold…nothing special stays on the market for long here…and I get a sad feeling every time I cycle past it. Chin up though , and peddle forward.
I loved going through all of your links to former decorating ideas. So much to see. You are so very talented!
I am in the same ‘seasonal spot’ …taking away the reds of Christmas cushions and winter foliage and adding pots of blooming bulbs and adding my botanical cushions , as spring is showing signs in the garden. I have labeled bins of cushions stored in our warm, dry crawl space…and yes, I am the shorty who crawls about! So easy to change up the decor. I am kind of relieved that we are no longer anywhere near a Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, or Pier One , as I was always finding treasures at all of those shops when living in Calgary. With many talented artists here on Vancouver Island, I have found unique cushions bought from local galleries. I really must stop collecting!
I would choose those brick and blue cushions in a heartbeat. I just need another sitting room!
Regarding paint colours, have you tried BM Natural Linen? My favourite for main areas…hallways , living/dining. I used to be a designer, attached to different high end furniture stores, so paint was definitely in my ‘toolbox’ .
Now back to reading your other posts from the end of January…
Hi Cath
I have not tried BM natural linen. I must check it out. I am so sorry to hear about your friend. We have lost many that are dear to us in the last few years. Chin up and peddle forward you are right!!
I am so sorry about your loss, unfortunately we all reach a time in our lives when friends and family around start reaching “the age”and before we realize, hospital visits become the gathering of the year. I had a year of those recently right before the COVID hit. That’s life, we have the year of weddings, baby showers, retirement parties, and so…it doesn’t get any easier. Sending you good vibes and prayers.
Cindy!
The rattan coasters in your first photo – can you please share where you got them? I have a few left from a set I bought a while ago, and I’d like to get a new set. Thank you! Rya
Hi Rya
Yes, you can find them on Amazon here:https://rstyle.me/+cdbN69GLQI-cuGfPdPvJEw
or Pottery Barn here:
https://www.potterybarn.com/products/tava-rattan-coasters-holder/?catalogId=84&sku=8034124&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Tabletop%20%26%20Bar%20%3E%20Bar%20Tools%20%26%20Accessories®ion_id=669090&cm_ite=8034124_14552546110&gclid=Cj0KCQiAic6eBhCoARIsANlox84BKjqbb5BO45whLQrfF1BRl9JTjXN53o_aXXxiHrbZs6b3tTx_iDsaAhtDEALw_wcB
Wish I could give you a hug. This is so hard to lose loved ones.
On a happier note… your color combos are divine
Thanks Pal!
Hi Cindy, I am an avid fan of your blog. When I first found it a couple of years ago, I discovered that there was not only a name for my ‘Collected’ philosophy of decorating, but there was also a very smart and stylish woman actually living it out — along with many of her friends whose blogs she shared. No one else in our circle collects and decorates as I do, and I have been on the receiving end of some rather scornful comments over the years. Meeting you and your friends was so reassuring! I am sorry to hear of your sad times. It seems so much a part of our age group. A friend of ours signs his emails with ‘Step carefully across the minefield of old age’. And that sums up much of life now. Nevertheless, there is freedom and much to enjoy in retirement, and following your very positive and creative blog is a morning highlight for me. Thank you!
Hi Helen
Thank you so much. I am so happy to hear you enjoy the blog so much. It makes my day!
Hi Cindy,
You always have so many good things to say and share.
Flowers bring so much joy and brighten up a room in a big way. I find it also lifts your spirits too.
I’m so very sorry to hear that a good friend has passed away. Loss is so hard and difficult to process. When you love someone so much it’s hard to see them leave . I hope your family members that are in the hospital are getting better and will be returning home.
I too have a heavy blue heart. One of my forever friend and friend forever is on Hospice. You never know she is really feisty
and might decide to rally.
You remain in my thoughts.
Do you still have your P.O. Box in Salinas?
Hi Katherine
We do still have that P.O box in Salinas but not for long as my husband is retiring in a couple of weeks. Email me @[email protected] and I will send you my address. Unfortunately my brother in law passed away this morning. My other bil is out of the hospital and doing well. This can be a tough age.
Hi Cindy Love to know the name of the tan coverlet you have on the guest room bed?I am very glad you are about to add 2 rugs to your great room.
Thinking of you with sick family and friends and the loss of one. I am so sorry to hear this.
Hang in there and take care.
PS – I forgot to say thanks for the linen pillow source. IT’S GREAT!!
Now I just need one for wintry, textured ones – to go with velvet ones, when I put away my Walter G’s for the winter… Any ideas?
I’m so sorry to hear about friend and family. I didn’t know. Prayers and hugs. I’m not on Instagram. You are right about moving furniture around for a different look!
I worked at Long & Foster Real Estate and “Manchester Tan” was our “go to” paint…always a hit! This seems to be the time of year…we, too, have several family members just in the hospital, etc. Stressful!!! Thanks for a great blog!! franki
I love your blog and learn from every entry! Do you have the link for the blue lumbar pillow with the brown stripes on the ends?I did not find it in the link below the picture. Thank you!
I am also looking for a link to this blue lumbar pillow. Cindy, would you please share?
You are so right about the after Holliday slump. Last year when the tree was gone…i I found I really missed it. So I bought a 5foot Ficus tree and now it is 6 feet! I also buy Trader Joe’s flowers. I put an orchid next to the tub in the master bath. I had an Karastan in the living room for 20 years..last summer we put it in the master bedroom and put down a smaller jute rug…no pattern…but this winter bought a Amber Lewis Bille ( ink/salmon ) 6×9 and I Love it! It needs a bit of padding but is just right for summer (with white slip covers) and winter. Change is good!
Move furniture?? I remember one-time years ago, my husband moved our bed to a new location in the room and I cried because it was different. HA HA. I try to embrace change now and I’ll consider your suggestion. Loved the pillow covers and new paint ideas too.
I’m so sorry to read about your friend and your ailing family members. This can be such a challenging time of life. Thank you for taking the time to share your uplifting ideas, especially at a difficult moment. Please look after yourself!
Dear Cindy, You certainly didn’t let on about your ill family members or any tough times. You are a trooper to get this post out. Thanks for the suggestions for easy ways for a refresh. I need to get a new perspective on many rooms in my house.
Hi Wren
We only learned of one’s passing yesterday. A couple of the others are on the mend.
Thank you for your great ideas for refreshing one’s home for spring. I will be doing that. Prayers are being said for your losses. Deepest condolences .
Hi Julie
Thank you so much
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss, and wish a speedy recovery for those hospitalized. On a happier note, I just wanted to share that i just switched out the pillows on my couches with brighter colors and it lifted the “winter blues”. Always look forward to your posts!
Hi Cheryl
Isn’t it amazing how uplifting new pillows can be? Mine are on order!!
Cindy,
How do you cut the paint in Half?
Prayers!
Hi Diane
Any paint store (including Home Depot) knows how to cut the formula in half. They do it all the time. You just have to ask.
Cindy,
I looked at your favorite neutrals and am wondering what you mean by”cutting the paint in half”?
Sorry to hear about your family and friends. I will be praying for peace and healing.
I enjoy your blog and the ideas and information. I read it daily but rarely comment.
P.S So glad you are joining the conversation!!
I’m the first to admit, I am design-challenged. It’s why I read your blog — for education and inspiration! I now feel motivated to refresh my house for spring. Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind, but of course, you are spot on. Flowers will be first on my list, and thanks for mentioning TJ’s, which has such gorgeous blooms for so little money. Less than a latte!
Hi Annie
So true…less than a latte…
You are on my mind with many prayers Cindy.
Thanks Pat, it has been a rough week.
Dear Cindy, you are such an inspiration! Yesterday I picked up some beautiful tulips at Trader Joe’s and purchased some new spring pillows to brighten our living room! Our home is full of ideas that you graciously share! Sending you positive healing energy in support of the challenges you are facing!🙏 Anna
Hi Anna
Aren’t those tulips absolutely beautiful? I have two big bunches on my table right now..thank you for your kind thoughts
Cindy,
I love the rug you selected. This is the time of year where I look forward to a dose of spring. I feel like we’ve had unusually wintry weather this winter. SoCal isn’t used to temps in the low 40’s every morning. Haha. Wimps, right?
I’m always getting ideas for my own home from your posts.
Karen B.
Thanks Karen B. We sure have had a much cooler winter than usual as well. I keep telling myself it is because it is cooler here…but it is cooler everywhere in CA this year. And yes we are whimps…
Sending positive vibes & prayers to all.
Thank you so much Karen