| Spring is a sign of renewal in many areas of our | | | | we don't want boring! Swag some dried or silk |
| lives, and our homes are no different! There is | | | | flowers over the top of the blinds, or use some |
| something energizing and refreshing about bringing | | | | muslin to twist around a curtain rod for an |
| that bright, airy feeling of Spring into your home. | | | | informal but airy valance. (No sew!) |
| Here are the 10 best ways to spruce up and | | | | 6.Keep your windows sparkling clean. Dirty |
| revitalize your rooms, on a dime! | | | | windows cut down on a surprising amount of light, |
| 1.Add white! White with your present color | | | | and make a room look dull. As a bonus, clean |
| scheme will both cool and brighten, adding the | | | | windows mean more sparkling glass, and that |
| freshness that only white can! If your room colors | | | | makes room feel larger and brighter! |
| tend toward the warm side, such as yellows, | | | | 7.Pot up some pansies from the garden center |
| browns, or reds...then choose creamier white such | | | | and use them indoors as houseplants. They are |
| as ecru or ivory. If you have cooler colors in your | | | | cheap, easy, and add flowers to a room without |
| room, such as greens and blues, go with the | | | | the cost of replacing floral arrangements every |
| brighter, cleaner whites. | | | | week! You can even coordinate the flower color |
| 2.Try painting your focal wall, (that is, the one | | | | to the color scheme of the room. Don't match |
| most seen) in a sunnier, brighter, or lighter shade | | | | the colors, just pick something complementary. |
| of your current wall color. It will add lightness to | | | | 8.Clear most of the artwork and accessories out |
| the room without drastically changing the whole | | | | of your room, and just keep a few larger, simpler |
| scheme. Don't worry, you can always go back to | | | | pieces. It declutters the room, and helps to put |
| that rich red in the fall, but how about a little petal | | | | the focus on the freshness of a room. Consider |
| pink, or sky blue? Remember, its only paint, its | | | | picking up a white lattice from the garden center, |
| cheap! | | | | and hang it on the wall as a focal point. Place a |
| 3.Add a floral print fabric to your room. Using the | | | | potted plant in front of it, or hang small framed |
| primary colors already in your room, visit your | | | | garden catalog prints from it. Let it be a reminder |
| fabric store and pick out a floral fabric you love | | | | of the outdoors all season long! |
| with at least one of those primary colors in it. | | | | 9.Use a stencil or a stamp to add floral and nature |
| (The more, the better, but don't feel you must | | | | motifs to your room for very little money. Stencil |
| have every color in the room also in the fabric!) | | | | vines around windows and doors, hand paint |
| Use that floral fabric to make table scarves, | | | | seasonal sayings over doorways with a paint pen, |
| placemats, pillow covers, and simple seat cushion | | | | or stamp a floral bouquet on the front of |
| covers. Pair it with a solid fabric color already in | | | | cupboard doors. You can always paint over those |
| the room, and you have a custom coordinated | | | | small areas with touch up paint in the fall. (Or you |
| look, for just a few dollars and some simple | | | | might love them so much, they stay year round!) |
| straight sewing! | | | | 10.Finally, don't forget your entry area when you |
| 4.Pick up some pretty colored glassware from | | | | are creating that spring glow all around your |
| the dollar shop, and display it where the sun will | | | | home. Remember, your entries are a visitors first |
| light it up! You could even use clear glassware, and | | | | impression of your home! Add a pot of pansies |
| fill it with colored water to coordinate with the | | | | on the porch, paint your entry a fresh spring |
| room. Use your glassware as vases, pencil | | | | color, and hang a handmade wreath or a basket |
| holders, or candy dishes, but make sure it is seen! | | | | of flowers on the front door. |
| Glass sparkles and adds a bit of sunshine to a | | | | All these ideas take very little time, little or no |
| room. | | | | money, and do wonders for your spirit and the |
| 5.Take down your curtains, and just leave your | | | | spirit of those who you love. Take a little time to |
| mini blinds underneath. Don't leave it bare, though, | | | | brighten your lives! |