5 Tips for Fresh Spring Decorating
When the days start to get longer and we happily peel off the winter layers, thoughts turn to Spring flowers, Spring fashions and Spring festivities that may include more entertaining at home. You may not need a renovation, but a bit of editing and an injection of carefully chosen items can infuse a breath of fresh air into your home that will make you and your guests feel Spring-time invigorated!
Pillows
Revive and re-energize a room with accent pillows that POP! Beautiful florals, bold geometrics, and lovely linen add colour, texture, and pattern on a small scale but can make a big difference in an otherwise neutral colour scheme - they are really jewellery for the room! These are from Milk&Cookies. My friend Misty does a wonderful job finding the best fabrics to showcase her stylish pillows and, at a great price too.
Rugs
The weather outside is less frightful, so it's time to get rid of the heavy wool and weather-proof rugs and replace them with sisal, jute, cotton or lighter weave options. The latest manufacturing methods allow us to have rugs that are both beautiful and durable, with a myriad of styles to choose from, why not add a fresh bolt of colour from the ground up. Try one in a bold accent colour to liven up a hallway or entry, or a fun pattern in a smaller room to create some drama.
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| Hellenic |
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| Hellenic |
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| Elte |
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| Elte |
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| Kalora |
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| Hellenic |
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| modern weave |
Wallpaper
Wallpaper is back and it's better than ever! This is not your grandmother's itty-bitty yellow florals and kitchen utensils on paper - this is drama overload and can be used in so many interesting ways. Sometimes less is more with a beautiful paper so use on an accent wall behind a bed or sofa, and select a paint colour from the paper for the remainder of the room. Or, spruce up an old bookcase by lining the back inside walls in a fun patterned paper. For the shy types out there, or renters, start by covering a canvas or wall panel in your favorite wallpaper and display on a wall or lean on a shelf instead of artwork. Cover a wooden screen in a mettalic paper to divide a space or create a storage corner... you can tell them it's an art installation and onlyYOU will know what's behind the stunning screen.
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| Designer Wallcoverings |
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| fornasetti |
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| Phyllis Morris Butterflies |
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| Twenty2 |
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| Fornasetti See how the wall panels make a huge impact in this hallway? |
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| Designer Wallcoverings |
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| Osborne & Little Chinese Key |
The biggest change you can make even with a small budget is to paint. This year's top colour pick from Pantone (the global colour authority of the design industry) is the high impact reddish-pink Honeysuckle and it's making quite the splash on the design circuit. Nearly every paint and fabric line is featuring their own interpretation of this hot pink hue and the variety of colour schemes it can complement. But if painting the walls is not on the agenda this Spring, try painting the ceiling in a pale version of your accent colour to instantly add a different feel to the space; or paint old furniture, picture frames, stairways or tired nick-knacks to give them a new lease on life.
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| Benjamin Moore Colour Trends 2011 - Dreamy, Spirited & Soulful collections |
Check out Benjamin Moore Spring selections here
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| Para Paints 2011 Top Picks - Refresh, Revive, Renew and Retro collections |
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| my own DIY projects |
You can't make major changes if clutter is getting in your way - that's why it's called Spring Cleaning. There are so many clever and stylish options for storage solutions to fit every room, you just have to get creative. Vintage bowls and jars are lovely to hold jewellery; interesting boxes come in every shape, colour and size to suit any decor; try new hooks for a mudroom or entry hall over a storage bench that hides extra shoes, or cubby-style shelving to fit books and display items. There's a place for everything!
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| Cameo24 |
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| Hotel Box via Freshome |
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| via Freshome |
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| via Freshome |
Bonus tip - just add flowers! It's amazing how much a room perks up with a vase or two of pretty flowers.
Now, if you're feeling motivated, it's a good time to get started as the days get longer and that feeling of rejuvenation is in the air. But, if you're feeling overwhelmed and don't know where to start, contact me for a consultation and I'll help get you started on a fresh Spring look for your space.
