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Home Spring Refresh While We #StayHome

Usually, spring is when we all start crawling out of hibernation, at least here in New England. Spring fever 2020 edition though – well, it has more of a #StayHome vibe to it. In fact, spring cleaning took on a whole new meaning for me this year. With more time and no places to go, I went deep. I cleaned and organized all my closets and cabinets. Now I’m at the stage where I’m itching for a change and want a home spring refresh. Only problem? I don’t want to buy more stuff.

What is essential?

This year I took a hard look at what I have and what I’ve saved. I found myself looking at my stuff and asking “Is this essential?” over and over. I purged what I felt inspired to purge and saved what I use and love. As I crave a change of scenery, I want to freshen up my space without buying anything new, or leaving my home. A creative challenge, for sure, but it turned out to be a fun one. Whether you’re trying to save money or simply don’t have room for more stuff, try out these ideas to freshen up your home without making any big purchases.

Here are five practical tips for a home spring refresh:

Pick up fresh flowers.
Hands down, my favorite way to bring life into a room is with a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers. Not only does it add fragrance and color to the room, but bringing the outdoors inside does wonders for lifting my spirits. I’m not alone in that either, many studies have been done showing the health benefits of fresh flowers and plants in the home and workplace.

Reorganize bookshelves.
I admit, bookshelf reorganizing is a major time commitment, but it is so satisfying in the end. Shake things up and organize by color for a surprising look, or simply tidy up selections and rearrange shelves. Not only does this force you to give your shelves a good dusting, but it also uncovers forgotten gems that you might be in the mood to read or revisit. Added bonus, you might create more space by passing on books to a new home.

Swap out pillow covers.
I believe strongly in the power of the pillow, but I only have so many surfaces on which to put them, and I don’t have space for a closet full of pillows. I solve this problem by swapping out pillow covers whenever my eyes crave something new. Pillow covers fold up small and are easy to make when I feel like a sewing project.  

Rotate artwork.
I have a soft spot for buying artwork, even though I only have so many walls. I love supporting independent artists at local art shows and picking up unique pieces when I travel, such as a tile from Spain. To avoid my walls getting too cluttered, I rotate pieces when I need a change. I never fail to look at a piece with fresh new eyes when I bring it out for a turn on my walls.

Decorate with food.
Here in New England, I look forward to shopping at the farmers market. For items that don’t require refrigeration, I love to create a mini still life on one of my serving pieces. Not only do my not-often-used serving pieces get to see the light of day, but I get to live with the colors and smells of the market until we’re ready to cook.

What’s your favorite technique for bringing new life to your space without buying anything new? Has your home office been getting a lot of love and attention? And while we’re talking about bookshelves, any good book recommendations?

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Author

Kristin Crane

Kristin Crane has designed jacquard designs for the home furnishing and residential jobber market for many years, with mills in the US and in China. Today, she writes about pattern and design trends for Design Pool from her home in Providence, Rhode Island. When not writing about fabric, she can be found weaving in her home studio or hiking along the Rhode Island coast.

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