SPRING REFRESH

Five dynamic home updates

No doubt about it, springtime is the season of renewal and fresh starts. Here in Virginia, as days lengthen, flower buds poke through the soil, bunnies crisscross lawns, birds sing and chartreuse leaves unfurl, all to herald spring. People far and wide behold these signs of spring and are energized to undertake a deep cleaning of their living spaces. It’s that age-old “out with the old and in with the new” feeling that drives us. And once the arduous task of spring cleaning is complete, a cleaned up and cleaned out home is the perfect backdrop for five easy, but high-impact home updates. Depending on your time and budget, consider one or more of the following ideas for how to update the most-used spaces in your home. 

Kitchen transformation
What better place to start your spring refresh than in the kitchen, the hub of your home? This prime real estate can always benefit from some attention. Instead of a major overhaul to replace cabinets, countertops and flooring or to repaint walls, consider changing your cabinet hardware, often referred to as the “jewelry” of a kitchen’s outfit. There are more stylish hardware options available than ever before. Just stroll down the appropriate aisle at Lowe’s or Home Depot or visit online sites such as Top Knobs, Schoolhouse, Rejuvenation or West Elm for inspiration. With careful measurements to guide your selection and just a few hand tools, the change-out of kitchen cabinet hardware can be accomplished in a day and significantly update this important room. 

But if a complete set of new hardware isn’t in your budget, there are many other less costly updates that can easily be made to the kitchen. Start with new kitchen towels and dishcloths, give your back a break and add a colorful anti-fatigue floor mat in front of your sink, invest in a new set of cookware or tie new cushions onto the seats and backs of chairs around an eat-in kitchen table. Replace any artwork you already have with something new and spring-themed. Illustrations or photos of birds, bunnies, chicks and florals are all joyful symbols of springtime. Even a bowl of fresh fruit on the countertop can add a welcome burst of color. 

Bedroom update
How numerous are the ideas for easy updates to the bedroom! With one stop at a department store or an online retailer’s website, you can purchase an eye-catching new bedspread or comforter with matching pillow shams, throw pillows in coordinating colors and assorted textures, a soft blanket for the end of the bed (perfect for naps!), as well as a stylish runner rug by the bed if you have bare floors. Adding a new or even a repotted plant in a brightly colored container will literally breathe fresh air into this important room in your home. 

Family room refresher
Once the dust has settled following your thorough spring cleaning, embark on a close inspection of the wall and trim paint in another of your most-used rooms. If an inspection of your family room shows scuff marks or other scars in painted surfaces, try one of the new paint pens (search for Slobproof Touch-up Paint Pens on Amazon), which are fillable with your own leftover wall and trim paint. Using these handy pens will eliminate the need to purchase new cans of color-matched wall and trim paint, allowing you to quickly restore any room to just-painted perfection. 

After paint touch-ups, consider adding new throw pillows and soft throws to your sofa in lighter, brighter colors. Designers at Better Homes & Gardens also recommend changing lampshades and draperies, purchasing new houseplants and re-organizing bookshelves for quick, impactful updates to your family room. 

Bathroom redo
While not nearly as large as other oft-used rooms in the home, bathrooms are certainly important and can also benefit from an occasional sprucing up. Because visitors are likely to see these rooms, designers often suggest going bold in these smaller spaces. Try some wild wallpaper (now available in peel-and-stick versions), a stylish new mirror or piece of art, as well as new plush towels, throw rug and shower curtain for guaranteed pizzazz. 

Tablescape revamp
One of the easiest ways to up the wow factor in a room is to change any tablescape within it. This can be done to kitchen and dining room tables, dining room sideboards, family or living room coffee tables, or bedside and foyer tables, plus any other flat surfaces in need of adornment. 

Interior designers at Elle Décor and Houzz both recommend beginning your tablescape revamp by searching your own home for suitable spring accoutrements. Think likenesses of baby animals, candles and bowls in pastel colors, as well as books with colorful covers. Beneath these finds, add a new seasonal fabric table runner. Curating a pleasing blend of your own possessions with some newly purchased ones to create fresh tablescapes can be a quick way to add spring cheer to your home. 

Indeed, with minimal expense and effort, you can customize all these suggestions to bring about a metamorphosis in your own home this spring. ✦