How to refresh your home for Spring

Whether you’re preparing to put your property on the market or just fancy a lift.

1. Spruce up your front door and entrance

A lush and colourful hanging basket will win over your visitors. Once the risk of frost has passed, try a flowering trailer like petunias or begonias for a cascading display. Or trailing geraniums if you’ve got a sunny spot.

And if you’re really going for it, how about painting your front door a cheerful shade like a soft blue, mint green or mellow yellow?

More generally, tidy up the entranceway:

Sweep away debris
Wash the door and frame with mild soap and warm water
Clean the glass with a vinegar solution

2. Declutter and reorganise for airy spaces

To some people, the word ‘declutter’ is like music – a chance to create calm, airy rooms to relax in after a long day. Other people struggle to get excited. If you fall into the second category, try breaking the task into small, manageable jobs.

For example,

Pack away heavy coats and other winter items
Clear out the kitchen cupboards of any expired products and organise what’s left
Sort through any places that serve as dumping grounds, like your garage or spare room
If you’ve got kids, try to ‘rehome’ the toys they no longer play with

3. Clean your windows until sparkling

The brilliant rays of March sunshine can light up a room – and every speck of dirt on your glass, too! If you don’t hire a window-cleaning professional, it’s time to pull on your rubber gloves.

The trick is to use a microfibre cloth and avoid cleaning in direct sunlight if possible. Make sure you’ve got the right technique for a streak-free shine with these tips from Good Housekeeping.

4. Refresh your decor with a few touches

Want to revive your decor for the new season? Think lighter colours, pastel shades and fresh scents. This doesn’t necessarily call for a whole shopping list, though. Often, you can switch around items you already have and buy just a few things.

Here are some ideas:

Move furniture between rooms to see the potential for different designs
Swap heavy winter bedding for lightweight fabrics in cotton and linen
Change cushion covers in dark, heavy fabrics to lighter ones in pastel shades
Perfume the air with candles and reed diffusers for energising scents, such as lemon and rosemary, orange blossom or rose

5. Bring the outdoors indoors

Hopefully, your home is beginning to feel bright and clean. Now for some greenery to celebrate the year ahead.

As with the decor ideas, you don’t need to spend a fortune at a florist or garden centre. Arrange some daffodils or tulips in a pot, find packets of seeds at your local supermarket, and go foraging in the garden or the nearest countryside. And, if you do invest in plants but aren’t particularly green-fingered, go for hardy varieties that will endure over the months, like succulents, aloe vera and spider plants.

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