Spruce Up Your Home for Spring
Spring has officially arrived! It’s the season of renewal and fresh starts, which makes this the perfect time of year to spruce up your home.
Our EGStoltzfus design studio and residential construction teams share these 10 simple ways to breathe new life into your home’s indoor and outdoor spaces:
Refresh Your Home Décor
Swap out winter-themed décor for brighter colors that reflect the essence of springtime. Pastels, soft greens, and floral patterns can transform the atmosphere of any room in your home and create a cheerful and inviting space. Consider updating your accent pillows, candles, artwork, and kitchen or bathroom hand towels. Just a few simple and inexpensive changes can make a big difference! Check out Target, Walmart, HomeGoods, or even thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for some great seasonal deals.
Embrace Lighter Fabrics
Put your heavy winter blankets and other textiles in storage and opt for lighter, more breathable fabrics. Replace wool or flannel throws with soft cotton or linen options.
Refresh your bedroom space by swapping out your thick comforter for something lighter and more colorful. And since the sun sets later in spring and summer, consider putting up sheer curtains to allow more natural light into your home.
Clean
Spring cleaning goes hand-in-hand with the season! The position of the sun will allow you to see those dust bunnies easier and identify the areas of your home that could use a good deep cleaning. Target those often-missed spots like floorboards, molding, built-ins, and window trim. Speaking of windows, clean them on the outside and inside to welcome the longer daylight hours. And don’t forget to clean behind your refrigerator and range – and use care when moving heavy appliances across your kitchen flooring.
Paint
Handy with a paint brush? Block off a weekend and add a few fresh coats of paint to your home. Start with smaller living spaces like a half bath or guest bedroom, then move onto larger rooms if you’re feeling motivated! Get a few sample cans of your favorite paints and paint a small area of the room you want to change. The paint colors will look different in your space based on the room’s lighting; it won’t look identical to the paint store sample. Make sure to let the paint fully dry before making your final color decision! And if painting isn’t your thing, get a trusted painter referral from a neighbor.
Declutter
Lots of people love to declutter and organize in early spring. Start by cleaning out any unneeded items that accumulated over the winter. Organize your bedroom closets, dresser drawers and kitchen cabinets. If you’re feeling extra motivated, tackle the attic, basement, and garage! Donate or consign the items you no longer need.
Clean Out Gutters
Inspect your rain gutters for leaves and other types of debris that may have built up over the winter months. A clogged gutter can cause damage not only to the gutter but also to your downspouts and roof.
Pick Up Old Foliage
Pick up lingering dead leaves and twigs from around your property, especially in any hidden nooks and areas around laundry vents and heating/cooling units. Over the winter, leaves help protect the ground from frigid temps and offer a habitat for butterflies and moths. But come spring, leaves and other old foliage can inhibit new growth.
Freshen Outdoor Pots & Plants
Still have winter planters hanging around outside? Clean them out and get ready to pot colorful springtime flowers and plants! Pansies are a popular early spring flower and they thrive in planters. You may already see some flowers popping out of the ground in early March! Daffodils, crocuses, and pussy willows are starting to make an appearance here in southcentral PA.
Pressure Wash
Whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional, spring is the best time to pressure wash your home. It removes the winter grime and dirt from your home’s exterior and also removes mold or algae that grew on your deck or patio over the cold season. Other areas that should be pressure washed include your roof, gutters, entryways, driveway, fencing, shed, and outdoor furniture.
Put Out a New Welcome Mat
What better way to say hello to your springtime guests than with a fresh, new welcome mat! Most flooring manufacturers recommend using an entryway mat for wiping shoes to help protect surfaces and extend the life of your floors. Since mat colors often fade after a few months and the fibers start to break down, especially if the mat is exposed to harsh elements over the winter months, it’s a good idea to buy a new mat every six months or so. If you don’t already have one, be sure to get a new mat before the springtime rain arrives.
Happy Spring!