There is something about the weather getting warmer and the temperate changes that makes us all want to update and mix up our interiors. An updated, spring-inspired interior can inspire a welcome change in perspective, and it helps us enjoy our lives a bit more as the season slides into summer.

Here are several ideas to help freshen up your interiors for spring!

1. Greet the season, regardless of the weather in your area

Even though some cities don’t get a true spring when it comes to weather, it is important to still find a way to celebrate the season. Try updating your interior with some fresh new greenery or florals to bring some color and freshness to your space.

2. Throw it out

Many designers comment that one of the first steps in refreshing your interiors is to throw out the objects that no longer work for you and your space. 

“Spring is a perfect time to look around and pick out any pieces of furniture, bedding, towels, or really anything that is ‘the weakest link’ and get it out of there,” says Caroline Kopp of Caroline Kopp Interior Design. “Replace it with something nicer and more supportive of the way you want to live.” From the living room to the kitchen, every room and storage space in the home is subject to scrutiny. Vani Sayeed, owner of Vani Sayeed Studios in Boston, also cleans out her kitchen cabinets when spring arrives. “I also go through my kitchen cabinets every spring to clean out chipped dinnerware and donate dishes that I no longer use,” she says.

Spring is all about cultivating happiness, so in the words of Kondo, if something doesn’t “spark joy,” get rid of it. “Life is too short to live with furniture you don’t like anymore,” says Kopp.

3. Move stuff around

So how do you initiate this change in perspective, if it doesn’t arrive naturally with the warmer weather? Just stand in a different position in the room, and start moving. “I like to literally move things around — shift the energy by moving furniture placements and getting a new view,” says Tory Savery, owner of Savery Design in Philadelphia. She adds a few ways to update a space without much effort: “Change the rugs around between rooms or roll back a rug to expose hardwood. You can have a huge impact by moving the artwork around to different locations — this always brings a fresh perspective.”

“Change is always a good option, even if it is just shuffling around your favorite things,” says Marina Mizruh of Chimera Interiors in Los Angeles. “Looking at things from a different point of view can make items look new.”

4. Bet on the basics – Walls, Windows & Lighting

Because windows are responsible for filtering in natural light, focusing on the windows can brighten a room, bring the outdoors in and transform your space for spring. Try brightening up your space by washing your windows or changing out the light fixtures.

Florals are a strong seasonal trend and can easily be incorporated into a room. Likewise, paint or wallpaper can help lighten up a design. Try repainting faded trim in a coat of bright white or putting up wallpaper to introduce a fresh pattern or design.

5. Make way for plants

Creative arrangements of flowers and plants are a quick, easy refresh that brings organic elements into the room. When thinking of spring, “I always think of the outdoors,” says Speer. “Whatever brings the outdoors in and the indoors out.” For Speer, this means, specifically, indoor trees. “If you can, I recommend investing in a quality tree and having a professional take care of it on a regular basis,” she says.

Other designers, like Banks, favor a natural arrangement. “I put a wild mixture of daffodils, hyacinth, and tulips in a big, vintage wooden trough and pack it with live moss,” says Banks. “It looks great on my long farm table.”

Kristin Peake of Kristin Peake Interiors observes that flowers can bring color to a room. “Add spring by cutting fresh forsythia or cherry blossoms from outside, and put them in a huge clear vase to bring a pop of color to any room,” she recommends.

6. Swap, Swap, Swap

Simply reorganizing collections and changing out winter accessories for lighter, brighter ones can go a long way toward reinvigorating a space. Try switching out throw pillows on a couch, recomposing a gallery wall, or changing out lamp shades. If you like to entertain, changing out centerpieces, dishware or place mats can freshen up your homes tablescape. 

7. Update the artwork

Many designers mention the value of bright artworks and their impact on a space. “Spring is the perfect time to rotate the artwork to emphasize themes of growth and brightness,” says Kopp. “I say this a lot, but I love a huge piece of photography — it could be any image that uplifts you when you see it.”

Of course, if possible, you can buy high-end artworks, but art doesn’t need to be a major investment. “You can add botanicals or inexpensive art to your walls during the spring, and for the fall and winter replace it with darker or more moody pieces,” Peake recommends.

8. Explore the outdoors

Those with outdoor space will likely spend more time lounging outside as the season kicks into high gear, which means, often, that outdoor areas will require a refresh, too. And updating exteriors can be a lot of fun. “Spring makes me want to go to the garden center and get flowers and bushes, pot them, and start getting ready for al fresco dining,” says Peake. “It makes me start to clean my outdoor cushions and furniture, and spruce them up with new pillows and accessories. It makes me want to clean up the exterior of my front yard to have wonderful curb appeal.”

Hodges has quick fixes to craft a stimulating outdoor design. “I like to string bistro lights across a patio or terrace, add large planters with seasonal arrangements, and brighten outdoor furniture with new throw pillows,” she says.

Courtesy of Forbes