Decorate Your Home for Spring in Three Easy Steps

Sprucing your home up for spring is quick and easy, and doesn't have to cost much. Simply choose your colors, pick some accessories, and add new life. Here are three easy steps to decorating your home for spring.

Step one: Choose your colors.

Take a look at the colors you already have in your home. Then choose two spring colors that complement your current decor. Although pastels are an obvious choice, you don't have to use pastels to reflect the spring season in your home. Bright colors such as flame pink and neon purple that are reminiscent of cheery flowers work well, as do muted earthy greens and browns. For a modern look, choose a celadon green and match it with a complementary shade of yellow or blue. If you're having trouble choosing colors, take a look in your closet. Pick the two colors you wear the most and then consult a color wheel to find complementary shades of each. Remember to think light, bright and cheery for spring.

Step two: Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize.

Take another good look around your home. What winter or dark-colored accessories can be swapped out for cheery springtime ones? Don't limit yourself to knick-knacks. You don't want your home to look like a Hallmark store. Using the two colors you chose earlier, pick accessories such as curtain panels, throw pillows, rugs, towels and fabric featuring those colors. It is usually easier to stay with solid colors, but if you're feeling brave try mixing and matching different prints in your two colors.

Curtains don't need to be replaced entirely. If you chose colors that complement your current decor, you can simply add a second panel to your existing curtains and pull the two back tightly together. Or replace a heavy-looking valance with a sheer scarf. When fall arrives again, you can switch back to the darker and heavier valance or curtains, instantly transforming your home.

Use throw pillows and rugs to make another quick and simple transformation. Replace throw pillows on couches and chairs with ones in your new color scheme. Add a rug in front of the couch or under the dining room table. Use fabric in your spring colors to make slip covers for dining room chairs or runners for entry, coffee and dining tables. Don't forget your bathroom and kitchen. New rugs and towels will decorate them both for spring instantly.

Step three: Add new life.

It's impossible to think of spring without thinking of new life, especially budding flowers and new green leaves. Bring some of this new life indoors in your spring decorating. Pick up some inexpensive vases and places them in groups in strategic places such as on an entry table, the kitchen counter, dining room table, bathroom sink and bedroom nightstand. Fill the vases with combinations of brightly colored fresh flowers. If fresh flowers aren't available, or you don't feel like keeping up with watering, use dried lavender (which gives off a wonderful springtime scent), or purchase quality silk flowers. Many stores also sell potted bulbs in spring, which give you lovely blooms indoors, and afterwards the bulbs can be planted in your garden, giving you blooms year after year.

Don't forget the green. Small plants are available everywhere in springtime, and whether you prefer traditional ivy or unusual tropical plants, it's easy to add a lot of green to your home quickly. Purchase groups of small clay pots and arrange them in groups of three or five on windowsills, mantels or anywhere else that looks like it needs a touch of green. Plant them all with the same plant and you have instant springlike greenery.

Finally, don't forget to improve your view. Half the fun of spring is looking outside to see what's blooming, growing and turning green. As a finishing touch to your indoor spring decor, plant flowers next to windows, or add planter boxes, so that the pretty blooms are visible from inside. Then sit back and enjoy your new cheery, springtime look.