How to Bring Spring into Your Home with Linens

Spring is a wonderful season that gives us longer days and stronger rays of sunshine after a cold, dark winter in most parts of the country. There are shots of color from the bulbs that come up and the grass begins to green up again. Color begins to appear. But what about inside the house? The seasonal decorations from December from whatever holiday you celebrate are long gone. The fireplace is looking cold, sooty, and dark. Many people associate spring with cleaning. But after you've cleaned, the house is still looking a little lifeless compared with the exuberance of the plants outside. It's time to infuse a little color into your home! These colors can easily be brought in by switching around your cloth accessories. They don't have to be spring-like pastels, but neither do they need to be bright neons. Choose a color palette that you are comfortable with, such as pink and yellow, yellow and white, green and white. The combinations are endless. But be sure that whatever you add doesn't clash with your year-round decor. Here are some ways to switch out the cloth accessories in your home to welcome the season.

Take down heavy dark drapes in anticipation of warmer weather. Not only will this visually lighten the room, it makes a room seem more casual, which is more spring and summer in feeling. Try to find some lighter colored curtains. Or, if you need the heavier drapes to help block out cold for the next few months, put a window topper on that has some bright colors in it. If that still is not an option, try a window scarf or even loop a vintage silk scarf over the top valance. Add some matching tie backs or only switch out the tie backs to a spring fabric.

Add some lighter-colored throws to your couches or drape one casually over an ottoman. You can very easily make your own throw by finding a yard or two of brightly colored polar-type fleece, cutting fringe all around it, and tie these fringes into knots. The fleece will not unravel. Or find a spring-time quilt to toss casually over the foot of your couch arm or put it on your bed. The quilt doesn't need to be fancy. You can try to find one that reverses to a color that matches the room year-round for more longevity.

Try putting covers on your couch pillows. Not only will these help to liven up the room, they will help keep the pillow underneath cleaner. Pillow covers can easily be thrown in the wash to get any stains off of them. If your couch does not lend itself to have any color on it, add a neutral slipcover to it. Again, this will help keep the upholstery cleaner and is something that can help the house transition from winter to spring by making the bright throws and covered pillow really pop. If you have a large enough throw or quilt, you can toss it over the back and let it come down all the way over the seat cushions for a different look as well.

Use lighter colored placemats or make some. Make some festive cloth napkins by sewing a strip of spring fabric across them or find some already made in a store. You can always add a spring tablecloth to the table. Another alternative would be to use a runner or drape a scarf across the table. If it isn't feasible to add any linens to the table, than a vase of lovely nice silk flowers would work.

In the bedroom, put a duvet cover on your comforter. Make sure to get matching pillow shams or find some that bring out the color in the duvet cover. If you use a neutral duvet cover or already have a neutral comforter, why not add some brighter pillowcases that will really show up against the bed? As the weather gets warmer, you may want to strip it down to just a bedspread or a quilt, depending on where you live. On your dresser, you can add a pretty runner or scarf if you like the look of that on a bureau.

However you choose to welcome spring, be sure to add a little something colorful to your home. It will make the arrival of longer days and birds singing that much more sweet.