Spring Decorating Ideas

Springtime is about transformation, renewal, and rejuvenation. It's also an excellent time to think about redecorating. It's time to roll up your sleeves, throw open the windows, and have a little fun. Changing up your space after winter's grip has finally left not only renews your walls, but your spirit as well. Simple infusions of colors and textures will have you skipping about in no time.

The easiest and most effective way to update your space is to think of opposites. During the fall and winter it is generally cold outside, so you decorate with warm colors and textures to make your home feel cozy. Likewise, when spring and summer unfold there warmth and sunshine cool colors can brighten your mood dramatically. The following ideas are simple, cost-effective, and stylish ways to dress your rooms for sunshine.

1. Infuse cool colors without visiting the paint counter.

Think cool blues, greens, and yellows. Head over to your local dollar-type store for multiple cloth napkins or thin kitchen towels in solid colors (I would stay away from patterns unless all of your other furnishings are plain). Once home, gather your iron, some throw pillows, and either hook and loop tape, safety pins, needle and thread, or fabric glue.

Taking a napkin, find a pillow that the napkin will fit around, and if your pillows are bigger, sew or glue two or more napkins together (allowing time to dry for the glue) until you have the proper length. Fold your napkin lengthwise and press with your iron, effectively creating a stripe that you will then wrap around your pillow. Glue, sew, or pin your stripe to a size that will slip over your pillow, but not fall off. You now have an entirely new look that can be changed every season.

Napkin option number two would be to find a napkin smaller than your pillow by three to four inches on all sides (it could be smaller or bigger depending on what your design wants are), center it on the front of the pillow and attach with pins or a quick whip stitch (depending on the type of fabric your pillow is made of, whip stitching could leave marks when the napkin is removed).

Another quick napkin offering will liven up those walls. Remove and picture frames or other framed artwork from the walls. If the frames contain matted photos, take out the mat, and replace it with a brightly colored napkin and reframe with the picture lying on top of the napkin (a bit of acid-free double sided tape will keep the photo in place).

2. Have fun with textures.

Textures stimulate the senses, and changing them up a bit is always refreshing. Clean and box up those heavy winter throws, and exchange them for lightweight cotton, linen, or (if your budget allows) a thin cashmere throw in a lively shade of springtime.

Revive your floors with a new rug you can make yourself. Head over to the local home improvement or "big-box" store for a canvas drop cloth, and rug tape (the stuff that keeps your rugs from sliding across the floor). Measure and cut the drop cloth to the size of rug you want plus two inches all the way around, hem the edges (preferably by sewing, but you can use hot glue if you must) two inches in on all sides, and adhere strips of rug tape to the back. Paint the floor cloth with a vibrant cool color, and seal with a sealant made for the type of paint you used (acrylic, oil, etc). If you are feeling adventurous, try your hand at creating an artistic motif or pattern using art books for inspiration.

Remember that springtime is for growth. If trying your hand at the suggested ideas or any spring project, don't become obsessed with making it perfect. Enjoy the process and experience a bit of rejuvenation yourself.