Anyone else have spring fever? In the design world, it’s hard to escape. Spring isn’t just the start of a new season—it’s also our cue to clean off those surfaces and thin out the old to make way for the new. Here are my three steps to a total spring refresh and a home that really does feel like a breath of fresh air.
The first step to refreshing any room in the house is to take every item off every surface — think bedside tables, fireplace mantel, coffee table, etc. This way, you’ve got a totally clean slate. As you dust each item, decide if it’s functional, beautiful, and, most importantly, seasonally appropriate. Wintry branches or that basket of pinecones that looked so great in winter just won’t work in spring. Replace them with living greenery—succulents or orchids are my favorite—or a weekly spring bouquet. Gold and brass accessories can be swapped out for light ceramic or shiny silver pieces, and even coffee table books and scented candles can be rotated to make way for spring.
Once you’ve cleared your surfaces and added only the prime pieces back into the mix, you can start to shop your home for colorful accessories that will brighten up the space. I recently restyled a bookshelf in a small nook in my home. I was able to give it a quick spring refresh with things I already had in my home simply by adding bright colored books and a few light-colored accessories. This is the beauty of a simple spring “rearrangement.” No need to buy new—just rotate!
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to welcome spring into your home is by working in some fresh color. Do you still have dark winter plaids or wooly blankets in the bedroom or den? Swap them out for some creamy, lightweight throws. You can also add some bright throw pillows to the living room sofa or a colorful tablecloth to the dining room. Even the kitchen can get a quick refresh by adding new tea towels and a ceramic fruit bowl in robin’s egg blue or sunshine yellow. Such an easy, inexpensive way to change the look of your kitchen and to announce the changing of the seasons!
What are your favorite ways to spruce up a space for spring? Share your ideas with me in the comments section below!
Erinn Valencich is a Los Angeles-based designer with a keen understanding of the classic California lifestyle. The granddaughter of a fine cabinetmaker and daughter of an architect, Valencich’s approach to design underscores the importance of craftsmanship and celebrates luxe, livable furnishings. As founder and lead designer of her firm, Valencich has spent the last 12 years designing homes of all sizes. Her custom furniture line, which was launched in 2005, has evolved into a 100-piece collection available at fine to-the-trade showrooms across the country. Her work has been featured in Elle Décor, Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and House Beautiful, among other publications.
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