10 Quick and Easy ways to rejuvenate your home for Spring
1. The pared-down simplicity of blossoming backyard clippings captures the
casual vitality of spring.
2. Keep your collections clutter-free. Pare down the presentation to a few fave
pieces, put the rest in storage and rotate seasonally.
3. White-finish frames take traditional furniture forms into spring-trend territory.
4. Nothing says "spring fresh" like natural materials. Grasscloth wallcoverings, rattan storage boxes, natural-fibre mats like sisal and coir blur the distinction between indoors and out.
5. Crisp white cotton slipcovers give soft furnishings an instant low-maintenance makeover. Underfoot, swap out heavy oriental and wool rugs for a breezy variation on the traditional rag rug.
6. The hurricane vase, that old standby, is swept away this spring by the hurricane lantern. As a showcase for natural treasures like shells and pebbles, as a terrarium or simply as an intimate light source that's perfectly portable from the table to after-dinner drinks on the patio, it's a bright decor detail that's sure to delight.
7. Don't leave exterior painting for the hot, humid, hazy days of summer. Para Paints advises tackling an outdoor paint update after a minimum 24-hour period of temperatures between 15 and 25 C.
8. Bananas: rich in potassium and...plant polish? Gently run the inside of a banana peel along the tops and undersides of leaves for an all-natural clean and polish. Clean, healthy plants breathe better and are more adept at absorbing household carbon dioxide and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
9. Got vinegar? Then you've also got a DIY all-purpose cleaner. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water for a window and surface cleaner with both disinfectant and deodorizing properties (just don't use it on marble or grout, which could be damaged by the acid).
10. Let that fresh air in! Ensure smooth-sliding windows and patio doors by running a bar of soap along the tracks.
