Preparing your Home for Spring!

Although it might not feel like it sometimes, spring really is just around the corner, and before we know it we’ll be enjoying longer days and lighter mornings. Looking forward to this time of new beginnings and warmer weather can really take the edge off of the winter chill, which can all too easily put a dampener on the start of the new year. By brightening up your home and making preparations for the coming spring, you really can change the mood of the entire family - especially little ones who can’t wait to play outside again! So shake off those cobwebs and get your home ready for some sunshine.

If you want to make some real renovations to your home or garden then there are loads of things you can do, but one of the best things to do in time for the summer is to finally treat yourself to that pool you’ve always wanted. Kinniburgh Pools offer some fantastic options to suit your home and give you the best summer ever for many years to come.

Bring in the Light

Much Spring’s appeal comes from its brightness in contrast to the dark winter. After spending months getting up in the darkness, we appreciate a little sunshine so much more. Although you might not be able to bring the sun into your home, you can certainly add a little light to your decor. For rooms that are particularly dark, try draping strings of fairy lights around to instantly brighten the entire room. If you want to give the illusion of natural light, you could invest in a light box, which mimics the effect of natural light and has been shown to reduce the symptoms of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

If you’re looking to redecorate any of the rooms in your home, choose lighter colours that will reflect light instead of absorbing it. Also keeping this in mind will help when buying any new furniture or prominent accessories, as a brighter colour scheme will bring a sense of cheerfulness to your home and reflect that spring feel that you are trying to channel.

Open It Up

When it’s dark and chilly, it’s natural to want to huddle up and close all the doors to keep as much heat in as possible. Although this might feel intuitive, it will only reinforce that dark winter feeling and prevent any brightness from coming into your home. When we think of spring, we think of big, open spaces with plenty of room to relax in. Bring this idea into your home by creating a more open plan space and embracing larger rooms and less closed doors. Some internal bifold doors will really help to open up these spaces, while also giving you flexibility in how you arrange your home. It’s no accident that Scandinavian countries are among some of the happiest in the world, and are also known for their open plan living spaces.

Get the Kids Involved

There are plenty of pre-spring activities you can do with children to get them excited about spring and many of these involve making crafts that you can then display at home, reminding everyone of the brighter months to come. Creating vibrant, colourful flower garlands from tissue paper is a simple activity that children of all ages can enjoy, and when they’re done you can hang them around the house to add a splash of spring colour.

Asking children to imagine what spring will look like and then to paint or draw it will also provide you with plenty of delightful spring decorations, and is an excellent activity to do on a cold winter day. Make sure that you and other adults join in these activities as well, and you’ll be surprised at just how uplifting they can be!

Spring Clean with a Difference

Not many of us look forward to the old spring clean, but it doesn’t have to be such an ordeal if you can put a different spin on it. One idea is to ask each member of your family to clean a different room, which will certainly take the sting out of cleaning the whole house yourself. Another way to do it is to focus not on cleaning, but on giving as much away to charity as possible. You could even make a competition out of it. Ask children to give away all the toys and clothes they don’t need to charity, and do the same with your own clothes and knick knacks. You’ll end up with far less clutter and a much happier conscience!

Bring the Outside In

For many of us, the essence of spring is rooted in nature; it’s about the first flowers blooming and the buds appearing on the trees. You can replicate this feeling indoors by planting some seeds in a pot and watching them sprout. Alternatively, you can buy some flowers each week and place them in a prominent place to ensure they will really brighten up your home. Bringing plants and flowers into the home is an excellent way to reconnect with nature and to teach children about the natural world.

* Collaborative Post.