Time to usher out winter’s darkness and make room for spring light

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Make your home happy – bring in the light and usher out the dark of winter along with the pandemic gloominess of the past few years.

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Time to renovate your mood – it’s the smallest decor tweaks that can make the biggest differences. Less is more and more impactful – it’ll boost creativity, confidence and simply make you feel happier, and we can all use that!

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Studies show our home’s paint colours and decor contribute to our overall wellness, affecting our mood, lifestyles and environments. Wear orange to workout. Red on a date. Never wear grey to work – it’s lacklustre. Paint your office blue and green for calmness and productivity, and your bedroom different tones of blue for peace and serenity.

Stress-reducing minor spring refreshes can add wow-appeal without a major hit to your bank account, says Lydia Thammavong, head designer of style and trends at Rona. In spite of a gloomy economic forecast, there are many ways to create inexpensive on-trend looks that breathe new life into living spaces and help deliver a home environment that makes us feel good and proud to welcome guests.”

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There’s lot of cheap and cheerful to bring in – add greenery, switch out your textiles and spruce up your walls. Go for updated pendant lights, art deco faucets, stand-out backsplash tiles, stone-look countertops and colour-infused sinks, suggests Thammavong.

Don’t forget to take it outside! “Transform your outdoor space into your own personal vacation oasis,” says Natalia David, trend and design manager at The Home Depot Canada.

“Start by selecting comfortable seating options, depending on the size of your outdoor space, a sectional, a daybed, or a big lounge chair could do the trick! Now it is all about layering different accessories and bringing the ‘Zen’ mood into the space; string lights are an easy and cost-effective way to bring warmth into any backyard. “

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Pillows and rugs will provide colour or texture to your space, says David. Adding shade with an umbrella or gazebo. “Go for that tropical vibe by adding water fountains and lots of plants. Add a heater or fireplace to add ambiance and keep you warm on those cooler summer evenings, and well into the colder months!”

Ready, set, take it inside. Take expert tips from Thammavong and make your space pop:

Decorate with greenery. Plants in beautiful planters are the perfect way to compliment your decor. Greenery gives an instant room upgrade that will add colour, texture and freshness to your room.

Change your textiles. Just like our wardrobe, new textiles in our home welcome the new season and warmer temperature. “Spring is time to tuck away the faux fur throws and wool blankets. Replace them with lighter versions in cotton or linen. Choose colourful options, such as pastels, to liven up your space.”

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Refresh your rooms with colourful, nature-inspired prints – in your bedding, cushions or draperies.

Refresh your walls and mouldings with a fresh coat of paint: Paint is an easy way to upgrade your space. “Opt for colours that will make you feel good or that will set the mood you wish for your room.”

Add shelves instead of cabinets wherever possible to keep budgets at bay. Painting shelves the same colour as the rest of the room will make them appear as if they’re floating. “Alternatively, applying a pop colour to the wall behind the shelves creates an eye-catching focal point for the whole room.”

Tidy-up and organize your space: Say goodbye to winter clothing. “Spring is a good time to re-arrange and optimize the space in your wardrobes by adding a closet organizer system or shelves and hooks. The same goes for kitchen pantry and cupboards.”

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After a thorough cleaning or fresh coat of paint, add spice racks, baskets and see-through containers with cute labels to create a tidy and uniform space.

Spruce-up your walls: Put-up wall-paper to create an accent wall with seagrass texture or a nature inspired print. Change or hang new artwork for an easy, instant new look.

Install a mirror that has character:  either by its particular frame or its oversized dimensions, or by creating a composition of various shapes and sizes. It will make your room appear bigger, airy and more luminous.

Go for the gusto: Replace ordinary lighting in the kitchen, bathrooms or home office with unique, decorative pendant lights.

Choose a backsplash with character for a small area of a kitchen or bathroom. “Ceramic tiles featuring a medallion pattern are all the current rage, infusing breathtaking European charm onto tired walls.”

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“Swap your current kitchen faucet with one featuring today’s trending styles – from glamorous, art deco gold to black taps – for a simple yet impactful upgrade with major oomph.”

Get ready for spring!

Invite spring into your home office. “People are now paying far more attention to their work environment, looking for healthy, energizing and inspiring settings that allow them to be the best they can be,” says design giant Joe Mimran, founder of Gry Mattr, and president and creative director of Joseph Mimran & Associates.

An office that feels good and looks good – clean and uncluttered – boosts wellbeing, creativity and productivity, adds Mimran, suggesting the following:

• Add a large clock: To elevate your wall decor. If you work with clients from different time zones, this is a great way to remain organized in your home office and to keep meetings on track.
• Add a letter tray: To keep clutter off your desk. It ensures you have everything within arm’s reach, and you’ll remain productive because the tray will provide a visual reminder of the stuff that needs to be taken care of.