Refresh Your Home for Spring

By Lyss Iafrates

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

Every year as spring approaches, there is a collective sigh of relief that the cold of winter is almost behind us and the warmth of spring lies waiting, just around the corner. Spring is synonymous with renewal. We see it in the landscape around us as the snow melts away to reveal new buds on the trees, the return of birdsong in the morning, and the hours of sunshine stretching longer and longer. With all of these changes, a palpable energy surfaces, a desire to create and explore fresh ideas, especially in our homes. Transitioning into the new season is the perfect time to throw open the windows to let the fresh air in, declutter, and refresh, bringing some of the beloved elements of spring into the home.

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

Spring Clean

Spring cleaning is good for the soul! After being cooped up all winter, taking the time to go through each room and decide what are necessities, what fits with the overall aesthetic you want in your home, and tidy up by donating items you no longer need, is a great way to start your spring refresh. Organizing the shelves, closets, drawers, and storage areas where items have accumulated and created clutter helps us to be more mindful of what we have and design more thoughtful and purposeful spaces in our homes. An organized home helps clear the head so that we can start to dream and create.

Photo: Chelsea Johnson for Lyss Iafrates Interiors

Florals, Branches & Scents

One of the easiest ways to refresh for spring is to bring the outside in. Fresh flowers in a vase beside the bed, in the living room, front entryway, or bathroom adds a beautiful pop of colour and the fresh scent of spring. While the ground is still defrosting, you may have to pick these up at a local florist or grocery store, but soon enough, you can snip a few blooms from your garden to brighten up the rooms in your home. Alternatively, if you want the look with lower maintenance, faux flowers are an excellent option. Paired with a light, floral scented candle, it will smell like wildflowers without the fuss of changing the vase water! 

Photo: Chelsea Johnson for Lyss Iafrates Interiors

I also love the look of stems and branches. A beautiful stem of pink Queen Anne’s Lace adds a soft and delicate hint of colour and would be gorgeous as a centrepiece on its own or paired with other flowers. Branches found on a spring walk outside or faux branches, like pussy willow branches, can be used for a dramatic front entryway arrangement. I like using potted herb plants on the kitchen counter or window sill for a fresh spring scent. There are also very realistic faux herb branch options that will add beautiful greenery to your space.

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

In our projects, the little things are what our clients appreciate the most, and scent is one of those important details. We take the time to incorporate this into our design plan, even using scented candles in our design presentations to create a desired mood. In your spring refresh, don’t forget to take this into consideration. Florals like jasmine, rose, and cherry blossom, fresh orange and lemon zest, sweet honeysuckle, or fragrant bergamot and sandalwood, shake off the staleness of winter and invigorate each room with the promise of the soft breeze and warmth of spring!

Lighter Textiles

With the cold temperatures of winter on the way out, it is time to put away the warm duvets, heavy quilts, and wool throws in exchange for light and airy textiles. Linen sheets and covers are an excellent choice as they are visually lighter and are naturally cooling while you sleep. To complete the look for spring, you can pair them with floral printed throw pillows or a long lumber pillow.

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

Linen curtains are also a great way to lighten the overall look and feel of your space. They are textural and soft without feeling heavy, and the light-filtering quality of linen allows the spring sunshine to permeate every inch of your room. 

If you are looking for new dining or living room furniture, I am in love with the relaxed, lived-in look of slip-covered furniture. A slip-covered sofa or dining chairs feels laid back and refined, a perfect combination as the warmer weather approaches. Because I lean more towards lighter colour tones like ivory or oatmeal, I appreciate that the slipcovers can be removed and washed, keeping them looking new. 

Another way to incorporate lighter textiles at this time of year are floral tablecloths and linen napkins. Soft and slightly wrinkled, these add a casual and relaxed feel to your dining table, the perfect setting for those warmer weather meals lingering around the table, enjoying the balmier temperatures and longer hours of daylight.

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

Artwork, Wallpaper & Personal Photographs 

Artwork is an easy way to bring the feeling of spring into your home. A landscape of a field in bloom or a bubbling mountain brook; a bird in flight or the late afternoon sun warming an outdoor cafe. The wonder and beauty of nature’s awakening in spring is skillfully captured by so many talented artists in the soft brushstrokes of a watercolor or the delicate lines of a sketch.

If you are looking for a bolder change, wallpaper inspired by spring is an on-trend and easy way to refresh your home. A pretty floral pattern like the one we used in our Kerman project powder room or delicate bunches of wisteria in soft pastels are transformative and make the room interesting and unique. It’s a great way to take a space that feels tired and breathe new life into it!

Photo: Courtesy Lyss Iafrates Interiors

I also love the idea of sprinkling personal photographs around the home. These images capture the special moments throughout the years that tell a family’s story. Images taken in the spring reflect the soft, natural light and fresh colours of the outside world. Displayed throughout the home, these pictures intertwine the personal with the elevated design aesthetic of each space. I love walking into a finished room and feeling a better sense of who the homeowners are. Creating that balance between a home that feels designed and one that feels lived in and comfortable is important, and intimate moments captured in photographs are one way to help achieve this goal.

Take the time as the seasons shift to make small, meaningful changes to your home. Like the rejuvenation that is happening in the environment outside, these purposeful changes inside can make a huge difference. Happy spring!

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