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When we think of spring, our thoughts are usually filled with chirping birds, melting snow, digging in the dirt, warmer temperatures, rejuvenation, and HOPE. We hope all that happens, and we hope it happens soon! I am looking forward to opening my windows and getting some fresh air into my house.
If you are not a winter person (what are you doing in Wisconsin?), then you have spent a lot of time indoors this winter. Do you ever look around your house and think, “You’re really getting on my nerves. I need a change; but don’t worry, it’s me, not you. Oh wait, it IS you!”? Whether you’ve loved this winter or hated it, spring is the perfect time to rejuvenate your space.
The question I received most frequently over the past month is “How can I make the most impact and change without spending a lot of money?” That’s not the exact question but a compilation of several questions that all meant the same thing. You get the gist.
There are a few ways you can do this using paint, accessories, and art.
Let’s tackle paint first. Paint has always been my favorite way to begin remaking a room, and it can make the most impact in decorating. When I first started out on my own and had and apartment with white walls, I would dream about what color I would paint if I could. Back then it was yellow. I wanted sunshine yellow walls. I don’t have any yellow walls today.
Right now, the most popular color in Benjamin Moore®’s line is “popular gray” (aptly named). I have used a similar color in my entryway, halls, and stairwell. It’s calming, it matches almost anything, and it looks great with white trim. If you have a more bold color palette, Pantone®’s color of the year is Marsala, described as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red.” It’s a little dark for my taste. I like colors like that in smaller doses—on a sofa or chair.
Whatever color you choose, it pays to take a small sample home and swipe it on your walls. It will look different in your home than in the store. Live with it for a weekend, and view it at different times of the day. If you decide you love it and you don’t like to paint, bite the bullet and pay someone to do a good job. It makes all the difference—believe me, I have been asked to “fix” a few do-it-yourself paint jobs, and it’s much easier to do it right the first time.
Accessories include pillows, lampshades, and any tchotchkes you have around. I have a linen closet full of pillow covers. It’s such an easy and quick way to change the look of my rooms. I just zip them off and put a new one on. Instant fresh decorating! I also have re-covered a few of my lampshades more than once. But if you can’t do that yourself or don’t want to pay someone, manufacturers are making fun lampshades with all kinds of prints and colors now. Change it out, see what a difference it can make! As for tchotchkes—you know, things like seashells, sculptures, and trays—places like TJ Maxx® are perfect for you! I like to go there about once every couple of weeks and peruse the aisles of glass jars, picture frames, mercury candlestick holders, etc. I just came home with a black and white checkered bone magnifying glass. I convinced myself I needed it to read fine print, but it looks cool just sitting on a stack of books, too.
That brings me to art—what you have hanging on your walls—and I think I will leave you hanging on this one (pun intended). Walls are whole articles in themselves: gallery walls, hanging plates, art, and other non-traditional things. Stay tuned for more on this subject, and continue to email me your decorating dilemmas.
*Image credits: Tr1sha/Shutterstock and Vintage Hearts
