With this recent blast of cold weather I, along with many others, am getting tired of this long, frigid winter. To brighten things up I thought it might help to start looking ahead to the warmers months to come. Spring is coming and with it comes blooming flowers, sunny days and colour, colour, colour. We really need an infusion of sunny colours and cheer at this point so why not get a jump on things and brighten up the décor on the way.
This lovely living-room photo, compliments of CIL Paints, boasts warm, buttery tones with hits of soft mauve to create a space that instantly makes you feel cheerful. The wall colour entitled Sable Sands is part of CIL's 2009 colour trends. The mix of colours in this photo reminds me of a subdued version of cheery Easter colours. The light furniture-covering upholstery keeps this room feeling light and bright.
If you are looking to cheer up a room, or rooms, in your home, here are some ideas that will help you along the way to a spring décor:
Wall colour
The wall colour will be the most important change you'll make. The new colour palettes boast neat colour combinations that need a second look. Don't automatically opt for safe beige. If you really want a change, try soft yellow, light turquoise, pale green or soft mauve as a backdrop then throw in small punches of unusual accent colours like orange, lime, black or poppy red for visual interest. In our featured photograph, the soft wall and furniture colours are offset with hits of black that give the room just enough edge to keep it from being too precious. The dark flooring also helps ground the space with a solid visual foundation. Keep the floor colour in mind when choosing paint colours. You'll need to work with what you have and the wall colour can really change the look of the flooring in either a positive or negative way depending upon your wall colour choice. If you're unsure of what colour will work your existing flooring or carpeting, try to find a décor photograph that boasts a similar floor colour and gain inspiration from the wall colours in the photo.
The ceiling in our photo here has been painted in a lighter version of the wall colour. Painted ceilings can add tons of interest to a space so keep this in mind when choosing wall colour. You could even opt for a co-ordinating paint colour on the ceiling if you are feeling adventurous. A painted ceiling can really add drama to a space.
Clutter free
Clean and fresh sometimes means lean and clutter-free. Remove all of the bric-a-brac from the room in question and start with a clean slate. You may find that your décor tastes might move in a new, fun direction. Introduce items back into the room sparingly as seen in our feature room. A few, well-positioned accents go a long way. The room may seem empty at first but live with it for a while. You'll thank me when it's time to dust again!
Natural light
With spring and summer comes that glorious summer sun. Let in the natural light by choosing window coverings that work for your space. Lighter fabric will let light filter through even when the drapes are closed. Choose draperies and hardware that are functional and by that I mean operational for your specific needs. In our CIL room, the wall coverings have large grommets and are hung from decorative poles which make them easy to open so that the sun can stream in. If your current window treatment is not functional, then get rid of it and start with something grand and new. Hang the drapery rod 10 to 15 centimetres above the window frame (if possible) to create a feeling of height and grandeur to the space.
Heavy textures and patterns are wonderful in cold winter months but in the spring and summer you want to ease up a bit. Get rid of the nubby furniture throws and plaid accent pillows and replace them with timeless, classic prints as seen in the toss cushions in our photo. Add in some plants for added texture and to mesh inside with the outside.
There is a fireplace tucked into the right side of our feature room which reminds me that fireplaces need attention in summer months. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, brighten up the dark, gaping firebox opening with a decorative screen, fresh flowers or a tray of chunky candles in varying sizes placed in front of a large mirror that will cover most or all of the opening. The candles can mimic a glowing fire during warmer months and the mirror will reflect the romantic candlelight.
Speaking of romance, next Saturday is Valentine's Day. Spring... romance... it's all good.
