It's time to take off the layers of winter, and lighten up for spring and summer. Start with your accessories and watch the transformation trickle into every part of your home.
Find inspiration in the new fabrics of spring in linen and cotton. Bright botanics with large palm motifs take centre stage and work great with other patterns, like stripes.
Inject new energy in your cushions. Great new colours for spring and summer include aqua blue, classic pink and lime green - yes, together! Tuck away the brown and red, and throw in splashes of colour found in your garden.
Change the mat on your pictures. Try creamy white or light blue or your favourite accent colour. That botanical fabric will look great framed as well. Try a grouping of three or more to really bring in the outdoors.
Change the shades on your lamps. The new shapes are square, barrel and rectangular. Put the black and brown shades away for a few months, and brighten things up with white.
Get a new throw blanket. The chenille can wait - bring in a quilted cotton with a fabulous print or stripe.
Paint your walls, but don't be afraid to choose two tones of the same colour and do a paint technique like ragging or sponging to get a new style and create depth.
Bring in coloured glass - it's the latest accessory and you can add shots of colour while keeping the look light and sparkly.
Change out your table ware. Beautiful paper napkins can be found at your favourite kitchen knick-knack store. Add pizazz to your picnic table with colourful straws, umbrellas and glasses. Really make it an experience!
Take an old dresser or sideboard that has seen better days and slap on a coat of paint in your favourite accent colour. Accessorize with white ceramic vases, compotes and candle holders.
Let the light pour in. If you have a heavy drapery, take it off. If privacy is an issue, add a sheer or rattan roll-up blinds.
Place little nosegays in silver cups, and dot them on your window sill. Foliage - not blooms - is the latest thing. Plant grasses, both tall and short. Display palm fronds, or leaves from an iris or a dieffenbachia.
Shake it out - your pillows that is. Let those dust mites fly free and on a bright sunny day, beat and shake your pillows, blankets and comforters.
Take it one step further and dare to go through your closets. Spring is the perfect time to organize and lighten your load - sort, purge, donate and sell. If you haven't used it in a year, someone else can make better use of it.
