Finally, Spring has decided to arrive to give us some sunshine and warmth! With the days getting longer and brighter my garden is starting to come back to life and this highlights everything that needs to be done inside. It is a time to come out of hibernation, freshen up and prepare for the year ahead and I have 5 simple things you can do to make your home Spring perfect.
PAINTWORK
As the very welcome sunshine makes its way into my home it tends to reveal some very unwelcome scuffs, scrapes and smudges. Even after a top to bottom spring clean walls will always expose a room that is slightly worn out. I find that a touch up of the paintwork can make all the difference. It’s quick and inexpensive (usually a sample pot is enough to do the trick) and can bring a space back to life. The only hard part is keeping the children and/or pets away long enough for it to dry!
SCENTED CANDLES
I always imagine that a house has been holding its breath all Winter so as soon as the weather is warm enough I love to give the house a good airing. Then I like to switch my scented candles. During the Winter, I find that woody spiced scents give the perfect atmosphere however for Spring the lighter, fresh smelling candles are much more appropriate. I love Manuel Canovas’ world famous luxury candles and Designer’s Guild’s range but as a designer I am always looking for something different and new for my home. I have recently discovered a local company, Narbeth Candles, that produce handmade candles in the Cotswolds. Gail Narbeth, who makes the candles, has worked hard to develop an exclusive range of unique scents. The candles burn really well and aren’t too overpowering which can often be a problem. Their ‘Desert Rose’ candle is available at Saal Design (£15) and is the perfect scent for Spring.
FLOWERS
This one is a simple one…bring your Spring flowers inside! Fresh flowers around the house always lift my spirits and allow me to enjoy my garden even when it’s still a bit too cold to be out there.
COLOURS
Make the most of the light and use it as an opportunity to mix things up and experiment with some colour. Pastels tend to be the ‘go to’ palette for Spring and the result is often very tasteful but sometimes a bit boring. Personally, I usually find bold use of colour more impressive. You don’t have to be too dramatic to give a room some seasonal vibrancy- the odd splash here and there should be enough.
Cushions available to buy at Saal Design
PREPARE FOR SUMMER
For me, Spring is the ‘organised’ season. As the focus starts to shift towards outside and the garden it’s good to start thinking about what you will need for the Summer. Furniture usually has a lead time of roughly 6 weeks so if you need some for your garden then Spring is the time to order. There are some lovely new outdoor products and fabrics this year and I'm excited to start having some fun with them.
