5 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Home For Spring

Let Spring In! After the dark days and frigid nights of winter, it's only natural to want some change. Here are 5 no-cost ways to bring spring into your home in just a few minutes.

1. Move your art around... maybe even put a few decorative pieces away until fall. This can be figurines, sculptures, paintings, vases. You will see it all with fresh eyes
2. Clean. Don't hate me for this one - but as you clean your space you will engage with it, discover old favourites, and uncover things that are broken, old or just disliked. Get rid of anything you don't consider useful or beautiful. It's an old standard... but it can't be beat.
3. Change your bed linens. Keep a winter and summer duvet - changing to lighter weights and fresher colours will feel right as the season changes. It will also help your sleep. Take this change-over time as opportunity to wash your pillows and duvets. You don't have to have lots of linens and cushions - just put away excess and keep your sleeping space airy and light.
4. Ditch the throws, dark rich colours, and heavy slipcovers in the living room. Store away the layers that make the room feel 'cozy'. Cycle in things that remind you of spring and summer from other rooms - Add just a few clear glass vases, statues, a mirror all in fresh light colours... be creative and let your inner designer out.
5. Roll up the rugs. I love rugs - dark, wool, rich and luxe. But their time is fall, winter and early spring. Summer is the time for bare floors or light rugs. Store your rugs for fall... and they will feel loved and cozy when they come out of hiding!

All except the cleaning can be done in an afternoon... and will make your whole home feel fresh and light. These are small changes but make big impact because they make you look at your space with new eyes.

If you want to splash out and spend just a few dollars consider these - fresh flowers (potted or cut), new hand towels in spring colours for your powder room or main bathroom, 2-3 cushion covers to brighten up cushions you already have and love, and fresh scented hand-soaps.

When the weather is finally warm and fresh, fling open the windows and let the breeze fill your home with spring!

Snap Countdown for Surprise Visits

Yes, of course, my house always looks like this! 

Everyone should have a 15-minute panic-cleaning process if unexpected company is about to show up. For most friends and family, I let them see the chaos of everyday life. But sometimes... someone you need to impress just a little is about to show up. You KNOW this happens!

Don't just panic... have a plan for that panic! I'm not kidding... plan it out based on what areas of your home get seen by guests and what seems to be your clutter magnet. This is not about cleaning - this is hiding the detritus of life. Channel your panic adrenaline ... expect to run around for the next 15 minutes. Improve your routine each time you use it.

I will share my panic-routine ... time-worn and effective (and customized for my home):

1. Hall & Entry: Keep a little basket stored in the front closet - a plug-in air freshener and my most effective pet-fur brush. I plug in the air freshener near the front door and swipe up any pet fur on seats. Straighten the area throwing everything into the beautiful woven baskets under the bench seat... hidden storage is your friend!
2. Living Room: Pull chairs and furniture into their proper places in the dining room and living rooms. I have a storage ottoman which I leave empty (or virtually empty) I have a 2-minute grab-all-the-living-room-mess and dump it into the ottoman. Fluff the pillows and fold the throw - generally neaten. Fabreeze the couch, chairs, and carpet;
3. Bathroom: Refold the hand towel inside out or put in a clean one. Disinfectant wipe - a quick swipe of the counter, sink, toilet seat (top and under). The nice scented wipe in the garbage also adds a fresh smell and hides anything under it. Light the scented candle in there (a nicety for the guest and easy solution for you);
4. Kitchen: Quickly disinfectant-wipe the counters and fling everything into the dishwasher. Don't sort - fling. If you have clutter on the counters or magnets on the fridge throw it into bags and put them in the ottoman or front closet. Fold the dish towels;
5. Breathe: Put on some lipstick and just get centered.

• Floor Swipe: IF there is time, run the vacuum quickly (this never happens for me because I have to drag long hoses which are invariably upstairs!) or one of those wet-pad mops over the main areas. I love these because they are so fast, easy, and when you put the pad in the garbage it gives the room a smell of 'clean'... when people smell 'clean' they think 'clean'! 

No Wining

Friends and red wine... it's all good until someone knocks over a glass or spills on your light carpet. It happened at my place with some friends. I was just a rock-star while everyone else gasped and panicked  I just headed to the kitchen for the white wine and splashed a liberal amount on top while laughing and chatting with them. I was as cool as a cucumber and felt like a goddess.

Do you really want to know the science behind it? There's an enzyme in white wine which prohibits the colour of the red wine from setting. The white wine has to be added immediately, and then blot with a towel ... and go back later and clean your carpet in the normal way if the fibers feel a bit stiff from the sugars. Lazy Housekeeper's genius!