The Top 5 Things I Do in My Home
Spring is upon us and as a homemaker, this is an exciting time! It’s time for fresh starts, clean spaces, and a renewed sense of spirit. Sprucing up the house for spring is just what the doctor ordered.
Spring is often a time when we come out of winter a lot like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon and revived with a lot more life in us ready to take on the world. But, in the world of homemaking that takes on a specific look.
We’ve all heard of spring cleaning but I’m not the best at keeping up with the traditional style of spring cleaning. I always have cleaning to do and I’m trying more and more to keep things to a minimum when it comes to the items we own so I do a lot of cleaning, purging, and organizing all year round.
I instead like to take the time during spring to switch things around and freshen my home up in a slightly different way.
If you find you’re like me and traditional spring cleaning just isn’t your thing then maybe you will enjoy the five tips below instead.
1. Fresh linens
Nothing says spring quite like airy, crisp, and natural materials. An easy way to make your bedroom look instantly brighter and more ethereal is to switch out your comforter or duvet cover for a light pastel or white color along with your bedsheets. Swap a heavier blanket at the foot of your bed for a light muslin throw. Maybe you are a pillow person and have throw pillows throughout your home whether on beds or couches. Throw pillows are easy to switch from moody tones for fall and winter to airy and floral-type patterns for spring and summer. Take your throw blankets on your couch that were heavy and warm and bring on lightweight and lighter-toned materials. Even curtains can be swapped from heavy dark curtains to light and transparent ones to bring an elevated and fresh feel to any space.
2. Fragrance
Don’t get me wrong I love a good candle lit around my home with a smell of pumpkin or cinnamon apple during those colder months but come spring I’m ready for a fresh and clean scent to my home. Vanilla is an all-year-round smell that I think works well in any home, but opting for lighter fragrances, especially those laundry-fresh smells is the way to go. I still like lighting candles in the warmer months, but it does tend to feel a little more fitting for fall and winter, so to switch things up from an occasional candle, I find that plug-in fragrances or even diffusing scents add a beautiful, spa-like ambiance that just feels more fitting for spring.
3. Organization & Cleaning
This one does lean into the traditional spring cleaning but I think the way I tackle it is more realistic and maybe will actually get done even in a busy household. I choose one area no matter how big or small that I’ve had my eye on that I want to spruce up and clean. This year I think it’s going to be my kitchen spices. I don’t have a big budget to work with or really much of one at all but my spices desperately need to be reworked into my kitchen.
When we moved into our new home almost a year ago I put them in a temporary location in my cupboard. I always planned for them to be in one specific kitchen drawer, but it’s never happened. It will be my spring project to figure out how to make that happen. Despite a tight budget I’m determined to get that drool-worthy spice drawer we all envy on social media!
If you don’t need to clean up your kitchen spices find a project that interests you. Maybe it’s tackling your bathroom storage, garage, attic, someone’s closet in your home, a kitchen cabinet, or maybe it’s just finishing decorating or sprucing up an area in your home like an open shelf or bookcase.
4. Closet Clean Out
I don’t always have time to try on clothes or honestly go through all the items I haven’t worn or am not interested in wearing anymore. I do, however, always transition my closet from fall and winter wardrobe pieces to spring and summer clothing. Here in Texas, we do have all four seasons albeit fall and winter are generally short and for the last few years relatively mild but we still get ice and snow on occasion and have days where you find yourself chilled to the bone.
Our summers though get HOT. Once we hit about March and begin having consistently warmer days I begin to switch my wardrobe over. I put into storage heavy sweaters and almost all long-sleeve outfits. I move my airy and lightweight clothing and dresses in. If I have time I will go through clothing and choose the pieces I feel ready to part with but that’s not always realistic time-wise.
5. Florals and Fruits
One of my favorite parts of a new season is the change in what’s fresh and in season. Bringing in fresh cut flowers can bring so much color and joy to a space. Don’t think you need a flower garden to do this either. Until we have our garden I’m happy with the small $3.99 grocery store arrangements at our local store). I also love cooking lighter and fresher meals. I switch from baking cinnamon and pumpkin breads and everything spice to strawberry or blueberry muffins and breads. Fresh fruits and vegetables, salads, and even switching my warm caramel lattes to iced coffees are a refreshing and new twist on kitchen life. There’s just something about fresh fruit and juices or iced beverages in the spring and summer that feels so good!
Here’s To The Spring Reset
A little mix of all the tips above can truly create the feeling of not only spring but a whole new home. It’s nice to walk into a room in your home that’s been feeling a bit stagnant and suddenly feel excited to be in the space as if you’ve just moved into a new house!
If in doubt, when it comes to making your home spring and summer-ready opt for light airy colors and materials, bring in the natural light, and stay cool and hydrated by opening up some windows and getting a nice breeze with those airy curtains blowing in the wind while sipping on some fresh fruit juice. It’s the perfect spring dream.
Looking For More Inspiration?
I chat a lot about home inspiration and how to refresh your home throughout the year in my Homemaking section. For the latest spring-themed blog post I discuss how to embrace the recent time change. I talk a lot about the art of homemaking, balancing parenting and homemaking, how to live moderately. In my Family section of my blog I share ideas you can do with the whole family. Soon you will find a free spring bucket list that will be coming your way soon!
Also, if you’re in the mood for some spring cleaning you can download a free year long cleaning checklist. You’ll also find seasonal bonus cleaning ideas—spring included! You can download the free cleaning checklist by clicking on the button that says “Download Your Checklist!” on the Homepage.
