Easy Spring Clean

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It will soon be that time to spring clean the home from top to bottom, but if you feel this is more of a chore than fresh start to welcome in the warmer weather, then hopefully these tips will ease you into it.

It’s always good to have a plan and to be methodical when it comes to big cleaning jobs.  Ideally you want to start from the top and work your towards the bottom.  Use this same method when cleaning each individual room.  Start at the ceilings and work down towards the skirting boards, this way any cobwebs or dust won’t fall onto newly cleaned areas.

Remember you don’t have to do it all in one day, you can spread in out over the week or over weekends and if you have other family members at home, get them involved.  Give the kid’s a duster and they will merrily polish surfaces.  They can even vacuum their own bedrooms leaving you the trickier jobs to attend to.

Make sure you have all the kit you need, from dusters, to new mattress protectors for the beds.  There are some things that just seem to run out when you need them, these are normally bin bags and bleach.  If you gather these things before you start, everything will run smoothly.  Don’t forget there are cheaper alternatives than shop bought sprays.  Lemon juice will remove hard-water marks and soap scum, white vinegar makes a great window cleaner and baking soda mixed with a drop of essential oil freshens up carpets in home, add lavender for bedrooms.

These little tips will get your spring cleaning off to a good start and make a chore into a family day in.

Tree and Leaf Trends

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There is a certain 70’s vibe going around at the moment and this is reflected in interior design, with the appearance of tree and leaf motifs.  It is the child-like appeal of these simple designs, with bold colours and textures setting a striking statement.

The design can be seen on cushions, wallpaper, even tea cosies.  They range from simplistic leaf shapes to hand-drawn ferns.  The trend is very easy to use in the home, especially with many accessories featuring this botanical influence.

You can even create your own inspired design with the use of stickers or cut out’s from magazines, ideal in a child’s bedroom, they can even help design tree and place the leaves where they want to, even adding birds and butterflies.  Great ways in helping your child learn more about nature.

Budget Bedroom Updates

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Updating a bedroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune, a few simple changes can bring life back into the room and make it feel fresher.  If your budget doesn’t stretch to a full overhaul, then these nifty little ideas will help get you the look you want.

Wallpaper can instantly add a new dimension to a room, but you don’t have to spend a huge amount to do the whole room, create a feature wall in your bedroom, choose a dramatic looking paper and the transformation will make it seem as if you have decorated all the room.

If your bedroom is feeling a little dark, introduce reflected surfaces, such as mirrors, not necessarily on the ceiling, but a striking mirror will reflect light and add an extra dimension to the room.

The latest trend for the bedroom is florals in hot-house colours; you can simply achieve this look by buying a new set of bedding, or even adding a few cushions with large blooms on them. Display on your dressing table pretty florals accessories, like a clear glass vase holding a posy or a picture frame with a flowery image.

Snuggly Bedding

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Sometimes there is nothing better than snuggling under a just clean duvet, but keeping it as fresh as the day you put it on, can be a bit tricky.  These little tips will help keep your bedding and bed as fresh as a daisy.

Forget about making your bed as soon as you get up, you will trap moisture, the best thing you can do is fold the covers or duvet  back and let it air, so that the moisture evaporates.

Bedlinen needs to be washed once a week or fortnightly at 60°, higher if your fabric can take it.  If you use pillow or mattress protectors, wash those at least once a month to keep them fresh, try and wash them at a similar temperature or to the temperature the manufacturer states.

If your mattress smells a bit tainted, try a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda on it, leave it for between 3 to 4 hours and then vacuum off.  The soda will trap unpleasant odours that build up on the mattress.  Don’t forget to vacuum pillows and blankets.

It may be a little chilly outside but it is the perfect time to air bedding, it helps get rid of bugs, plus there is nothing like that clean, vibrant outdoors smell.

Citrus Zest Appeal

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There are some wonderful vivid colours hitting the stores, most notably is the zingy zesty greens and sumptuous olive tones.  You’ll be able to add just a splash of these colours to bring your home up to date this year or you could try the retro style wallpaper in olive for a bolder statement.

But it’s not just wallpaper and cushions featuring the vivid greens, sofas and armchairs are being spruced up to add extra vibrancy to a living room.  If your budget doesn’t stretch to an overhaul of your home, you could look at buying some reasonably priced artwork, with the splashes of bright green or soft shades of olive to add to your walls.

If your budget is really tight, think about buying a few small pots of paint in various green shades and some large pebbles and give them the citrus makeover, you can then group these around your home for your own little citrus zest appeal.

Monochrome Still Alive

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Last year we touched upon the monochrome trend for wallpapers  and this year there seems to be even more choice to choose from.  Black and white avoids colour mismatch and accessories can easily add striking contrast to a sophisticated backdrop.

Ideal places for the monochrome effect are the hallway and bathrooms; however there is a change with the two-tone effect moving into the bedroom for sublime elegance and impact can be achieved in the living room.

How you use the monochrome wallpaper available is depending on the light within your home and also the scene you wish to create.  If you have a dark room, black wallpaper may appear over powering, however, a white background with a black accent will lighten the room.  The brighter the room, the wider the choice as you will be able to use the black background with white accent.

Accessories also play an important aspect with the two tone design, with focus being on textures or the pattern within the wallpaper itself.  You could also add a splash of colour against the monochrome backdrop, with fuchsias, teal and the new rave of lime green.

Blanket Boxes and Storage Trunks

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A simple storage solution is making a comeback this year, the blanket box. For those who like the extra detail there is also the option for storage trunks, complete with straps and locks, giving a colonial feel.

If extra storage is needed but space is at a premium or you have an area under a window that just needs an extra something, blanket boxes are perfect, they can be used as a seat and also for storing bedding (as the name suggests), or anything you would prefer hidden from view.

There is a wide variety to choose from, you can choose from the simple yet elegant wicker style to solid wood.  Depending on the style of your room you may choose to go for a luxury leather trunk or an ornate carved design.

They are also great in children’s bedrooms, providing a much needed area for hiding the myriad of toys and games, plus the cuddly toys.  The children’s boxes and trunks can feature fun pictures or you could even buy a plain blanket box and add your own stencils.

Let it Snow

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There’s something satisfying when you’re wrapped up warm in doors and it’s snowing, especially if you’re holding a nice big mug of hot chocolate.  This time of year we do tend to think about keeping warm and of course trying to keep the heating bills as low as possible.  Throws and blankets come into their own, you can be snuggled up on the couch with a soft cuddly throw or in bed with a lovely warm blanket covering you.  Not forgetting the stylish hot water bottles available now, with their very own jumpers.

However  you decide to keep the chill at bay, the place we do want to feel cosy is in the bedroom, this is the ideal time of year to spruce up your bedcovers, a new bed set in warmer tones will instantly give your bedroom an uplift and make it feel more inviting and cosier.  Or just buying new puffed up pillows will give that extra appeal for winter snuggles, it’s all about getting the ‘snug as a bug’ effect.

Guest Bedrooms and Christmas

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Stress at Christmas can run high, even for the calmest of individuals, especially if you envisage  making sure your guests are comfortable and relaxed, they need a place they can escape the hubbub, ideally a guest bedroom.  If they are happy you’ll be happy.

Even though there are only a few weeks to get prepared, there is plenty to be achieved in a short amount of time, without giving yourself a headache.  Luckily, there are plenty of sales on at the moment and this will be a great help in keeping your budget in check.

An easy way to create a calm atmosphere is to eliminate clutter, you may use the spare room as a dumping ground for the rest of the year, but with a bit of elbow grease you can create a calm haven for guests, even if it means hiding clutter in wardrobes or under the bed.  Clear floors and surfaces will bring tranquillity to a room.

At Christmas it’s nice to bring a bit of the outdoors in, a mini Christmas tree in the guest bedroom will remind guests of the special time of year, even a few sprigs of holly will add to the atmosphere.  You can use scented candles to make the bedroom more welcoming and also make sure the room is aired before they arrive.

If you don’t have a spare bedroom for guests, then it might be worth investing in a room divider, this will give privacy to the family member who already resides in that room or you will be able to section part of the living area for your guests to retire to.

Overall Christmas is a time for family and friends, just simply removing clutter will help towards the festive celebrations.

Folky Florals

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So winter is upon us, but there is no reason why the deeper shades of spring can’t be used in the home, they really do make the most of the darker months.  Think along the lines of pinks, purples and reds, with a splash of palm leaf green.  These colours are ideal for infusing into the bedroom.  Look towards plain pieces of bedroom furniture as the main accent will be the depth of soft furnishings.

Cleverly intersperse floral patterns amongst bold purple bedspreads, by using cushions and updating the curtains.  You can also bring the floral accent in by making use of floral china or ornaments decorated with flourishes of pink and cream. If you want a more long term effect, artificial flowers will carry on the look throughout the winter months without you having to worry about constantly replacing.

If your budget doesn’t stretch to replacing wardrobes, then think about how a folksy look works with mismatched pieces of furniture, the key is to ensure there is a singular theme running through, in this case it would be floral and purple, so even adding a patterned rug will get your bedroom folky.