Moving forward - clocks and projects

Photo: House Beautiful.

 

No matter what the weather does, this weekend we are taking an important first step towards spring. Yay! Daylight savings time gives us more bright hours and renewed inspiration. There really is no better time than now to start planning our next home projects. Soon the frenzy of spring will set in and we will have less time.

Let's start small to get our decorating juices flowing. Here are three easy ways to get our homes in an early spring spirit:

1) Green plants. It's amazing what a little greenery can do. Plants inject colour and a natural touch to a space. Tall and powerful, like in this photo, they are perfect for a lonely corner. 



Photo: Houzz.

2) New curtains. You can make a room look like a million bucks with a new set of curtains. This time of year, we are yearning for happy looking windows, so don't shy away from patterns! 

3) New bed linen in fresh spring colours. Colours like acid green and bright yellow will make us fall asleep and wake up with a smile on our faces.

I know it's still winter and there's still snow on the ground, but it's time to spring forward!

Photo: Serena and Lily.

 

 

Searching for spring

Fun accent pillow will make you want to go for

a ride.

OK, the weather doesn't want to cooperate. We'll just have to pretend that it's spring outside. 

One great place to get spring inspiration is the North Bay Home and Garden Expo, which is on this weekend at the Memorial Gardens. With a two dollar admission fee, it's the best bargain in town right now!

Before you go, check out these fresh, spring-like items from Winners in North Bay to get in the right mood:

Spring is all about colour! These handy

boxes will help you stay organized in

style.

Another great storage solution. Good looking

and practical!

A new twist on one of my life mantras.

 

A cute jug for summer drinks.

Time to change your curtains for

something lighter and brighter!

Square glass pots in a range of happy colours.

This summer duvet would look great with..



...these lights.

Blue and white - a spring classic.

Here's that combination again, this time on a toss pillow.

Looking for a funky table lamp? Look

no further!

Here's a close up of the lights. They look really
sharp with the graphic black-and-white wallpaper
in the background.

Welcome spring into your home

Photo: Bemz.

Spring is here - at least on paper. No better time than now to start thinking about how to adapt our homes to longer days, warmer temperatures and relaxed living. Because when spring finally arrives, we want to be prepared!

Here are five ways to put yourself and your home in a spring spirit:




1) Switch accessories. Let your toss pillows, place mats, lights, throws and other accessories reflect the change of season. Greens, yellows, pinks and oranges are happy colours that are often associated with spring and summer. Try muted tones of these hues if that works better with the present decor of your home. Do you have a slipcovered chair or couch? Make sure you have two different covers to alternate between, according to the season. Your home will always feel alive and fresh.

Yellow and grey, what a great combination!

Photo: Williams Sonoma.



2) Light underfoot or "bye, bye" rugs altogether! Bare floors are more conducive to spring and summer living. The soft and warm feeling underfoot that we craved during long winter months is no longer necessary. So remove your heavy, dark rug, or replace it with a simpler alternative in a lighter colour. A striped cotton rug or a sisal feels right for the season.

Photo: Oliver Yaphe.

Eclectic Living Room by Lauren

Liess Interiors. Photo: Houzz.

3) Bring in nature. Once spring is here, there will practically be an explosion outside, of colour and scents. In the meantime, let's enjoy the bare, or nearly budding, trees that surround us. A few, well-selected, tall branches in a glass vase look sculptural and artistic. Leave lots of empty space around the vase, for a dramatic impact.

Contemporary Living Room by Jessica Helgerson
Interior Design. Photo: Houzz.

4) Edit, clean and organize. I've said it before and I'll say it again: only keep what you really love, what helps you in your every-day life, and what adds to the beauty of your space. Remove the rest! When you're done editing, give your home a thorough scrub, starting with the kitchen. Organize your pantry and make room for light summer meals. 

Photo: Houzz.

5) Celebrate your fresh and happy space! Sit down with your favourite drink and pat yourself on the shoulder. You're ready. Now we'll just have to wait for spring to knock on the door...

From the outside in

This is the time of year we long for in the winter. The lilacs are in bloom, the trees are full of fresh leaves and the lupins have just started to open. Make sure you bring some of the life, scents and colours in from the outside! One tall, single maple branch in a transparent vase on the floor adds vertical interest to any corner and can almost look sculpture-like. A few lilies-of-the-valley on your night table will make you wake up smiling every morning. And a bouquet of lilacs in your living room is your ultimate, natural air freshener.

What did you bring in from the outside today?

All wired up for spring

Brighten up your beige, brown or grey outdoor furniture with some happy, carefree furniture and accessories this spring! These colourful, easy-going pieces from Winners in North Bay are a good start:

Wired accent tables in fresh, summer 

colours. 

A quirky, wired chair for that special

place in your backyard.

Not all your outdoor furniture has

be beige! This bright red bistro set 

will turn up the patio temperature 

a notch.

The red in the pillow really jumps out!

Stylish spring pillows for your four-legged friend.

Chartreuse is that greenish-yellow colour that 

adds a brave punch to any interior and that feels 

so right for spring. Here combined with turquoise, 

black and grey. Yes!

What says spring more than birds and light green

foliage?

And now to my absolute favourites. These fun and

funky area rugs in 100% cotton measure 30"x50"

and cost only $19.99! Big, contemporary impact 

for a small investment. Because of their thin profile,

you can also use them as a decorative throw in your

couch.