Make a Springtime Display
Caitlin Moran said this:
“Buy flowers – or if you are poor, steal one from someone’s garden; the world owes you that much at least: blossoms – and put them at the end of the bed. When you wake, look at it, and tell yourself you are the kind of person who wakes up and sees flowers.
This stops your first thought being, ‘I fear today. Today is the day maybe I cannot survive anymore,’ which I know is what you would otherwise think.
Thinking about blossoms before you think about terror is what girls must always do, in the Bad Years.”
…and while you may not be the kind of terrified young girl Moran was writing to, the principle stands. When you wake up and see flowers (or any other beautiful thing you’ve arranged), you know you are the kind of person who wakes up and sees flowers.
The kind of person who deserves to see, smell and feel something beautiful before you start your day.
Before you do 100 things for other people and are stretched in 100 different directions.
Your day started with something beautiful, just for you.
A Spring Display is a glorious thing.
It could be a vase of flowers – it could be something you’ve put more time into.
We are used to creating displays for Christmas, Halloween, and probably Valentine’s Day too – but there’s no need for your Springtime display to be confined to the Easter weekend.
Americans are superb at seasonal home displays, and the Japanese Spring cherry blossom viewing is absolutely breathtaking.
We can give them all a run for their money with our wonderful British plants and foliage.
Principles:
- Choose a focal point for your display, maybe the mantelpiece, a console table, a shelf, or a windowsill.
- Collect spring-themed items: flowers and plants, rustic ornaments, birds, butterflies – whatever feels like Spring to you.
- Mix and match different shapes, sizes, textures, and colours for interest and contrast.
- Add height and depth to your display using books, boxes, trays, or stands.
- It’s lovely to use natural materials such as wood, metal, glass, or ceramic to add warmth and charm, but anything goes, whatever you’d love to look at.
- It doesn’t have to be massive – a little Spring corner is a glorious thing to mark the new season and lift your mood.
But it doesn’t have to stop there.
Other Way to Mark Spring:
Declutter
One of the most effective ways to freshen up your home after the cold, darkness of Winter is to declutter and organise. A Spring Clean is good for the soul. Even if you get someone else to do it (Obviously, we would say that, wouldn’t we?)
But the world getting brighter and warmer puts many of us in the mood to throw open the windows and make some space.
Always start by ridding yourself you don’t need, use, or love.
Donate, sell, or recycle what you can and bin the rest.
(I appreciate that’s easier said than done, and you can try the 28-Day Home Declutter if you want to do that, with us, step-by-step.)
You’ll be amazed at how much physical and mental space and light you can create by clearing out the clutter. Plus, having a tidy and organised home will make you feel calmer and more energised.
Add Colour
Another way to freshen up your home is to change up your colour scheme.
Spring is all about bright and cheerful colours, so why not add some little pops of colour about the place? Changing cushions, pillows, curtains, rugs, bedding, or accessories.
Or, if you want to go more berserk, paint an accent wall or a piece of furniture.
If you do, choose a colour that makes you happy, bright, and Spring-like.
If your budget is tight, there’s tons of lovely seasonal stuff in the Pound emporiums,eBay and Marketplace; it doesn’t have to be pricey.
Bring Nature Inside
A less dramatic way to freshen up your home is to bring in some natural elements.
Nothing says spring like fresh flowers, plants, and herbs. They add life, beauty, and make your house smell amazing.
You could arrange them in vases, pots, baskets, or jars.
We have a neighbour who’s just made a fairy garden on her front lawn.
While that’s possibly showing off, it’s completely gorgeous.
This isn’t about impressing anyone else (the fairy garden possibly was, to be fair, and it worked), but it’s about you enjoying your time at home and feeling good.
p.s. we don’t advocate stealing out of your neighbour’s garden. Just for the record.