Fresh flowers, warm weather, and spring-ready fashion pieces are almost here. While we're all anxiously awaiting the temperatures to rise and spring to make its official debut, we're staying warm indoors by keeping up with our favorite Instagram influencers and browsing Pinterest for home inspo for the new season. Now that the time is here to make our inspiration a reality, we asked Havenly designer Elyza Brillantes for some easy tips to give our homes a refresh, no heavy lifting needed.
1. Put away what you don’t need. Spring means it’s time to shed your bulky coats and boots, but that doesn’t mean they have to hang out in your entryway. Brillantes says, “Tidy up any shoes, coats, and bags that you don’t use every day, and keep only the daily essentials handy. You can also install some wall-mounted hooks and consider an entryway bench with storage underneath to help corral the clutter.”
2. Lighten up. In the winter months, it's all about staying warm. But when the forecast calls for sun, Brillantes says you can opt for lighter materials and textiles to replace your chunky knit throws, velvet draperies, and flannel pillows. She adds, “By updating your space with lightweight materials for your window coverings, throw blankets, and decorative pillows, you'll notice a difference in your space right away, and the warm natural light of spring will come flooding in. Natural materials like cotton and linen are great options for draperies and throw blankets, and large woven baskets are perfect for storing your winter textiles until the colder seasons return."
3. Start with the obvious. Your coffee table may not come top-of-mind when you think about locations of clutter in your home, but it should. After all, it's usually home to all of your magazines, remotes, candles, and mail. Brillantes says that a quick and easy update you can make this spring is to toss any magazines or catalogs older than three months, and use a tray to keep your remote controls and other essentials neat and tidy.
4. Reconsider where you entertain. Use a chic bar cart to keep your movie night essentials nearby, or learn to use acrylic paints to make a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
5. Clean up the office. Chances are, your desk is drowning in a sea of paperwork, folders, and other random bills. But fear not — Brillantes has a trick to declutter this crazy space. “Completely empty your desk drawers and clear your desktop, then put everything in a box. Go about your business as usual. The idea is if you need something, you'll get it out of the box and put it back. Anything left in that box after a few days, you can probably toss."
Update your vanity: Use similar metals and choose pieces within the same color palette for a cohesive look. You can also make your own leather jewelry tray to hold your daintiest accessories.
