Spring Forward
While the dreaded springing forward sees us losing a coveted hour of sleep, with it also comes longer daylight hours, warmer temperatures and kissing the gloom of winter gray goodbye. It only seems fitting that our homes should see the same warmth and rejuvenation that we witness taking place outdoors.
Let there be light
Whether you have floor to ceiling panels or windows that leave much to be desired, you can still maximize the natural light in your home. Bringing in mirrors can multiply light and give the illusion of your walls extending beyond where they currently are. This in turn will create a more open and spacious feeling.
Another way to emphasize the light in your home is by using acrylic pieces. More durable and practical than glass, acrylic items are unique in appearance and being opaque lessens the overall visual weight of the space they are in.
Colors Even the Easter Bunny Would Envy
It is no surprise that Spring sees an influx in lighter and brighter colors, and your home is no exception. By using soft pastel colors, you can quickly brighten any room without losing the beauty or aesthetic that pigment brings. Updating your curtains to softer hues can provide a visual boost while maintaining the heat blocking element as we inch closer to the hotter months. Swap out your seasonal throw pillows and for a more drastic change, try painting the walls or selecting a new armchair with a fresh pastel fabric. Another trick we love to see is the increase in usage of organic green tones like forest and emerald green. These richer colors perfectly accent any pastel hue you may select.
Smooth Operator
In terms of design, there is no better way to add depth, visual interest, solidity, seamless lines or eye-catching pops than to use metals like copper and gold. These organic compounds can be introduced in numerous ways. From light fixtures to coffee tables, even in small doses like tchotchkes (otherwise called baubles, knick-knacks or trinkets). The rich yet smooth depths of gold and copper add more weight than acrylic items, however, with their light reflecting properties, will brighten an area instead of weighing down the space they occupy.
Wood, Cork and Marble, Oh My
Once you have emphasized your space’s natural light, softened the hues, and brought in depth and eccentricity with metal, top off your spring makeover with the ultimate accents of other natural materials. Incorporating items like wood, cork and marble can keep in line with the bright and airy impression you have created while providing a show stopping finishing touch. Marble, whether in a slab or even in a picture, is a cooling element. It is calming with its naturally occurring streaks and color variations that mimic watercolors even the most renowned artists try to achieve. Being a stone that is the result of metamorphism, no other material could be more perfectly suited for the season.
Just like marble, wood can provide the same range of colors, designs, and overall natural variations that can introduce a unique and striking accent. Combine the two by framing a beautiful marble print in a natural wood frame. Place a gold, copper or marble trinket next to a wood-based lamp or a vase full of repurposed corks. Hang a corkboard in a place where messages can be left, pictures can be hung, or weekly dinner menus displayed and use gold or copper facets to hang the desired items. The options are endless, and the results will not cease to amaze you.
In the end, any of these slight changes in your home will bring you light and joy and help keep your spirits high while at home. With such great new beginnings happening outside, its only fair they also happen inside.