Easy Ways to Spring Up Your Space

Ahh Spring is in the air…or at least upon us so says the calendar.  Either way it’s time to finally take down the holiday wreath and pack away the holiday greeting cards.  Sure there still may be some snow on the ground, but without a doubt we’re rounding the bend and headed for Spring!

Not sure how to change gears?  Not to worry.  Here are a few easy ways to Spring Up your space:

New welcome mat; new beginning

Your current welcome mat probably at this point isn’t making anyone feel too welcome.  If you’ve endured the brutal winter this season it’s probably safe to say that your welcome mat has too.  Switch it out for a new, fresh one.  Have fun with it.  Try one that reflects the ushering in of the new season.  Check these out at Cost Plus World Market.

New bathroom mat/shower curtain; new look

Changing these two things can change the entire look of your bathroom. Try it and see!  If you’re anything like me when you find something you like you tend to hang on to it, but take a look around this season at some of the latest designs.  You’re sure to find something that matches your taste and budget.  Take a look at Bed Bath & Beyond to get some ideas.

Add color; add style

Change up the pillows on your couch and bed.  Think bright colors like oranges and greens or more muted tones like pastel blues, purples and yellows depending upon your color scheme (3 should do the trick).  It’s a subtle change that can make a big difference in freshening up your space. Check out CB2 this season for some fresh and modern ideas.

Add flowers; add life

What better way to signal that Spring is here than with flowers.  The most common areas such as the dining room and kitchen table are obvious, but don’t forget the bathroom counter and your home office too.  Try calla lilies and tulips, Spring favorites.

In addition, for you expecting mommies out there that have more to consider than just the common areas in your home; here’s a helpful site to assist in preparing your baby’s room this Spring.  Think “green” and not just pink and blue as you welcome your new little addition.  Click here for some great ideas.

Need ideas on how to style your baby’s room?

These days, you can find very hip and stylish bedding and accessories.  The pinks and blues are old staples that will always be available, but don’t be afraid to get a little creative with your baby’s room.  Baby accessories have come a long way.  If you don’t see what you like in the various retailers, check online to broaden your options.  Visit babysinstyle.com for some creative ideas.

Whether you’re sprucing up your space with a few of the ideas above or preparing a new room for baby, have fun with it.  Develop your own personal decorating style and search for what you really want.  With store front retailers and the internet there’s no need to settle for home decor that you don’t love. Remember, this is your home; your haven.  Love it!

Bonus Tip: Have a favorite holiday greeting card that includes a picture of your family or friends?  Cut around the picture and frame it.  That way you can enjoy it all year long!

Happy Spring!

Color Vision

Raynée Crowe, an interior decorating consultant, ironically never considered herself creative and then one day the ‘ol proverbial light bulb went off.  Her love for mixing and matching colors, patterns and decorating had manifested itself into daydreaming of color swatches, textiles and room arrangements.  That passion and excitement grew and soon it was pure enjoyment as she worked with friends and clients to select color pallets, accessories, furniture and arrange spaces.  Finally she understood the saying “if you do what you love you’ll never work a day in your life” and so in 2008 Color Vision LLC was born.  For more information, you can email Raynee at yourcolorvision@gmail.com.

Creating a Family Friendly Recreation Room

Redecorating a family recreation room to accomodate a blended family may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Family recreation rooms, also known as bonus rooms and game rooms, can be a great place for the family to hang out. The way the room is decorated will depend on the way the family plans to use the room. The most important thing is to create a space that the entire family will enjoy.

1. First, sit down as a family and decide what the space will be used for. Let everyone get involved in this process and give ideas. You are a family so it is important for everyone to enjoy this room. Decide what activities will take place in this room. Defining the space will make it easier to decorate the room.
2. Now that you have sat down as a family and decided what the room will be used for, you will need to create zones for each activity. For example, if you want a place to curl up with a good book, a comfortable chair placed in a corner may be ideal. Just make sure to include adequate lighting, if you do set up a reading zone. If watching television and playing games is the purpose of this room, you will need to set up zones for those activities as well. You may want to consider an entertainment center with lots of storage. The storage areas can house movies, games, CD’s and many other items.
3. The next thing you want to do is create a budget of how much you want to spend on updating the space. There are plenty of ways to decorate on a budget. Get creative. Don’t be afraid to update the old using something as simple as a can of spray paint. Let the family show their creativity as well.
4. It is now time to decide what furniture and accessories will be needed for the space. Do you already have the necessary pieces? Do you need to shop for additional pieces? Can you pull the items from other rooms? These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself. Look in decorating magazines to get ideas for furniture and accessories. If you need to buy new furniture for the room, it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Buy multifunctional items, such as ottomans that double as a coffee table, seating and storage. There are many discount stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, TJ Maxx and Marshalls that sell furniture and accessories at discounted prices. You can also check your local newspaper classifieds, Craigslist and yard sales for used items. Clip coupons and check you weekly sales ads…shop around. Make sure to stock up on decorative baskets and boxes to store items such as books, CD’s and movies.

You don’t have to feel overwhelmed or be a professional to pull this task off. Enjoy yourself and remember to do this as a family. You and your blended family will be creating a space that the whole family will love. Lastly, make sure you keep the room organized! Be sure that everything has its’ own space. See to it that the family makes it a habit of returning items to their designated places. Nothing creates chaos in a home worse than clutter and disorganization!

Happy Decorating!!

Tia Spaulding, ASP

Owner of Creative Interiors and Home Staging

www.creativeinteriorsandhomestaging.com