Quick ideas to lighten and brighten your home in a snap, leaving winter behind and setting the scene for warmer days ahead.
By CJ JAEGER Special to the Daily Press A h, spring! The beauty of budding trees, the smell of rain, longer, brighter days. And always, the sudden realization that we’ve been stuck inside looking at the same walls,the same clutter, and the same dingy corners since Halloween.
It’s no wonder spring often prompts us to eagerly throw open windows, clean and organize, in an attempt to move forward and celebrate the new, the clean, the bright.
While a desire for renewal is healthy,it’s not always practical to spend a lot of time or money refurnishing or remodeling.
Fear not.There are a few simple, inexpensive solutions to keep alive your new-found fervor.
A generous budget will no doubt allow for some radical changes, like remodeling, appliance replacement, new floors or window treatments. But even a modest budget will allow for a significant home refresh and help to brighten a dim corner, replace worn everyday items, or introduce a novel addition or two.
Begin by giving your space a long,critical look with the idea of adding and subtracting. Is there something blocking a good view from a window? Tired of that worn and stained rug in the hallway? The bare wall staring at you in the living room? Do you really have any hope of reviving your dead ficas? Funny how we train our eyes to look past the clutter,the worn,the dull and outdated:This is the perfect time assess likes,dislikes and needs.To ditch, organize and add a few elements of style.
To begin,make a list from room to room beginning with the big stuff: walls, ceilings, floors and windows.Assess need with means in mind,making two lists:“do now”and “do later.” There’s no sense considering re-covering your bathroom walls if you have neither the time nor the money to do it this month. But, maybe a fresh coat of bright paint on the ceiling, uncovered walls and doors, new window coverings, or an attractive area rug would do the trick, and help to compensate for that wall-covering you’ve disliked for years.
It doesn’t matter what you put in the room, new furniture, exciting artwork — the walls must look good for the rest of the room to shine. If paint is old or coverings need updating, maybe
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 3, 2004. Read the original PDF.