The New Nation - Internet Edition

WP Desk

Everything begins to come alive again and we begin to see signs of new life and color. The cold and dreariness begins to fade away. Warmer weather calls for a change in your home's decor. Turn your thoughts to spring cleaning, spring gardens, and of course, spring decorating! So, how do you prepare for spring decorating? Well, curl up with a good design book, and dream away!

Pack away the rich, heavy colors and patterns of winter, and bring out the bright, cheerful, light textures of spring. Open up those bright, shiny windows and let the sun shine in! Update your home by bringing in sheer fabrics, pretty florals, and garden elements.

Lighten Up!

Do you have velvet drapes or a heavy corduroy sofa? Spring is the time to change them out for lighter looking alternatives. Remove the drapes and replace them with airy sheers. Slipcover the sofa or chairs with paler tones or florals.

Rethink the Rugs

Wonderfully cozy area rugs look just right in winter. But when the temperature rises it may be time to roll them up and replace them for summer with sisal or cotton rugs in light, cool colors.

Orient Toward a View

If your furniture is centered in front of a fireplace, think about ways to rearrange the look for summer. Change the focal point away from the mantel to a view of a garden, placing the conversation grouping to take advantage of the garden scene just outside.

Create an Inviting Porch

Summer living often moves out to a porch or deck, but even if your home does not have these amenities you can get the look and feel of a porch inside. Introduce a few garden chairs, accessories, and floral fabrics into a family room, for example. You'll get the feel of the outdoors every time you're in the room.

Store the Silks

Remove dusty silk flower arrangements from your rooms and store them away for a few months. Instead, bring in fresh green plants, flowering pots, or elegant orchids. These lively touches can breathe life into winter-weary spaces.

Re-Accessorize

Time to rework your accessories and makeover your shelves. Clean winter dust off the shelves and begin to replace objects with an eye toward keeping the look light. Bring out your floral china or white ironstone, set up a collection of pitchers or glass, and include plants and picture frames as well.

Think Sheer

Sheer curtains, sheer tablecloths, sheer bedskirts, and pillows - all of these say "summer" louder than almost any other element. Look for plain, embroidered, or printed sheer designs that complement your interiors.

De-Clutter Now

Look for organizing solutions for your home. Any spot that is overcrowded or unorganized can drain your energies as it swallows objects and fill your life with clutter. A visit to a home store can yield products to contain clutter wherever it exists.

Sweep Off the Steps

Bring the look of summer to your front door by cleaning up the area. Wash the door and windows and touch up the paint if needed. Hang a silk flower wreath on the front door too. If you have a large porch you may also have room for pots of colorful spring flowers.