Style your home for spring: 12 easy decorating tricks

Vases aren’t just for flowers: Cut a branch or two from plants in your yard and place in a vase with water. “A sculptural branch off a bush or tree makes for an unexpected and delightful connection with the outdoors,” says Sarah Barnard, an interior designer. “Whatever is growing at the moment gets to be on your foyer table, and it costs nothing.”

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Brighten your kitchen with a pop of yellow. Fill a white bowl or glass vase with lemons for sunny functionality. Not only are lemons inexpensive décor – they’re convenient to have on hand for whipping up, say, a fresh spring salad. Yellow daffodils also illuminate a room.

Display your favourite spring flora in a frame. “When the birds start chirping, I like to bring seasonal plants inside and brainstorm how to best appreciate them,” says Kara Butterfield, an interior stylist. “One way to do that is to place a pressed flower on colourful paper in a bright frame.” To press a flower, place parchment paper on a heavy book, followed by the flower and another piece of parchment paper. Stack another heavy book on top, and allow to sit for a week.

If your laundry room or an often-used closet looks a bit drab, rejuvenate the space with a burst of colour. Line dresser drawer shelves with colourful floral paper or hang a piece of light-hearted artwork in the laundry room. It can be as simple as framing a piece of bright, spare wallpaper or wrapping paper. Little, sunny surprises help you refresh your mindset and celebrate every corner of your house as the seasons shift.

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It’s not so much about colour as it is about texture. “Put away the velvet pillows,” says Butterfield. “Use lighter textiles, such as cotton fabric, for a more carefree appeal.”

Place greenery strategically throughout your home. “Psychologically, houseplants generally are going to give us a cheerier disposition,” says Barnard. “They also help clean up our indoor air since plants can act as a natural air filter.” Aim for two plants for each room with windows: One large plant for the ground, and one small one for a desk or table. Ferns and orchids are low-maintenance plants that are easy to upkeep in the home.

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Pretty much any container can serve as a vase, so have fun! Repurpose items such as colourful gumboots (place a cup inside each), pitchers, jars, hurricane candle holders, tin cans, beakers, teacups, or painted bottles.

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Incorporate new colour into your living room and refresh the space by swapping out coffee table books that have been gathering dust. “Don’t have the same tired books that your friends looked at six parties ago,” says Barnard. “By shuffling and changing out your selection of coffee table books, it not only keeps the room interesting, it also makes you look interesting and smarter.”

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Brighten old terracotta pots with floral fabric. Cut a strip of fabric long enough to wrap around the pot, leaving extra fabric to fold over on the top and bottom. Cut slits into fabric on the top so it doesn’t pucker when glued down. Brush each section with Mod Podge, lay the fabric, and fold it over and under the pot. Coat the entire pot with Mod Podge. Allow to dry.

Screw decorative door knobs – think antique, glass, or floral – into your entryway wall to serve as hooks. It’s an aesthetic yet functional way to keep umbrellas, raincoats and other spring items orderly in the entryway.