Guest Article by Suzie Wilson

Okay, so it might sound cliché, but spring has truly sprung. That can only mean one thing: spring cleaning. Fortunately, you don’t only have to clean, you can also use this time to re-envision your space. With a few small tweaks, you can have a healthier, happier home that truly reflects what you want to get out of your space.

Cleaning

Spring cleaning starts with just that, a good cleaning. This might be a good opportunity to spring for a one-time maid service that can help you deep clean all of the nooks, crannies, and corners of your home. While you can certainly do this yourself, nothing beats a detailed professional. If you DIY it, start from the top and work your way down so you aren’t cleaning the same areas twice.

Color

As you're cleaning, you may realize that your walls currently showcase anything from smoke to fingerprints. Plan to take down all of your art and either scrub the walls or coat them with a new layer of paint. Choose a neutral color that allows your artwork to pop. Susan Newberry Designs’ framed canvas art looks great on gray or white walls.

Upgrades

You also want to consider upgrades that make your home healthier. This might be something simple and inexpensive, such as a faucet-mounted water filter, or you could pull a full renovation of your basement. A middle-of-the-road update that may even help your home sell for more later is new windows. According to This Old House, you might spend $200 per window on the low end up to $1800 each. Windows let the fresh air in, and they are an attractive update to potential buyers. Take before and after pictures if you’re planning to sell and think that you will list for more than neighboring properties.

Organize

Spring is also the perfect time to organize your home so that it is more efficient throughout summer when you’re trying to get out the door to the pool. If you have lots of loose items, such as shoes, paperwork, or medications, look for decorative bins and then use a label maker so that you can visually see what’s in each without having to take them down.

Outdoors

Even if you don’t have a huge budget to build a great outdoor space, make sure that your patio, deck, or sunroom is ready for warm weather. Spending more time outdoors gives you more fresh air and access to sunshine, and will put you in a perpetual good mood. Plus, you can use your outdoor grill to whip up a healthy dinner without leaving lingering odors in your kitchen. If you like spending time outside, spend an afternoon building a fire pit and surround it with seating so that you can enjoy the overnight hours with your closest friends and family.

Pantry

Finally, don’t forget to purge the pantry. Although many shelf-stable foods will last long after their expiration date, the last thing you want to take a bite of is a rancid peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Further, can foods that have been dented or damaged should be discarded as they contain bacteria that might cause food poisoning. 

Spring really is a time for new beginnings. While the trees are budding and the flowers blooming, use this renewed sense of life to clean your home and make it a healthier, happier place. Even small updates can have a big impact. Even if you have a small budget, there is no better time than right now to roll up your sleeves and jumpstart your spring cleaning efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suzie Wilson is an interior designer with more than 20 years experience. What started as a hobby (and often, a favor to friends) turned into a passion for creating soothing spaces in homes of every size and style. Please visit her at happierhome.net.

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