Make Over Your Home for Spring
Excitement is in the air as the world springs back to life after its long winter snooze. Just as the sun starts breathing new life into eager-to-sprout flowers and shrubs, you can breathe new energy into your home. With some simple changes, you can bring the best of nature’s buoyant mood indoors to invigorate your décor and your dining.
Clear away the clutter
Start with a thorough spring cleaning. Get rid of furniture, clothing and items you don’t use, and donate what you can to charity or community groups. By cutting back on unnecessary clutter, you’ll have space to introduce fresh new ideas and energy into your home.
Pick up a paintbrush
A fresh coat of paint can brighten up any room. It’s not expensive and you can even do it yourself. Why not pick a color you've never tried before? Consider pretty, bright spring colours such as an egg yolk yellow, forget-me-not blue, or soft leafy green. Or paint your walls warmer shades of cream, beige or another neutral to act as a soft, serene backdrop for a fresh palette of new spring colours.
Spring for new accessories
Toss an array of lively, decorative pillows on a couch. Turn a room into a garden oasis by opting for pillows and accessories in fresh, floral prints. Hang bright new dishcloths and hand towels in the kitchen and bathroom. Get sunny new throw rugs for your entrance hall or high-traffic areas. Spruce up your living room and dining room with new window treatments. Even lighten up your lampshades and hang some new pictures on your walls.
Flower power
Light, colourful arrangements of fresh flowers and spring greens in clear glass or crystal vases are an easy way to bring spring indoors. Pots of cheery, flowering bulbs such as daffodils or tulips add a welcome touch. Or you can choose fragrant flowering bulbs such as hyacinths or freesia to liven up your rooms. Soft-scented candles or potpourri are another great way to introduce the delicious scents of spring into your home. Jasmine, lavender, magnolia and lily-of-the-valley fragrances are always popular.
New meals with fresh appeal
Springtime meals should capture the essence of this exhilarating season with light and lively flavours, colours and textures. Local fresh vegetables are reappearing in the supermarket. Look to make meals that incorporate fresh asparagus, artichokes, baby carrots with tops, sugar snap peas, scallions, baby spinach or beans.
Baby fennel is available this time of year and has a mild, anise-like flavour that’s delicious in savoury dishes. Try our Ham with Braised Fennel, Tomatoes and Mushrooms recipe which is served over egg noodles. For a refreshing twist, try our recipe for a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Salad – it’s got everything you love about a BLT sandwich!
Fruit is always fun. If you’re a fan of pineapple, you’ll love the refreshing taste of our Schneiders Fresh Fruit Kabobs made with ham, pineapple and kiwis. Or try the sweet and tangy taste of our cheese and pineapple-filled Hawaiian Quesadillas.
A few simple changes are all it takes, and your home and meals will be in swing with spring!