Spring Styling: Five Tips to Brighten and Lighten

As spring starts to bloom, our attention turns to refreshing our homes, brightening rooms, tidying and decluttering. So when it comes to home interiors, what’s the best way to revitalise your style? Our resident expert, Sam Jones from Edward Thomas Interiors shares his five top tips…

1. Colour Change

One of the most straightforward ways to revamp a room is to introduce new colour. This could be a subtle change, such as switching your accessories (so cushions, lampshades, throws, etc); a bolder swap such as new pieces of furniture; or a whole redecoration, perhaps by repainting, adding new wallpaper or panelling, or colour drenching. Although it’s tempting to opt for pastel shades for spring, don’t be afraid to embrace bold colours such as the Dulux Colour of the Year, True Joy, which is an uplifting, zesty yellow.  

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2. Decals & Murals

To really personalise a space, consider adding wall decals or murals. These are instantly transformative and make an eye-catching statement behind the bed, as a feature wall in a living room or kitchen/diner, or playful theme in a child’s bedroom. You can find these in high-street and online retailers or why not unlock your inner creativity and hand-paint? Some of our current favourite designs depict cherry blossom, hanging vines, wisteria, and lavender. Try these over the wall and ceiling for added impact. 

3. Painted Woodwork 

This is one of my favourite techniques for an instant transformation. In new homes, you’ll typically find the woodwork, so window and door surrounds, skirting boards, stair spindles and posts, all painted white. Repainting these, maybe in a sage green or duck egg blue, will give your entire home an elevated, luxury look. 

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4. Texture, Scent, Light

For those short on time, a simple way to brighten the home is to focus on texture, scent and light. In bathrooms and bedrooms, swap towels and bedding so you have fresh colours and patterns – think gingham or wildflowers, plus lightweight duvets. In transitional spaces such as hallways and landings, add diffusers with spring scents such as rose, orange blossom or jasmine, or fresh cut flowers of course! Finally, embrace natural light. Replace heavyweight curtains with a sheer voile, and switch lightbulbs from soft to warm white for an energy boost.

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5. Declutter

This had to be on the list! While the idea of spring cleaning might fill you with dread, it’s a great way to focus on how you use the rooms in your home (and their contents). Reimagining room layouts might help you get rid of, or repurpose, furniture that’s not functional and create a whole new space to enjoy - reading nook or craft corner anyone? I heard a great tip for decluttering recently – the 5 second challenge. You pick up an item and within this limited time, must decide whether to keep or discard. It forces you to make quick decisions!