It’s that time of year again when we have the compulsive need to clean out, redo, or maybe even start new. It’s spring and yes that means spring cleaning. And for a great deal of my clients that means spring redesign. So I thought I would give some easy tips on how to refresh and redesign without major expenses.

First is to get yourself organized. This means doing all the small things like going through closets and getting rid of or donating things you have not used in the past year. One of the major reasons people feel that their home is no longer working for them is the lack of organization and storage space. So once you have gone through and removed all of the old useless things in your closets it’s time to do a little updating. Closets can be drab places but yet are some of the biggest selling features in homes so let’s make it look that way. Find a bright color, doesn’t have to be yellow or neon green, just something that is light and airy that puts a smile on your face and flows with the colors in your home. This is your new paint color for your closet. It should be lighter than the majority of colors in your home. This is usually a small space with few to no windows. We want to make it welcoming. After you have painted the closet in your new upbeat color it is time to address the storage system. At the bare minimum I recommend the investment of matching hangers. The simple fact of having all your hangers matching and facing the correct way without tons of extra empty hangers mixed through your clothes will make a huge change to the feel of the space. If you have the budget the best investment you can make is for closet storage system. It is a pleasure to walk into a closet where there are drawers for undergarments, racks for shoes and ties, a fold out iron board, shelving for bags, sections for dress clothes, fun clothes and work clothes. These changes to your closets will actually make you feel like you have a larger home and give you a better perspective on the rest of your home.

Second major refresh/redesign for the spring time is paint. Over the year the walls have been banged, faded and if you have kids possibly drawn on. It’s time to brighten and refresh those walls that you look at every day. If you love the paint color you have fantastic just touch it up in those neglected places. If you are staring at white walls it’s time to make a commitment to color. Pull out pictures in magazines that you love and hate. This does not just mean the home design magazines if there is a picture of a destination that draws you in all the time that is a great place to start. When you put all the pictures together there is going to be a main color that runs through everything. This is your new paint color. If it’s too bright dial it back to a 50% saturation. Having color on the walls will make you feel like you have a whole new home.

And lastly rearrange your furnishings. If all your furniture is up against the wall move it get it away open up the space. Nothing is more confining than having all of your furnishings up against a wall. Pay attention to how people walk through you rooms. Do they always walk to one spot? Does everyone want to sit on the same sofa? Is there enough room for everyone to sit? Do you have groupings in your main rooms where multiple conversations can be going on? A great way to break up the status quo is to create multiple seating areas. A chair group where two people can sit or read. Swivel chairs are great for these spaces. Then the chairs can always move to different conversation areas without actually moving the chair. Add lighting to your seating groups. This can be done with lamps on console tables behind sofas or end tables or even recessed lighting. Changing the lighting to a space will make it feel brand new and is a small expense for a huge return. Move your artwork around. Just because a certain painting has always gone over the sofa doesn’t mean it wouldn’t work better over a buffet or at the foyer or over a bed. By moving your artwork you refresh it and give the space a facelift.

So are your ready to get to redesigning your space? Are you excited or intimidated? Remember the small output for a designer to come in and give you a redesign plan is well worth it. You will know that the design will be functional and give you the WOW you are looking for.