It’s spring and I’m looking for some fun ways to spruce up the house – inside and out. At our house, weeks are full. Work, school, sports, piano, cub scouts…you get my drift. So I am always looking for quick projects that have a big impact. Something that we can start and finish in a weekend. Front doors are perfect weekend projects. If you really plan ahead, you can get it done with very little time invested and really boost curb appeal! With just a few tweaks and a bit of time, you’ll have an amazing revamp for the front door.

Paint your door

This is an undeniably easy spruce up idea! Painting is the quickest way to transform your front door. My vote is for a fun color or, at the very least, something nice and glossy. Can’t wait to try it on my own front door. For real. I have glossy-front-door envy.

Helpful Tip: If your door currently has paint, make sure you strip off the paint first then sand it before putting on a new coat of paint. This gives your front door a smoother look once you’ve finished painting on the new coat.
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If budget were not an issue, I would put window seats in every room of my house. Seriously!  They are the epitome of form meeting function and they add so much to your décor. They are cozy. They are a great space-saving option. They let the sunshine in (cue the music). Let the sunshine in, let the sunshine in….  Sorry, I digress.

But don’t you just love window seats? There is just something so comfortable and homey about them. Now, depending on which room your window seat is in, there are a lot of ways to use it. Here are some of my favorites:

In the Kitchen

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I love spring! It’s the end of cold Midwestern winters (snow was still flying in mid-April this year), and I can’t wait to box up my wool sweaters and coats and break out my sandals. By May (when real spring comes in Michigan!), I am always anxious to brighten things up. That may explain my need to buy purple nail polish this weekend.

I want my house to reflect the changes in the season as well: sunshine, spring flowers, open windows. It doesn’t take much to add some new life to your home. With four children, I am always looking for quick ways to ready my house for the new season. Here are a few ways you can easily decorate with a touch of spring:

Pillows

Switch out your pillows for an easy decorating style. I promise you, this quickly and dramatically changes the look of the room. If you have a couch or chair in a solid color, get pillows with a pattern that uses at least one color from your interiors to coincide with the rest of your décor.

Budget Tip: To save money, buy/switch out pillow covers instead of purchasing brand new pillows for each season.

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Kitchen makeovers may seem like a daunting task! Often, kitchens are the high-traffic areas in the home and seem to cost more to update. So for those who are having a hard time getting started, here are some simple tips to help you create a beautiful kitchen.

Keep it Simple

The key to beautifying your kitchen space is to take a minimalist approach: keep it clean and simple! This style works well with traditional and modern spaces and it’s a great idea for small kitchens in medium-sized homes. Simplify with a uniform color scheme for your plates, cups, cooking utensils, and even cabinets. White is my personal favorite! Apply a fresh coat of paint on your walls and cupboards. Display all your white plates and culinary tools in one space and hide the colorful ones. The simplicity not only is pleasing to the eyes but also looks clean and exudes subtle elegance.

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This season, clean out your porch and give it a touch of spring. Here are a few easy outside decorating tips that I use myself!

Paint your porch

Photo from molajen via flickr. CC BY 2.0

A fresh coat of paint immediately rejuvenates your porch. When choosing paint colors, pick out pale hues to create a relaxing atmosphere for your home.

You don’t need to paint your entire porch; just focus on one area, such as the floor, ceiling, or porch rails. A newly painted porch adds a burst of color and signals the coming of spring.

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