About this time of year, at the very tail end of winter, everything feels a little tired. My body is craving Vitamin D. Our apartment feels in desperate need of all-new lamps and fresh sheets and a good vacuum and maybe even a total renovation, please and thank you. The turtlenecks lingering in my closet begin to incite mild despair.
(That’s ESPECIALLY true this year, when I’ve been staring at the same room day in and day out for a YEAR now.)
It doesn’t help that our favorite fashion blogger and home decor Instagram accounts are full of fresh, springy inspiration. They’re telling us about the trendy cardigans we’re gotta grab now or the best place to find a lightweight throw blanket that will change our lives. And while that inspiration is good and very fun, I’ve been hitting Add to Cart more than I’d like to admit, and it’s not exactly solving the problem.
Probably because just adding more stuff isn’t going to give us the refresh we crave.
I know we all get real excited when we walk past the Target aisles full of cute springy vases and cardigans. But if we just add more more more on top of what we’ve already got, we’ll never really get that fresh spring feeling we want. We’ll just throw at a few cute new things on top of the old, tired things, and we we’ll wonder why the cute things didn’t make us feel better.
Here’s the key we’re missing: before we add in, we’ve got to edit out.
If we do a little editing before we shop, we’ll clear the way for the new stuff. Maybe editing is donating things we didn’t use all season. Or maybe it’s putting our winter coats and those heavy blankets away until next October. Either way, we are getting things that no longer fit our mood, the season, or our bodies out of sight so they don’t take up physical and mental space.
Just imagine what it would feel like to get that fall and winter stuff out of our front closets and off our living room couches. Our spaces will feel like they have some space to breathe. We’ll only see items we can wear and use right now, at this very moment. We’ll actually like all of those things.
And just maybe, we’ll decide we don’t need to buy anything new after all.
To help welcome spring into our homes, closets, and kitchens, I have some ideas for you. First, we’ll focus on what to edit out to bring some freshness and new life into our homes, closets, and kitchens.
Then, if you find that you do have space for some fresh new purchases? I’ve got ideas for those, too.
Ready to freshen up your home, closet, and kitchen for spring? Let’s get started!
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How to Freshen Up for Spring
Home
Edit out:
Any leftover Christmas or winter décor
You know what I’m talking about. That one gold reindeer you forgot to put away? The snowflake mug? The print of skiers? They’ve served their time. Tuck them away until next November.
Ultra heavy, warm textures
If the temperatures are still in the negatives where you live, feel free to skip this. But if the days are warming up a few degrees, now might be a good time to fold up the heaviest of throw blankets and the chunky cable knit pillow covers and store them for the season.
Add in:
Plants and flowers
Adding just one small vase of daffodils makes our whole apartment feel like spring. Get thee to a Trader Joe’s and stock up!
While we’re on this topic, now is a great time to make sure you have vases that make you happy. If you’ve only got a stash of clear glass ones, you can survive with those, certainly. But as I’ve learned from the Nester, they also don’t do a whole lot for you when it comes to design. They just blend into the background – you literally look right through them – so you miss an opportunity for some style. If you’re looking for new vases, make sure you could put them on a shelf without flowers in them and you’d still like how they look.
Pro tip, if you’re on a budget: I make myself scope out thrift stores for vases before I buy anything at full retail price. Ones in retiree neighborhoods are typically awesome for this. If your thrift stores are lacking, I absolutely drool over Crate and Barrel’s designs, though there are cheaper options at Home Goods, Amazon, and Target.
Lighter pillow covers and throws
I switched out our cable knit and plaid throw pillow covers for some lighter striped and floral versions. It’s a little bit of an investment, but it makes a big impact in our small space. Plus, we’ll be able to use these for years! My floral pillow is here on Etsy. The striped one seems to have sold out, but you can find a similar vibe with this one from Amazon.
Spring-scented candles
We’ve tucked away the fireplace-scented candles and are moving on to lighter, brighter options! My current favorite is the Capri Blue Volcano scent. It’s Anthropologie’s legendary candle, and while I hate to be so basic, I finally understand what all the fuss is about. It’s a delightful light, slightly sweet, very sophisticated citrus scent that doesn’t give me a headache. (Plus, you can get it in a million different vessels so it works with your home’s style.) Find it on Amazon here. For an even fresher vibe, I love Homesick’s Summer Camp scent. It’s very clean and gentle.
Fashion
Edit out:
Anything heavy, chunky, ultra-warm, or wintery
If it’s still freezing, you don’t have to pack up all your sweaters just yet. But now might be the perfect time to skim through your closet and find anything that screams winter. Maybe it’s that Christmassy flannel? The really chunky fisherman’s sweater? For me, it’s heavy scarves, wintery plaids, anything emerald or dark maroon, and most of my turtlenecks.
Anything that doesn’t fit
Darling, I know that this pandemic has been hard on our bodies. (Mine, too.) If your work pants aren’t fitting the way they used to, that is 100% okay and expected. Let’s not torture ourselves, okay? Put them away out of sight for now so you don’t loathe yourself every time you open your closet.
Add in:
Fun rain boots
If you don’t have a pair of shoes you can wear in the rain, I highly recommend finding a pair of rain boots that will make you smile. I have a mid-calf pair of bright red Hunter boots that I found at the Nordstrom Rack years ago, and the cheery color makes rainy day errands MUCH more fun. If I was still on the market, I would absolutely nab these. If you’re not feeling quite so bold, these are a more neutral alternative.
A jacket that fits your current temps
If you still have to wear your winter jacket, I’m so sorry. If it’s warmed up a smidge, do you have jackets for that tricky 40-50° weather range? I rotate between a packable puffer (my own is from Marshalls, but this version is supposed to be worth the investment) and a waterproof trench, depending on the day.
Lighter colored sweaters, pants, and shoes
Nothing says spring to me more than a pair of fresh white jeans! When you put away your winter clothes, check to see if there are any light, bright colors you can add back into your wardrobe. Fresh white sneakers? A light blue sweater? A cute, springy sweatshirt?
Accessories that make you smile
If you’re still working from home, the power of a good pair of earrings to make you feel like a boss is somewhat incredible. I also love a floral printed scarf that I can tie around my neck or in my hair. (Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.)
Beauty
Edit out:
Expired products
If you still have a bronzer from high school hanging around (guilty as charged), it’s probably time to let that go. Find a guide to how long your beauty products technically last here.
Those samples that you’ll never use
They were free. It’s really okay to let them go.
The products that didn’t work for you
If that serum you just bought is making you break out, check the return policy. Places like Sephora, Ulta, Target, and Nordstrom will allow you to return opened beauty products. If the return window has passed, pass it on to a friend, try a skincare or makeup exchange, find a donation center, or just let it go. Really. It’s okay.
Add in:
A fun nail polish (even if you’re the only one who will see it):
This fresh blue is my favorite springy shade.
A fresh body wash.
If you’re looking for a little everyday luxury, try grabbing a new body wash in a springy scent. I’m curious to try this Lilac and White Tea-scented version.
Dining
Edit out:
The heaviest soups and pastas
Sure, if soup still sounds good, keep it in your repertoire! But around this time, I start shifting heavy, comforting soups and pasta recipes to the off-season section of my recipe list. (I use Trello to track my recipes – find my method here.) Cutting down the options makes meal planning much easier!
recipes you’ve never made
Hate to break it to you, but if you’ve been saving that torn-out magazine page for a year and have never made the recipe, it’s probably not going to happen. Pitch it, guilt-free.
Add in:
Steamy sauteed green beans (or other fresh, crunchy veggies)
Thank you to Samin Nosrat and her book Salt Fat Acid Heat for this delightful recipe, which Adam has deemed “restaurant quality.” Put a giant frying pan on medium heat, add ½ cup water, salt it, and bring to a boil. Dump in your green beans and cover. Stir every so often. When the beans are done (around 4 minutes for haricot verts, 7-10 for bigger beans), drain the water and put the beans back in the pan. Make a well in the center, pour in a glug of olive oil, and add a teaspoon of garlic. Turn up the heat and let it sizzle for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic starts to smell good, then toss with the beans and serve immediately.
Fruit-spiked water
Whether you prefer still or sparkling water, adding a little fruit makes it much more fun to drink. I fend off the daily afternoon slump by adding frozen strawberries or lemon and mint to plain sparkling water. It’s way more flavorful than La Croix!
Tacos
We eat tacos year-round, but they start to sound even more delicious in the spring. These fantastic chicken tinga tacos might be my very favorite taco recipe? I also can’t wait to try these Hawaiian chicken tacos – they look like a chicken-based spin on tacos al pastor.
What are your favorite ways to freshen up for spring? Share your secrets in the comments below!
P.S. Looking for more ideas to freshen up for spring? Check out this in-depth guide to a closet refresh, or try these free tips to get organized.
