5 Tricks Designers Use to Transform a Space for Spring

The start of spring is often celebrated by big moments—like a weeklong break to a warm climate or hiding eggs in bushes on a Sunday afternoon. But the transition into this new season can also be marked by little shifts, especially in the rooms we used to hibernate in all winter. 

“While winter often signifies a quiet time of rest, spring tends to represent an awakening,” says Melissa Oholendt, founder and design principal of Oho Interiors. “This happens within ourselves, but because our surroundings are representations of us, it also takes place in our home.”

Architect Nicholas Potts agrees, adding, “Seasonal decor can have a bad reputation as the throwaway, fast-fashion version of home decor, but taking a more meaningful approach to the change in seasons can create both an immediate cleanse and an opportunity to create traditions.”

If you’re ready to welcome spring with small-but-significant updates, read on for five easy ways to do so, according to the pros. 

Pay Attention to Bedding

Swapping your heavy bedding out for lighter alternatives in the warmer months is likely already part of your routine, like exchanging flannel bedding for linen. But Lindsey Jamison, partner and lead designer at Rumor Designs, says that as you do so, you should be considering the look as much as the feel. “Give your space more color, more texture, and more life,” she says. “It’s a low-lift project.”

Incorporate a pop of a brighter shade in pillowcases—like yellow flowers, green stripes, or pink ruffles—or throw on a boldly patterned blanket for nights that stay chilly. Even if it’s only a slight change, you’ll notice it during your sleep routine. 

Update Window Treatments

There’s a good chance that your windows were shut through most of winter, and you’re eager to throw them open as soon as the temperatures rise. When that time comes, make sure that your window treatments make the most of the breeze.

“Heavy fabrics, even drapes, can be stashed away again for colder months, and swapped with lighter-weight pieces,” Potts says. Perhaps you can use bright fabrics for cafe curtains, or exchange darker panels for airier ones.

Refresh Rugs

Jamison and Linette Dai, principal designer and founder of Linette Dai Design, says the above principle works for rugs, too. 

“Rugs are an excellent way to refresh a space, making them a great starting point for a seasonal makeover,” she says. Jamison recommends choosing one with pops of color, but Dai would consider texture. “If you have the storage space, tuck away the heavy wool rugs and swap them for something lighter, like a flat-weave or natural fiber rug,” she says. Even a new doormat can do the trick!

Rethink Your Candles 

Candles are almost required components of the winter, since they add an effortless ambiance to a cozy space. Oholendt doesn’t think they should go away as soon as the nights get shorter, but she does suggest swapping out your collection. “Bringing in a few new candles with more floral or earthy scents can be invigorating to the senses,” she says. “Plus the combination of a great floral-scented candle and a soft breeze from an open window is one of my favorite ways to romanticize my life.”

And if you use taper candles for dining table accessories or in a vignette, consider tucking away ones that are more suitable for winter, too. “I swap any taper candles I have around the house to a more colorful version,” Oholendt says. This can also be as simple as painting the ones you have with the signs of spring—like flowers, birds, and blue skies—as a quick DIY.

Take Down Anything Evergreen 

It’s common to leave wreaths and faux foliage up through the winter, but now is the time to nix it all for fresher alternatives. “Irises and peonies announce the season through bright colors and scents,” Potts suggests, and they can be used everywhere from kitchen islands to bathroom vanities. But another option, notes Oholendt, is to fill your existing vases with branches that have budding flowers. “If your local grocery store or farmer’s market doesn’t carry the real thing, vendors like Afloral and Pottery Barn carry plenty of great, accessible options that you can use year after year,” she says. 

If you’d prefer to boost your green thumb this season, though, Jamison says that sunnier windows deserve the opportunity. “Incorporating potted plants instantly makes a space feel more inviting, cozy, and natural,” she notes. “Small potted palm trees or ferns are low-maintenance and bring a tropical resort-like ambiance, making them ideal for the warmer season.” Too scared of caring for bigger plants? No problem. “Potted herbs like rosemary or basil in the kitchen works, too,” Dai says.