The snow is melting, birds are singing, and the air is laced with sunlight. The return of spring is upon us at last!
At Inspired LED, this is one of our favorite times of year, the season of all things bright and colorful, a time to throw open the windows and shake off the cobwebs. While lighting is, of course, our specialty, there are lots of ways to brighten up your home this spring! Join us as we explore these five simple ways to make the most of springtime around your home…
Step one to a bright and happy home starts with brushing off the dust of winter, and cleaning out the nooks and crannies to give yourself a fresh start. The key with spring cleaning is, of course, to focus on those areas which are typically neglected during your normal cleaning routine. This is the time to give the microwave, the oven, the refrigerator, even the garbage disposal a good scrubbing. Empty out the linen closet and the junk drawer, and don’t forget those easy-to-overlook elements like light fixtures, window treatments, even the walls themselves. You’d be surprised how much dirt and grime can collect in these locations over the course of a year!
Believe it or not, spring cleaning can be a refreshing, even invigorating experience. So take the time to gather your cleaning supplies, and set aside a day to dust, soak, and scrub your way to a sparkling clean slate!
There is no better time of year than spring to re-evaluate the necessity and usefulness of the objects which fill your home. Most people have a surprising amount of stuff which goes unused, often tucked away in closets or cabinets where they are forgotten, and where their sole purpose becomes to take up space. As you complete this year’s spring cleaning, keep an eye out for those especially dusty or untouched items throughout your home- dishware, linens, clothing, toys and games, even electronics. Rather than simply dusting these objects off and hiding them away for another year, make a conscious effort to set these things aside. Put them in a pile, or a box, and move on with your cleaning. You will be amazed at how liberating it is to free up space throughout your home!
Once your cleaning is complete, return to that box or pile of clutter to sort the items into four piles: things which need to be trashed, those which can be recycled, those which can be donated, and those (rare few) items which should in fact be kept. By waiting until you’ve finished cleaning, you will have given yourself a chance to see results of your labors, and this will decrease the likelihood of simply tossing those items back on the shelf. By taking these steps to declutter, you will not only help to simplify your life and beautify your home, but you will also be giving those donated possessions a chance to be loved and appreciated by someone who really needs them.
With your home properly cleaned and decluttered, it’s time to get down to decorating! One of the easiest ways to freshen up the look of your living space is by simply adding a splash of color here and there. Whether you decide to go with a new all over shade, highlight baseboards and crown molding, or create a dramatic accent wall, a few layers of paint can have a big impact on the overall appearance of your home.
The colors you choose for each room will vary depending upon your own personal style, and the existing elements of your house, like furniture or architectural features. But no matter what your preferences tend to be, a bit of paint can really help to brighten up your home in time for spring. And this season’s most fashionable shades are sure to help do the trick! This spring’s color trends include soft white, pastel shades of lilac grey, peach rose, mint, and lavender. With a little imagination, you can find ways to use these colors, and others, to complement the existing style and décor of your home.
After all the effort of cleaning, organizing, and painting around the house, it’s time to show off your hard work! And what better way to do this than with the help of LEDs? Light is a crucial element of the décor process which has only recently begun to receive the attention it deserves. Anywhere you look for inspiration, whether it’s Pinterest, Houzz, or HGTV, features such as under cabinet lighting, toe-kick lighting, lighting on accent walls or in coves seems to be all the rage. And for good reason.
While colors may help to set the tone of the room, lighting sets the mood. Too much can be overwhelming, stripping the space of elegance, while too little can make the room seem gloomy, small, and uninviting. At Inspired LED we offer a variety of products and services to help you strike just the right balance of light in your home. Our popular flexible LED strips are available in various levels of brightness and a range of colors to match any style of décor. Low profile, easily customizable, and adhesive mounted, these flexible LED strips are the perfect way to illuminate even the darkest corners of your home. What a great way to make things bright and cheery just in time for spring!
For a finishing touch that will truly capture the feel of the season, try bringing a little bit of spring indoors! Add a fresh cut of flowers to the kitchen table, place some potted plants around the living room, or even plant a few seeds to start you own indoor herb garden. The addition of this greenery will not only help to make your space look spectacular, but can offer additional benefits as well.
Indoor plants not only offer a fresh scent, but they help to purify the air in your home. Some plants, including herbs, offer practical uses not just in recipes but also in homemade cleaning products. Studies have even shown that the presence of plants throughout your home can have a positive effect on physical and mental health. You’ll be amazed at how the simple addition of a few plants around the house can really set the mood for spring!
With your work now complete, all that’s left is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labors! For more information on preparing for spring with LEDs, be sure to take on our spring cleaning challenge here. For assistance in designing your new LED lighting system this spring, contact our Design Team for your free LED layout and quote!
Sources:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/benjamin-moore-color-trends-2016
http://www.americainbloom.org/resources/benefits-of-plants—health.aspx
Photo Credits:
Auntie P via Foter.com CC BY-NC-SA