Time to freshen home's look

New accessories, colors can bring spring feel inside

Shari Hiller, Scripps Howard News Service

Published April 7, 2007 at midnight

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More dig!

I grew up in northeastern Ohio, where the weather was anything but predictable. This is especially true of April, when the temperature might reach 70 degrees one day, then plummet to 20 the next.

So after several years of freezing at the Cleveland Indians' home opener, my decorating partner Matt Fox and I have reached an important conclusion: If the weather says it's January, it's best to celebrate spring indoors.

This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. But those dreaded two words summarize the first step: spring cleaning.

Spring is a great time to wash your windows and clean your window treatments. Simple treatments can be taken down and cleaned, while more elaborate styles can be vacuumed.

Choose cleaners with fresh scents to wash walls and floors. This is also a great time to clean carpets and polish furniture.

Once the house is clean, the fun begins. One of the easiest ways to change the look of your home for spring is to rearrange the furniture.

The focal point of most living and dining rooms tends to be the fireplace. Rearranging the conversation area to face the picture window can give a new look for the warmer months.

Does room size make it impossible to rearrange the furniture? No problem. Disguise the fireplace, instead. Clean the firebox and fill it with with silk plants or an arrangement of green candles.

Speaking of rearranging, why not rearrange your accessories for a new look? You might consider replacing some accessories with items reminiscent of spring. Birds' nests and birdhouses are typical choices.

Another way to update the look of your home is with color.

Those dark, rich colors that were perfect for winter may appear somber and overbearing in the spring. Dark area rugs can be removed and replaced with a lightweight sisal. Consider using light-colored solid or floral slipcovers over your dark upholstery.

While you're at it, why not make new pillow covers for those old throw pillows? This is cheaper than purchasing new pillows.

Matt Fox and Shari Hiller, authors of "Matt and Shari's Great Weekend Projects," also appear together frequently on HGTV. Visit www.hgtv.com or www.mattandshari.com.

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