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Seasonal, Spring

Why now is the time to start spring cleaning

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Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Why is it that we wait until the most beautiful time of year to stay inside and clean house? Beats me! This year, instead of putting off major spring cleaning for that perfect, sunny day in April, tackle the project now! If you’re not convinced, here are a few reasons to start your spring cleaning today, plus some helpful hints on cleaning strategically.

Everyone is sick

With changing weather comes allergies and all kinds of viruses. If your family has recently been sick, now is the perfect time to completely disinfect your home and make sure no one else catches the bug. Disinfecting everything from countertops to doorknobs will help raise the quality of the air and ward off sickness. Even if your family has been well up to this point, a good home cleaning will help ensure they stay healthy.

The weather

It’s safe to say that there are beautiful spring days ahead. If you’d like to be gardening on these days rather than organizing closets, plan ahead and get all of the dirty work done while the weather is less than desirable. Especially on rainy days where you’re stuck inside, take advantage and check some things off your spring cleaning list!

Spring fashions

From bed linens to footwear, a change in season means a change in fashions. Spring cleaning means more than scrubbing and polishing — it means digging through all of that stuff in the back of closets and drawers, too. Pull out all of your spring items — warm-weather clothing, Easter decor, lightweight blankets — to make sure you don’t go out and accidentally buy duplicates.

Okay, so we’ve convinced you to get your spring cleaning done now. But where to start? Here are some tips for tackling your spring cleaning with a strategy.

Make lists

Another reason many of us are guilty of putting off spring cleaning is because there’s just so much to do. As in any stressful situation, begin by making a master list. Break down your list by room, and then list each task for each room. While it’s tempting to just write “vacuuming” once at the top of your list, be sure to write down the task under each room’s list so you stay focused.

Start with the closets

But where on the room’s list to start? In each room, begin by organizing the closet. This is likely where the majority of your items have been left and forgotten. By eliminating items from the closet and putting what’s left in order, you’ll be more mindful about the other things you end up putting in the closet as you continue cleaning.

Set a timer

Spring cleaning is a big project, but it doesn’t need to consume you! I suggest you don’t try to tackle spring cleaning in one day. Instead, break it up into sections. Give yourself an hour to complete each room. Especially when you’re working on eliminating and organizing, sometimes it feels like there’s no end in sight. However, if you give yourself a set amount of time to complete the task, you’re more likely to get it done quickly and move on rather than linger and doubt what you’re getting rid of.

With these strategies up your sleeve, spring cleaning this year will be easier than ever.

Bree

Seasonal, Spring

Questions to ask yourself when you’re decluttering

questions to ask yourself when you're decluttering

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

Spring cleaning can be daunting, to say the least. From the kitchen to the bedroom, there isn’t one room of your the house that’s safe from this annual recalibration. In order to get your home feeling a little lighter and more streamlined, it’s important to look at all of your household items critically and eliminate what you can. If you’re like me, it can be extremely difficult to part with sentimental items or things you’ve been holding onto for years.

To avoid this yearly decluttering struggle, ask yourself these five questions when you’re undecided about what to keep and what to purge.

Is it in good condition?

The first thing I ask myself if I’m unsure about whether to toss or keep an item is whether or not it’s in good condition. If it’s seen better days, toss it. Sometimes even the most tattered items hold sentimental value, and it can be hard to let go of old things that hold special memories. My advice is to be very selective when it comes to sentimental items, or else you’ll face the same predicament year after year. If you choose to hold onto something in bad condition, like your great-grandmother’s broken vase, either repurpose it or take it to a specialist to get it back in working order.

When was the last time I used it?

Once you’ve weeded out items in bad condition, ask yourself when you last used the item at hand. Whether it’s a sweater or a waffle maker, if you don’t use it regularly, put it aside! It’s better to make some extra room in closets, drawers and cabinets for items you actively use. For items that are in good condition but just don’t get any use, take the opportunity to sell them and make some money. Getting a little something in return will hopefully encourage you to let go!

Do I like it?

We all have those items that we hold onto but don’t actually like. Maybe it’s a garish tea set from an aunt you feel bad giving away, or a trendy jacket you paid a hefty price for but which is now out of style. Spring cleaning is the time to put the backstory aside and think critically about how these things function in your life today. If your goal is to clear clutter and streamline your living space, you should only allow the things you really like to make the cut.

Do I have more than one?

If you have several of the same item, you know what to do — simplify! There’s no use in having more than one of a certain appliance, book or clothing item. Pull the duplicates together, pick the one in the best condition and toss out or donate the other. Yet another way to cut down is to prioritize multi-purpose items. For instance, if you have a jewelry box sitting on your vanity that you don’t use, remove it and use an easily accessible dish for your daily jewelry instead.

Would I take it in a fire?

So you’ve asked yourself all of the above questions and still can’t make a decision on whether or not to eliminate something? Go with the most dramatic of home clean-out questions: would you take it with you in a fire? If your gut answer is no, get rid of it! As for precious mementos and family photos that aren’t being used or on display, I always give these items the benefit of the doubt and hold onto them. That being said, make sure they are as neat, organized and condensed as possible! The more excess you purge from your home, the better you’ll feel about hanging onto a few key items.

With these five questions in your arsenal, unnecessary clutter won’t stand a chance in your home!

Bree

 

 

Seasonal, Spring

Tips for creating the perfect spring floral arrangement

Bree here, from Home Zone Furniture.

One of my favorite things about spring is sprucing up my home. Once the spring-cleaning is complete, I like to revive the high-traffic areas in my house with unique flower arrangements that I’ve assembled myself. It’s amazing how a simple bouquet of flowers can enliven a room and instantly boost your mood.

Whether you’re preparing for a party or just wanting to channel your creative side, use these tips to create the perfect floral arrangement to freshen up your home.

Scavenge.

Flowers can be collected from a variety of sources. If you have a garden, start there. Maybe you have roses, wildflowers, honeysuckle or climbing ivy—they’re all attractive (and free!) options. Your local grocery store offers an array of flowers at a fair price—a high-impact arrangement doesn’t require the most expensive, exotic flowers from a ritzy florist. As you look for flowers, prioritize color harmony and select a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. Dig through the flower bunches to find blooms that are healthy, slightly budded and without brown stems. Don’t forget the greenery! Doesn’t matter if it’s store-bought or from your own backyard, greenery gives your arrangement much-needed structure and depth.

Select.

Be creative when it comes to picking a vase. Sure, putting a bouquet in a clear glass tapered vase is the classic choice, but mix it up with a mason jar wrapped in some craft paper or your grandmother’s ceramic water pitcher. Try using an opaque vase if you can, as it hides the crisscrossed stems and complements the color of the blooms. As for size, the rule of thumb is that the bouquet should be one and a half times larger than the vase itself.

Prepare. 

Have all your tools on hand before you start arranging the flowers. Things you might need include floral tape, twine, floral scissors, rubber bands, a rose stripper, wire and wire cutters. When you get the flowers home, immediately put them in tepid water and cut a solid inch off the stems using a sharp knife. Regardless of the bouquet shape you plan on creating, it’s a good idea to make a grid on the mouth of the vase with floral tape before you start. This helps the flowers stay upright as you build the arrangement.

Arrange. 

And now for the fun part! As you arrange, try to sit down so you’re working from eye level, not from above. After all, the top of the arrangement is not what people will be looking at. Remember there are no set rules when it comes to arranging flowers. The most beautiful bouquets mimic the randomness and asymmetry of nature.

Start building your bouquet with greens and foliage. This will help you create the shape the flowers will fit into. Greenery should hang over the lip of the vase and have a high point in the back. Next add filler flowers; black-eyed Susans, milkweed, and Spanish lavender are colorful choices. These smaller flowers help to create additional webbing that will hold your show-stealers up. Bold blooms such as roses, gerbera daisies or sunflowers should be placed last. Maximize the impact of these big flowers by placing them in strategic positions throughout the arrangement.

Check fullness and color variety as you go, taking a step back from your arrangement and moving it around to view different angles. As mentioned before, prioritize with color, i.e., one bouquet with pinks, reds and oranges, another with blues and purples. Don’t be afraid to play around with scale—leave small flowers on a longer stem, and cut the stem of a larger flower rather short. Every flower arrangement is unique, and the more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be in your arranging.

Place.

Flowers can go just about anywhere in the house, as long as they’re out of direct sunlight. A few places I like to display flowers are on the bedside table, on the dining table and in the bathroom (especially when entertaining guests). The proportion of the arrangement is important to consider. In general, I like to make sure the size of the arrangement is appropriate to the room it’s adorning, e.g., a bathroom is best paired with a small bunch of fragrant flowers. If you’re hankering to build a sprawling, multi-tiered arrangement, make a place for it on an entryway surface or family room side table.

As you plan the arrangement and placement, be practical. If it’s a petite bedside table arrangement, go for a vase with a wide base and relatively short blooms so you don’t knock it over in the night. If the arrangement is on the dining table, it shouldn’t be so tall that people can’t see each other. (An easy way to check this is to put your elbow down on the table, and your fist in the air; make sure the bouquet’s height is not taller than your fist.) The last tip here would be to protect the surfaces you’re adorning by using cork coasters. Fitting a coaster to the vases you fill will help prevent unsightly water rings on your furniture.

Maintain.

Once you’ve worked hard to create the perfect arrangement, be sure to care for your flowers so they last as long as possible. Strip the stem of any leaves that will touch the water in the vase. Leaves sitting in water rot and make the flowers die more quickly. Trim the stems often, change the water daily and keep the bouquet away from direct sun.

Happy arranging!

Bree

Seasonal, Spring

5 ways to invite spring into your home

Hey there, happy homemakers! Happy almost spring!

Spring means its time to ditch the scarves, hats, jackets and mittens, replace hot cocoa with lemonade and, yes, clean up a bit. It’s also a great time to refresh your home décor for the new season. Here are some ways to perk up your home in a few easy steps.

1. Go green
The color of spring, growth, lushness, freshness and rebirth, green makes everything feel new again. And that’s what spring is all about. Start fresh with a green that lifts your sprits: moss, jade, mint, even forest, and create your spring refresh from there.

2. Go greener
One way to bring the outdoors in is to literally bring it inside! Plants and flowers wake up your home in a way nothing else can. Every room can have a houseplant, a tree or a vase full of blooms. Even a small bud in the powder room can make a major impact. That little bit of green changes everything!

3. Pucker up
Sun-kissed citrus brights are definitely in for spring. Lemony yellow, orange and ruby red grapefruit are all perfect colors to add pops of fun to your home.

4. Swap some layers
Pillows, rugs, lampshades, throws, even peel-and-stick wall decals are versatile examples of colorful items you can use to shake up your decor. Florals are always an appropriate choice for spring as are crosshatch textures, which remind us of woven Easter baskets!

5. Lighten up
I’m not just talking about finding humor in the every day, though I am a huge believer in that philosophy. I’m talking about color! Save the dark colors for fall and opt for pastels instead. Anything that makes you happy and feels like spring. Grassy greens, lovely lilacs, sunny yellows, cheerful sky blues and milky whites brighten up your home in a way you’ll appreciate all season long.

Remember, small modifications can make a big impact, but if you’re looking to transform your home with furnishings, come visit us at Home Zone. And who knows, after all these changes you may want spring to stay around all year!

Bree

P.S. Checkout my Pinterest account for more Spring ideas!

Spring Inspiration