Your Spring home

AN 8-PAGE GUIDE TO YOUR HOUSE & HOME – SPRING 2023

How to make your home feel more spacious this season

Top tips to Spring clean your garden

Spring is a time to let natural light flood into your home again and make it feel open and light, yet many people make the mistake of making their homes feel smaller. Nic Shacklock from fitted furniture experts Online-Bedrooms said: “It’s important to decorate your home to suit its size and for those of us with smaller spaces that means making design choices that are going up to open our rooms and make them feel light and airy. “I’ve seen a lot of common design mistakes that people have made which result in their space looking quite small and crowded.” Here are seven interior mistakes that make your home feel smaller:

1 Having too many patterns

Packing too many patterns into one room can draw the space inward, making it appear smaller. If you are a pattern lover, opt for a bigger and wider pattern. This will make the room look more spacious.

2 Dark walls

Having dark walls can make them appear smaller than they are and can make the overall room look cramped. Lighter colours will add an airy feeling to the room.

3 Too much furniture

There is such a thing as having too much furniture. Packing every corner of the room can make it look crowded and cluttered. Try spreading the furniture out and make use of things like fitted wardrobes to maximise storage and space.

4 Curtains are the wrong length

If your curtains start just above the window line it could be making the room look smaller. Hang the curtains close to the ceiling instead, this will create height and make the room feel more spacious.

5 Too many colours in one space

Adding a pop of colour into your home is a great way to give it character, however too many colours in one place can make it look too busy and crowded. Opt for two to three colours per room and make sure they complement one another.

6 Cluttered hallway

The entryway sets the tone throughout your home so it’s important to keep it tidy. Having open shoe racks out and coats hanging on display immediately draws the space in.

7 Furniture in front of windows

Allowing in plenty of natural light is one of the key ways to ensure your home feels open, light and airy. Placing furniture in front of windows blocks natural light.

Now is also the time to get back out in your garden and spruce it up in time for the Spring weather. To help you get a head start, the outdoor experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk are sharing their ten-step Spring cleaning guide to help you maximise the potential of your outdoor space. A spokesperson for Garden Buildings Direct said: “Many of us love to declutter our homes and freshen up indoor spaces during the Spring, but gardens and outdoor spaces shouldn’t be forgotten. “Gardens are often neglected during the colder months, so are in dire need of a good Spring clean when the weather warms up. “It is worth the effort – there’s nothing more satisfying than a neat garden space to go with a clean home.”

Here are Garden Buildings Direct’s seven essential jobs to complete in a garden Spring clean:

1 Review your garden

If making additions is a priority, like adding new accessories or garden beds, then reviewing the space and making a plan is crucial to making sure no money is wasted.

2 Tackle the weeds

Catching and removing weeds in Spring is necessary to prevent them from growing out of control. Instead of a hoe, use a hand fork to dig the roots out as soil can still be fairly moist in Spring months and leaving any of the plant in the ground can lead to re-rooting.

3 Edge garden beds

Grass can easily creep out into beds during winter months, and Springtime is an optimal time to remove it. The soil is normally damp and once weeds are removed it should be fairly easy to spot and pull up.

4 Prune branches and plants

Spring is an ideal time for plants to start growing, and you can encourage this by pruning them. It is best to wait until temperatures are consistently above 10 degrees celsius as insects like native bees and lacewings will hibernate in branches and stems until temperatures increase.

5 Prepare garden accessories

Whether these are ornaments or plant pots, giving them a good wipe after being out in the elements during winter is always an important part of a garden Spring clean. This can include garden furniture, even if it’s been in storage, as it can collect dust and become a spider’s new home.

6 Clean hardscape surfaces

Paving stones can collect moss and become muddy over winter months. Keeping them in tip-top condition by using a pressure hose to wash them down after sweeping any excess dirt off is a great way to add some contrast to your grass, plants, and greenery.

7 Revive the lawn

Grass can grow brown and patchy during winter, so sow seeds into the ground in the places the lawn is suffering and wait patiently. Once it grows back, mow the grass to a consistent level and keep it maintained. Check the forecast before cutting, as wet grass can damage your lawnmower.