to interiors with seasonal blooms. LIVING WELL Ideas and inspiration for positive and

Living well

Spring brings with it a freshness and the promise of a new dawn – embrace the season as a time for renewal with positive and refreshing lifestyle changes

Be it in the home or beyond, the gradual increase in daylight hours at this time of year creates a sense of impetus and verve. Turning to face these brighter times ahead has a wonderfully uplifting effect on body and mind. Living well, or mindfully some might say, helps us to focus on simple yet rewarding pleasures.

Whether adding a fresh lick of paint to a room or piece of furniture, creating a beautiful table setting or appreciating seasonal delights, here we suggest ideas for starting with small changes to create far-reaching effects.

The great outdoors

Stepping outside to feel the wind and sunshine on hair and skin is an unequivocal pleasure made all the more feasible come spring. The benefits of being in the great outdoors have long been proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate, alongside boosting the immune system and restoring balance to both mind and body.

Where striding out across a field, moor or stretch of coast can provide release and rejuvenation, so too can an exploration of a green space closer to, or even at home, allowing us to focus on the natural world in much the same manner as venturing further afield.

For maximum benefits, pick a quiet time of day, leave electronic devices aside, and settle into an observation of the sights, sounds and sensory elements in the vicinity, taking time to slowly bring awareness to the natural environs.

Often forgotten and overlooked amidst other everyday thoughts and cares, tapping into an almost-childlike sense of wonder in the natural world is a wonderfully rewarding way to note the seasonal changes brought about by spring.

Turning to face brighter times ahead has a wonderfully uplifting effect on body and mind – living well helps us to focus on simple yet rewarding pleasures

LEFT Spending time amidst nature is proven to have myriad health benefits – creating a memento such as dried wildflower montages from country walks is both a poignant and beautiful visual reminder. Flower Pressing Kit (includes Oak Veneer flower press, Japanese Niwaki Sentei garden scissors, Sussex trug, Wildflower identification book, flower seeds, bamboo tweezers), £275, JamJar Edit ABOVE Striding out barefoot across a sandy beach is just one of the ways to engage with the great outdoors – not to mention awakening a child-like sense of joy and delight.

Interior refresh

Delicate shoots and unfurling blooms outside are a poignant reminder of fresh beginnings. Now is the time to throw open the windows, let the light in, and start with a clean slate – all the while being mindful of caring for the earth from which the season stems.

Pleasingly, spring cleaning need not mean using chemical products that can cause harm – lifestyle author Joanna Thornhill, in her title The New Mindful Home, points to findings in a 2018 University of Bergen study showing that regular use of chemical cleaning agents can affect lung health as significantly as smoking 20 cigarettes a day. The number of eco-friendly cleaning products now available continues to expand, but for those who prefer to take matters into their own hands, creating a chemical-free kit can reap dividends.

Thornhill suggests a household cleaner made from one-part water to one-part distilled white vinegar with a few drops of essential oil for fragrance, or a carpet deodoriser made up of 150g of bicarbonate of soda left overnight in a jar with a few drops of essential oil or dried herbs or dried citrus peel. “Always do a patch test first, then sprinkle over carpets and rugs and leave for a day before vacuuming,” she advises.

Consider swapping single-use sponges and brushes for those made from ethical materials such as natural sustainable fibres; forgoing kitchen roll and wipes for fabric squares created from off-cuts or old clothes to clean up spills; or opting for beeswax food wraps in lieu of plastic wrap or Tupperware boxes.

Nature’s powerful effect in highlighting better things to come can similarly be harnessed in interior decor, with the use of neutral tones and calming shades to encourage a feeling of tranquility and space within the home. Opting to paint an accent wall or woodwork is a relatively straightforward and instantaneous way to effect change.

Dominic Myland, managing director of Mylands Paints, highlights broader use of natural colours “as people look to build their relationship with the outdoors”, and suggests looking to verdant tones for inspiration. “Green has always been a popular accent colour,” he says. “It is nature’s neutral, and works really well as a backdrop, but with the added benefit of an injection of colour which can be intensified or softened according to personal tastes.”

To further echo the outdoors, try adding botanical prints – particularly effective when combined with window treatments such as sheer blinds to let light in, or a charming floral print. The use of flooring in natural and sustainable materials as temperatures rise allow for padding barefoot around the home.

ABOVE LEFT Opt for floral prints to echo beautiful blooms. Bluebell fabric, £62 a metre, Lorna Syson ABOVE Green accents mimic the effect of nature’s neutral tones. Timonius Timon roller blind by James Miller from the Natural History Museum Collection, £190, Surface View RIGHT Start the new season with a clean slate by adding beautiful storage solutions to keep things neat and tidy. Homeware from £10, Garden Trading

Time spent planning and pottering in the greenhouse is a pleasure that reaps dividends. Greenhouse, from £12,950, Alitex

Green-fingered projects

Little is as rewarding as nurturing shoots to fruition and appreciating the fruits of one’s labour. Though there are undeniably areas of gardening that require expertise, happily a multitude of smaller projects await those with more modest resources, be it in the garden, greenhouse, or in the home.

Lovers of cut flowers such as peonies, freesias and sweet peas would do well to take advantage of warmer weather to plant out seedlings. The latter, in particular, provide a pretty focal point in the garden when planted at the base of willow frames to wend their rising tendrils around.

Where gathering armfuls of scented blooms to display in the home is a delight in itself, so too is the notion of harvesting produce fresh from the soil. Strawberry seedlings in tubs will provide plump juicy berries in the months to come, whilst planting seeds now for mixed salad leaves, radishes, spinach and French beans will ensure plentiful bounty in due course. Should the need for a green-fingered project be more pressing, tending to kitchen herbs need only see plants decanted into terracotta pots, and kept well-watered on a sunny windowsill for use in seasonal dishes. n

ABOVE Planting now will reap rewards such as beautiful sweet pea blooms come the summer season. ABOVE RIGHT Decant plants in to terracotta pots for a pretty and practical solution. Nuno Terracotta Pots, from £5, Rowen & Wren RIGHT Strawberry seedlings in tubs will provide plump berries in the months ahead. Zinc tub, £89 for a set of three, Nordic House

WIN A GREAT BRITISH Prize can be taken any time before June 2022 HOLIDAY

Enter our competition for your chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two, including free fl ights

YOUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME TRIP INCLUDES: • Free international fl ights (if applicable) • One-night London stay • Two-night stay in Edinburgh • Visit to Edinburgh Castle • Tickets to Blenheim Palace • A night in a Cotswolds hotel • West End tickets with dinner

Enter our competition for your chance to win a holiday in Britain for two worth up to £5,000, including free international flights

What would your dream holiday to Britain include? A five-star stay in London and tickets to a West End show? A trip to historic Edinburgh? How about a stay in the Cotswolds, including a visit to one of Britain’s finest stately homes? Well, with our Great British Holiday competition, you can win all of this and more.

LONDON LUXURY Starting with free flights (for overseas entrants), the winner and their guest will travel to London for a luxury one-night stay at the Athenaeum, a five-star hotel in the heart of Mayfair – just a short stroll from Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus and the Royal Parks. Your visit will also include tickets to a top West End show of your choice, with a lavish three-course meal with wine at Prezzo to make your night one to remember.

HISTORIC EDINBURGH Next, our winner and their guest will head to Edinburgh for a stay at the luxury Radisson Collection Edinburgh, located on the famous Royal Mile, with stunning views of the Old Town. During your stay you’ll visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle, followed by a special three-course dinner. THE CHARMING COTSWOLDS To conclude your trip, it’s time to escape to the countryside to visit one of Britain’s finest stately homes and the birthplace of Winston Churchill: Blenheim Palace.

Accommodation for the night will be at Minster Mill, a glamorous and luxurious hotel on the banks of the River Windrush in the historic village of Minster Lovell.

After a full English breakfast, you can take advantage of the hotel’s top-class facilities – from its spa to its croquet lawn – or explore your surroundings: the idyllic Oxfordshire Cotswolds are home to some of England’s most beautiful villages.

HOW TO ENTER

Go to www.theenglishhome.

co.uk/GBH2021 or fi ll in the coupon on the right with the answer to the question:

SHUTTERSTOCK / PHOTOGRAPH DAVID IONUT Question: Which famous Brit was born at Blenheim Palace? a) Isaac Newton b) Queen Victoria c) Winston Churchill

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Closing date for entries is 31 July 2021. The winner will be announced on www.theenglishhome.co.uk on 9 August 2021, and the holiday can be taken between 1 September 2021 and 31 May 2022, subject to availability. For full terms and conditions, go to www.chelseamagazines.com/GBH2021 Two annual tickets to Blenheim Palace, one of the country's fi nest stately homes and the birthplace of Winston Churchill. www.blenheimpalace. com

One-night stay for two at The Athenaeum, a fi ve-star hotel in London's Mayfair district, near Buckingham Palace. www.athenaeumhotel. com

One-night stay for two at Minster Mill, a luxurious Cotswolds hotel near Blenheim Palace. Includes breakfast. www.minstermill.co.uk Two-night stay for two including breakfast at the Radisson Collection Edinburgh on the city's Royal Mile. www.radissonhotels.com

Two premium theatre tickets, plus a threecourse meal at Prezzo for two with wine from Buyagift, the UK’s leading provider of experience days. www.buyagift.co.uk

Visit Edinburgh Castle, the Scottish capital's unmissable historic attraction, followed by a three-course dinner for two from go-to gift experience company Red Letter Days. www.redletterdays.co.uk

SEND YOUR COUPON TO: US readers – Great British Holiday Competition 2021, The English Home, C/O NPS Media Group, 2 Corporate Drive, Suite 945, Shelton, CT 06484 UK and ROW – Great British Holiday Competition 2021, The English Home, Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ, UK

My answer:

Name:

Address:

Postcode:

Tel no:

Email:

Terms and conditions apply. For full details go to www.chelseamagazines.com/ GBH2021 Please tick here if you subscribe to The English Home ■ Please tick if you are happy to receive relevant information about new products or services from our competition partners via email ■ , post ■ , or phone ■ , and/or The Chelsea Magazine Company via email ■ , post ■ , or phone ■