Spring cleaning can help you jump-start a new look
As temperatures start to warm up, the need to do some spring cleaning might hit you. Although cleaning is just one aspect of it, it is also a great time to refresh your interiors and help get the most mileage out of your current interior decor.
I usually recommend the process begin with a thorough de-cluttering. Although it is hard to part with things you think you will use in the future, it is best to let them go without too much thought. Some will find this task excruciating, but believe me — once you start and get into a certain groove, it can be a most liberating experience. Don't fight it. You certainly don't want to be accused of being a hoarder.
Most of us end up with more than what we need in our homes to live comfortably. Yes, even those with minimalist interiors always find a way to stuff a drawer, hallway closet or garage with things you needn't save. First thing to discard are periodicals or magazines lying around. You certainly don't want your living room or family room to seem like a doctor's office with dated reading material from prehistoric times.
Giving your household's excesses or discards to a charity is good on many fronts. First and most importantly, you get to rid yourself of those items. Second, someone who needs the items in question will find good use for them. Third, a charity can raise money for their cause and, lastly, your earth-friendly attitude will keep these items from going to a landfill or dump site.
So, back to your interior decor: Spring cleaning is also a great time to give your room a much needed re-vamp. This is the perfect moment to roll up that old area rug and replace it with something more updated in design, or remove it altogether for a cleaner room ready for summer ease. While you are at it, you might as well rearrange the furniture layout.
Photos, photos and more photos. We know you love your relatives, especially if you have small children in the family, but is it absolutely necessary to have a virtual family tree on your mantle? With digital technology today, most people have a computer or digital picture frame where you can store and view pictures from family gatherings, vacations or the newest addition to your family. This tip will help clear a lot of tabletops.
Works of art that have hung in the same location for a while can become invisible. Changing the art around your home can give you renewed appreciation for them. It's amazing how different our perception of a work of art can become when placed against a different background or in a different light. Even a work of art that you weren't necessarily in love with may gain your nod of approval.
Finally, edit or put away accessories that aren't a good fit with your refreshed room. It's easy to get complacent about our surroundings, but doing a spring cleaning a couple of times a year — even if it isn't spring — helps keep your home at its best.
• Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida.
© 2016, Creators Syndicate