A Design Lover’s Fool-Proof Approach to Spring Cleaning

I have to confess; I am one of those weirdos that actually enjoys cleaning. There's something inherently satisfying about resetting my apartment to a clean slate. My favorite form of procrastination has always been doing an activity where I can see tangible progress being made, like clearing out a crumb-filled kitchen drawer. But even a self-proclaimed neat freak like myself does NOT enjoy the idea of spring cleaning. Doing all that work in one go makes me want to take a nap, and frankly, I'd much prefer to spend that time outside enjoying the warmer weather.

However, a part of me still craves the benefits of spring cleaning; I just can't get enough of that satisfying feeling of a fresh start. Although I'm a firm believer that you don't need a reason to change up your home, there is something nice about using the changing seasons as an excuse to breathe new life into your space. So, without further ado, here are some ideas for embracing the spirit of spring in a way that's actually fun: no rubber gloves or sponge required.

When in doubt, put it away.

Yes, putting things away is dangerously close to spring cleaning, but hear me out! If you want your space to feel truly refreshed, I would argue that this step is unavoidable. This doesn't need to be a deep dive, just a shallow look around. Take a moment to evaluate the items in your home that need their own home. Is your collection of restaurant matches getting too big for the cute bowl they're in? Maybe the nail polish that's been cluttering up your coffee table for months deserves a designated spot in your living room? After identifying the items that might need their own space comes the fun part: corral them into cute containers. You can find some of my favorites here.

Incorporate spring scents.

Nothing says spring quite like the smell of fresh flowers (ahem: allergies). Trade out those cozy, musky, cold-weather scents for something that makes you think of spring, whether it's the smell of just-sliced citrus, freshly-cut flowers, or crisp, clean sheets. Check out my round-up of the best spring scents (in my humble opinion).

Swap out the smaller things.

You don't need to overhaul your entire living space to make it feel fresh and new. All it takes is swapping out some smaller items to get that feeling of change. There are a handful of ways you can do this; Change out your towels (bath or dish) for a new color palette, try some different picture frames, or bring out table linens that you save for this time of year. My favorite way to do this is with pillow covers. You can easily stash away pillow covers you're not using since they don't take up much space, and swapping them out can totally change the feel of your room. You can see all the pillow covers I'm coveting here.

Upgrade your plant life.

If you have indoor (or outdoor!) plants that have actually made it through the winter, congratulations! Nothing feels like spring quite like happy, well-cared-for plants. Reward your hard work (and theirs) by changing up your plant pots. It's an effective way to infuse your space with that spring-time energy and bring in some new color in a small but impactful way. I get it if you don't feel like going through the trouble (and mess!) of repotting your plants. But you can still get a quick and easy fix by placing existing planters in a basket or into a larger planter. Here's a collection of planters that would make my plants very happy.

Bring in the spring.

If real, living plants aren't your thing, there are other ways to bring in the spring. Of course, fresh-cut flowers are always a good route, but they never seem to last long enough! My favorite alternative? Faux-flowers. Rather than trying to trick yourself (and others) into thinking your fake flowers are real, get something that feels playfully fake. Flowers made of glass or felt, or even legos, are a whimsical way to bring those spring vibes indoors without the maintenance and cost. My personal favorites are the ones made of paper from the Dutch brand Studio Roof (top left), but you can't go wrong with any of these.

It’s time for a color change-up.

You've heard it before; painting is one of the most effective ways to refresh a space. But for the same reason, I don't want to spend all my time indoors cleaning my home from top to bottom. I also don't want to spend that time prepping and painting an entire room. Thankfully, there are many other ways to refresh a space with paint without painting a full room. Instead, find a small area of your home that would benefit from some paint. Maybe it's a door or the sides of a drawer that you only see when pulled out. Or perhaps it's the small swatch of the wall behind an open bookcase or your window frames. With a small painting project, you still get the benefits of a fresh coat of paint with about less than half the work. Any of these hues will bring some new spring energy to your home.

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The point of the spring refresh is to have fun with it. Find the things that you actually want to do, lean into the energy of spring, and use it as an excuse to change up your space in a delightful way that doesn't feel like a chore!

^{Photo Credit: (Left) MyDomaine}