It’s been a long and brutal winter, and one can certainly be forgiven for retreating into the comfort of home. Spring is the time of rebirth. A tired cliché, but who cares?
As the melting snow reveals a city greyed by salt, sand and grime, consider the impact the past few months have had on your living space and take a few easy steps to shift into a fresh spring look. “We track in quite a bit during the winter months, and it’s amazing how much it can accumulate,” says Lisa Canning, a Toronto-based interior design expert who regularly appears on such TV shows as CTV’s The Marilyn Denis Show.
Canning says, before turning an eye to aesthetics, the first step is a floor-to-ceiling spring cleaning marathon that should include getting behind the stove and fridge, followed by a rounding up of any and all coats, boots, scarves and gloves in the front entry area.
“Launder them, put them in labelled Tupperware containers and put them in the basement or storage space,” says Canning, who notes that decluttering and organization are a big part of her interior design work.
Storage should be organized down to the inch. After you’re choking from dust and bored from packing, it’s time to reward yourself and your newly pristine home with some flowers. “Even if it’s a $9.99 batch of tulips from the grocery store checkout line, I don’t care if you put them in a milk container. Once you have that little pop of green in your space, that’s when I would start working on palette,” says Canning.
Saturated colours, like radiant orchid, are big this year. The simplest way to introduce them into the home without a serious commitment is with throw pillows from a cheap and cheerful retailer such as Bouclair or Urban Barn.
“I like a lot of teals, cobalt blue and even really hot pinks like fuchsia,” says Canning. “I’m always in love with throw pillows. They’re always a big focus in the work I do with my clients.” Gold and brass accents are also on her trend list.
Have you heard of “super cocooning?” It’s the concept of incorporating design right down to the absolute smallest detail.
“It’s about this sort of luxury at home that extends even to your napkins, the spoon we stir our coffee with and even the scissors that you are using to cut your fresh flowers,” says Canning.
“There is this lovely online retailer called Shop by Monika. She sells these tiny glittery gold spoons, beautiful ceramic mugs trimmed in gold, and personalized notepads and pens.” Lastly, pour a nice cup of coffee, stirred with a glittery spoon, of course, and think about how you want to reclaim your outdoor living space.
Canning recommends Andrew Richard Designs for outdoor furniture, a favourite of high-end resorts. But for a truly creative touch to balcony space, she says go green.
“I’m dying to try out this bright green artificial grass carpet,” says Canning. “It’s thick and lush and actually feels like walking on real grass. It really brings that pop of colour that says springtime.”
