2016 Spring Home & Garden
5
Freshen up your home for the spring season
A
• Clean existing light fi xtures.
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Another way to brighten the mood
in a home is to periodically clean
light fi xtures to make sure they are
working effectively. Spend time
dusting them and cleaning off any
accumulated debris. If need be,
switch out old lamp shades for
newer ones that let more light shine
through. If inadequate lighting is
a problem no matter how many
lamps you have, consult with an
electrician about installing more
overhead and accent lighting.
• Give rugs and fl oors a deep clean-
ing. Recirculated air may be full of
dust and other microscopic parti-
cles that end up blowing through-
out your home. Also, it’s easy to
track in dirt and other materials
on your shoes that become imbed-
ded in carpeting. At least once a
year, rent or enlist the surfaces of
carpet and upholstery cleaners to
give fl oors a thorough cleaning.
You may be surprised at how clean
and fresh a home looks and smells
once rugs and carpets are deep-
cleaned. You also can make a dry
carpet cleaner using baking soda,
corn starch and desired fresh herbs
for fragrance. Sprinkle and then
vacuum up after a few hours.
• Color-coordinate bookshelves.
Group all books with similarly
colored covers together for an in-
stant and eye-appealing look.
• Simmer some homemade home
deodorizer. In a large pot, boil wa-
ter and some scented herbs, such
as rosemary, citrus rinds, vanilla,
or lavender. The aroma will waft
through the home, creating a pleas-
ing scent.
• Invest in new window treatments.
Lightweight draperies or new
blinds or shades can transform the
look of a room. Be sure to keep
curtains and blinds open during
the day to maximize the hours of
sunlight.
Homeowners can make some
simple changes while they’re stuck
indoors and reap the benefi ts when
the weather warms up again.
YELLOW BLACK
• Swap out throw pillows. Accent
pillows on beds and sofas are quick
and inexpensive ways to add new
bursts of color to rooms. You may
be able to make over a room’s
entire color scheme with new pil-
lows. Invest in pillows that you can
switch with each season so your
decor will never look tired or dull.
MAGENTA
• Go plant shopping. Research
from NASA suggests adding at
least one plant in your home per
100 square feet is effi cient enough
to clean air. Fresh foliage also
makes a home feel warm and invit-
ing. Watering and misting plants
introduces moisture into indoor air,
which can make rooms overcome
with dry air from heating systems
feel comfortable. Just be sure to
avoid overwatering plants, which
can lead to mold growth.
CYAN
fter a few months of chilly
temperatures, come spring,
many homeowners are eager to
throw open their windows and
doors and breathe new life into
their homes. Simple changes made
now — even before the weather
begins to warm up — can improve
interior spaces and brighten the
atmosphere of a home.