Prepare your home and garden for Spring
In Atlanta, the first day of spring this year brought with it beautifully, blue skies and the smell of flowers blooming. For the first time in months, I was able to just wear a light sweater during my walk with Chloe, where I noticed the buds peeking out of bare branches. By Easter, my neighborhood is going to look so green and colorful! Along with the time change and that welcome hour of daylight, I already feel refreshed and rejuvenated, and more than ready to tackle my annual spring cleaning.
I’ve already shared with y’all what my Wednesdays look like in March – when I roll up my sleeves and get to work cleaning, organizing, and donating items that Eddie and I are both ready to part with. This year is no different, and I’ve already sorted through our closets and pantries, put away some of the sentimental items from our last family get together, set up my box system of “toss,” “gift,” and “store,” and I’m getting ready to update my décor for spring.
What I love most about spring decor is that switch from warm and cozy to bright and airy. I’ve packed away thermal socks, wool, knit throws, and my winter candles and swapped them for clean, fresh fragrances like Jo Malone’s English Pear and Freesia and the scent of Mrs. Meyers Honeysuckle products (my favorite). I update my bedding and throw pillows using fabrics and textures in colors that create a healthy balance between energized and comforting. I also like to shake out our curtains and clean all of the windows in our house. Don’t underestimate the joy you get from something as simple as the movement in the fabric during those springtime breezes while gazing out at nature through a streak-free, dust-free window.
Looking for some tips on how to prepare your home and garden for spring? Here are just a few to get you started!
- Consult with the experts – We all need some inspiration and even guidance when it comes to spring cleaning, especially since it can be so overwhelming. The natural urge to gather during the winter is now met with this need to purge and start fresh with the new season. I love the Get Organized with The Home Edit show on Netflix, and the second season is just about to start. It doesn’t hurt to get that behind the scenes peek into celebrity closets (ahem, Reese Witherspoon) and see that everyone could use some help! You can also buy their book here and find their organizational tools at your local Walmart and the Container Store.
- Start with your closets – It doesn’t matter if your closets are a standard size or walk-in, now is the perfect time to sort and organize all of the closets in your home. We tend to neglect our hallway closets, the mudroom closets, even those closets hidden in the back of your garage that is cluttered with things that haven’t seen the light of day in years. The good news is that you do not have to do it all in one day! Spread it out over time and aim to organize and sort through at least one closet a week. Need a little bit more structure? Try this 7-day cleaning challenge from Homemade Lovely and you will feel so accomplished in just one week!
- Prepare your Spring pots – March in Atlanta is the right month to clear away the remains of any cool-season vegetables and flowers and prepare for our warm-season varieties. Add any old growth to your compost pile, rake and turn over the soil, and plan out which flowers, plants, and vegetables you want to grow throughout the spring and into the summer. Come April, your beds and pots will be in great shape for spring planting!
- Make your own fertilizer – If you’ve been composting all winter, now’s the perfect time to turn that compost into rich fertilizer for your spring flowers. I make my fertilizer and I also like to use ground up eggshells to give added calcium to help my garden flourish.
- Pay attention to your Pets – Spring is the best time to also focus on your pet’s needs. As a dog Mom, I schedule Chloe a spring grooming session to give her a fresh, clean, and shorter coat for the warmer weather. We are pretty attentive to her needs all year round, but spring is a great time to evaluate if she needs a new bed or if it’s time to get her a new toothbrush and other personal hygiene items. Barkitecture is one of 2022’s hottest home décor trends and while we haven’t gone so far as to create a special glam room for Chloe, we do think about her comfort and make sure to throw out toys that are too chewed up, replace expired treats, and give her food and water bowls a thorough clean.
Are you overwhelmed with spring cleaning and organizing, or do you look forward to it all year? Share your tips and tricks in the comments!!
Till Next Time,
Lori Allen
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