Spring Clearance: How to Get Your Home Ready for New Energy

As spring approaches and the pandemic slowly lifts, there are some key ways to clear your home of the physical and emotional baggage of the past year and make way for positive energy and new experiences!  

Some Buddhists believe that sweeping, wiping, dusting etc. is a step on the path towards inner peace and contentment.

1. Organize Your Closets

We know this one is daunting but it's SO necessary -- and absolutely worth the effort. Imagine walking into your closet and being able to actually see what you have! Yes, it's possible! You just need a clear plan of action. 

CREATE A PLAN - Designer Philippa Radon’s 333 closet approach is a full-frontal, tactical plan to conquer this intimidating project.

While the 333 Approach might seem drastic for some, it’s based on the premise that if we buy less, we buy better quality items that we can wear for years to come. So, for three months, you focus on having 33 key items, then change them out and refresh per season.

We all tend to have too many clothes squeezed into our closets, from impulse purchases and old favourites to high fashion garments that are no longer in style. - Philippa Radon

Radon finds that the powerful approach is to tackle one section at a time, starting with sorting them in manageable groups: 

• footwear/belts & bags/accessory items 
• coats and jackets 
• dresses/separates 
• t-shirts and pants
• any other items  

SORT - Ask yourself: does this bring me joy? Have I worn it in the past year? If not, does it really need to stay? Focus on your favorite essentials and create new ways to mix them up. Donate to a good cause like Dress for Success that provides clothing to women who need them for job interviews. 

STAY FOCUSED – Let’s face it, as you sift through your closet, it’s likely that you might come across some relics like that box of high school photos that can push you off track for hours on end. 

2. Deep Clean the Kitchen

This is a chance to enter the new season with a clean slate, Prepare the heart of the home for an influx fresh, colorful food choices and optimal organization. Throw away those empty food containers, freezer dried food, unhealthy options and the 100s of storage containers with no tops. It's time. 

Doing it right will take some planning. It's helpful to tackle one thing at a time, complete it, and then head into the next. The kitchn has a helpful guide to help you schedule your way to a squeaky clean kitchen.

3. Paint a Room 

One of the easiest and most transformative ways to refresh a room is to give it a new coat of paint. Whether you are doing it yourself or hiring professionals, it’s crucial to get the color right. Click here for tips for choosing the right paint color or head to the C2 Color Palette for online inspiration. Many paint companies will continue to offer delivery and pick up services post-pandemic.

Be brave! Take a bold color direction for an accent wall or the back of an open bookcase, or to liven the dominant room color without a large investment.  

4. Get a Head Start on Spring Cleaning

From sanitizing your appliances (and, for crying out loud, those devices!) to switching over your closets, it's best to break these tasks down into smaller steps. This 30-day spring cleaning list from The Spruce can help you conquer every corner so you can prepare for sunnier days!

With a little elbow grease, you can toss the past to make way for the future. 

5. Plan Your Garden

What’s more empowering than growing your own food? Though a garden is a labor of love (aka a major commitment), there is nothing more rewarding than being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor…literally. It’s also a crucial opportunity to teach your children that food does not come from the supermarket; but instead, there is a whole chain of events that occur nature before it gets to your plate. The bio eco-system needs support and our bodies crave real nourishment that is only provided by homegrown, non-modified sources. 

My Garden is my most beautiful masterpiece – Claude Monet 

If you are a beginner, there are a few things to ask yourself:

• What kind of garden do I want? An herb garden, butterfly garden, or organic vegetable garden? Each of these will require a separate plan. Click here for some good ideas from Gardening Knowhow.
• What will it look like? – Once you decide which kind of garden you want, map it out. Determine where it will go (i.e., if it needs full sun, partial shade, can be grown indoors, etc.) Don’t get overwhelmed thinking you have to learn how to till and plant corn, you can start with something as simple as this microgreens garden or simply create an herb garden – the smell of rosemary and lavender will transform your home!  The Farmer’s Almanac offers great examples of various layouts, from kitchen gardens to large-scale vegetable gardens.

For gardening info on the go, these 10 apps can help your gardening skills blossom!

By creating an energizing, calming atmosphere we can design a home we love to live in. If you are looking for help with your home improvement projects, please reach out to one of our C2 Paint Retailers.