For your home: spring dos and don’ts

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network • March 6, 2021

Spring is my favorite season. Windows are open. New scents, flowers and plants throughout the house and yard. Hanging baskets on the lanai. A thorough “spring” cleaning to make everything feel fresh.

Way before spring officially arrives on March 20, I start planning. A new set of sheets, new bathroom rugs, new throw pillows. A few tweaks to the guest room because company will be here eventually. I am also thinking about a new rug for my Florida room to replace the sisal rug that my Corgi puppy assumed was grass and ate. Seriously. It’s not pretty.

Spring is a season of hope. And inspiration.

Bring peace and calm to your space with tranquil touches and fresh scents. www.potterybarn.com/shop/new/moments-of-mindfulness Photo: Pottery Barn

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I’ve been helping my clients find their inspiration as we slowly and safely resurface from the past year. And what I find is that you may not necessarily need to buy anything new. You may just need to rearrange some things and eliminate what accumulated over the past year that no longer serves you.

Before you put a spring refresh plan together, take a look at a few of my” dos” and “don’ts.” And next month we’ll talk about what you can do to correct some common decorating mistakes. All before you buy anything.

Don’t throw money away on these:

• Patterned sofas. It’s more aesthetically pleasing to the eye if you go solid and save the patterns for chairs, window treatments and pillows.

• Mass-produced artwork just to fill a space on a wall. Unless you love the piece and in that case, buy it. Otherwise, wait until you find something that you really love.

Coastal shades of blue and woven textures bring a relaxed and refreshed look to you home. Get the look at www.potterybarn.com/shop/shop-by-room/living-rooms/canyon-folsom-living-room Photo: Pottery Barn

• Trends. Let’s face it, trends are fun and we love to find some version of a new trend for our clients. But there is a reason that white cabinets are a timeless, classic choice. Before you go too far off the deep end with a trend, ask yourself: “Will I still love it in five years?”

• Tile countertops. The time has passed for these and who wants to clean grout every day?

• Cheap paint. You don’t need to buy the most expensive on the market but something in a middle range will go on better, clean easier. Worth a few extra dollars.

Want your home to have an updated look?

Say goodbye to these. Some you can do right now. Others will require a bit of work. It will be worth it.

• Vertical blinds. These never looked good and there are options.

• Doilies. What can I say?

• Don’t cover every wall with family photos. This really dates a home and makes it look old. Pick a few and frame them in identical frames and display them on a table, desk, piano or on one wall for your family gallery.

Spring is a season of hope and inspiration. What inspires you for your home this spring? Maybe some ideas from this coastal-look Landmark collection from Thibaut Designs. Malibu Chair in Piper woven fabric in kelly green; Keller ottoman in Sadie woven fabric in aqua; Madison

• Shag carpet. Yes, it still lives. Okay, let’s talk about this. A couple of years ago, I saw shag area rugs at High Point Market that were really cool to look at. But how do you clean them? And think about a red wine spill. This is a trend that needs to be left in the 70s.

• Chickens and roosters. These pop up in hallways and over kitchen cabinets. Leave them on the farm (unless you really love them).

• Old fixtures and drawer pulls. Things change and updating these will give your space a new look.

• Gold frames on anything. Unless you live in a museum.

• Popcorn ceilings. Whatever you have to do to remove these, it’s worth it.

• Old wallpaper. Old as in more than five years old. I know, you paid a lot but it’s dated and needs to come down. Try a beautiful paint color for an option.

• Wood paneling. Paint it.

• Matchy, matchy anything. Don’t buy an entire room of furniture that matches. Unless it’s for a rental property. Otherwise, use some imagination and find some pieces that you love. Matchy matchy says, I just don’t care. And I know you do.

• Honey-stained oak cabinets. These were the rage but now, nothing dates a home more than this look. If they are in good shape, have them painted. It’s worth the investment.

• Fake plants. Just don’t.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. She helps homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces and solves decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog