Changing seasons: Decorating tips to take your home into spring and summer

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network-Florida, May 4, 2024

It’s one of my favorite times of year. These beautiful days of spring (which arrived in March) and lead into the first days of summer (arriving in June). I find that the change of seasons is more a state of mind than anything else. A slight change in perspective. An important one. For me this time of year brings back happy memories of carefree days at the end of the school that meant summer vacation and the beach.

As a Bonita Springs-based interior decorator serving homeowners in Southwest Florida, I always encourage my clients to acknowledge the seasonal changes, as subtle as they may be, in our tropical paradise. It’s a good time to make a few healthy adjustments in our homes to mark the new season. They can be as easy as a new front door mat and plants for your entry to trying a beautiful wallcovering in a powder room.

Go from spring to summer with a refresh that includes a pretty table set with flowers. The blue shutters against a crisp white background are easy to do in any home looking for a happy color pick-me-up. Shown: Serena and Lily’s Terrace table and Riviera dining chairs. Photo: Serena and Lily.

The forecast for this season is bright and bold. Give it a try with a few of my tips. They go from easy ones that you can do now to a few that require a little more planning and investment. All are fun and will make you happy to come home this season. And that’s what we all want, right?

Do these first

Deep spring leaning. Baseboards, cabinets, the dreaded dusting, organizing.

Declutter. Don’t love it? If you don’t need it in your home. Donate it. Sometimes it’s painful to say goodbye to something that meant a lot to someone else. Remember: your home is not a storage garage for other’s memories. If you find decluttering to be overwhelming, start with a junk drawer (we all have at least one) or a section of your closet (shoes).

Pick a few of these

New artwork.

Pop color into a room with a collection of painted shutters on a wall.

Plants in colorful pots or grape leave baskets.

Flowers in a pretty vase.

Spring doormat.

Colorful garden stool.

New color for front door (try a pretty blue or green).

Style your fireplace mantle for spring.

Style coffee table with new accessories (a book or two, vase with flowers, bowl of shells of colorful glass balls) on a pretty tray.

Set a pretty spring table: dishes, napkins, accessories. This does not have to be a huge expense. Try a flea market or big box store to pick up trendy colors and a fun, new look.

Fill a bowl with one of these: shells, seaglass, lemons, green apples.

Try a new scented candle or diffuser.

New sheets and pillow cases in a pretty color or spring pattern.

Create a bar cart. It can be a traditional cart or on a table top. Ice bucket, colorful glasses, pretty napkins, umbrellas for drinks, flowers.

Add a vintage piece to a room.

Green continues to have its moment and Thibaut Design’s sisal wall covering in 17 gorgeous shades bring an unexpected pop of color to a home as an accent or entire room. Complete the look with new artwork, a plant, fresh flowers and a vintage table to tie it all together and the result is stunning. Photo: Thibaut.

Put a colorful runner in the kitchen.

Replace lampshades with a color or crisp white.

Change a few accessories for something bright and cheerful: pillows, pretty books, lanterns, candles, baskets.

Bring a little coastal home all year with new pillow covers from Thibaut’s Lagoon Color Story from the Locale Collection with shades of jade, seafoam and stripes. Photo: Thibaut.

Make a list of projects

Change outdated hardware in kitchen or bathroom.

Add a new light fixture over dining or over your eat-in table.

Refresh baseboards with a fresh coat of paint.

Want to try a new color but not sure if you are ready to make a commitment? Paint the ceiling or trim to see how you like it. Or call a decorator. We are really good at color!

Tired of an old coffee table? Replace it with a colorful ottoman and use a tray for accessories.

Happy spring! Happy summer! Only 236 days until Christmas!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. Based in Bonita Springs with timeless, affordable ways to create beautiful spaces, color palettes and solve 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