Bring Spring In!

Fresh, Frugal Ideas to Bring Spring into Your Home

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your living space with vibrant colors and natural elements. Here are some creative and cost-effective ideas to bring the essence of spring into your home.

1. Sponge Paint Your Walls or Furniture

Transform your walls or a key piece of furniture with sponge painting. Use pastel shades of blues, greens, pinks, and yellows to create a soft, impressionistic appeal. This technique not only adds a fresh look but also provides a unique texture to your space.

2. Root Ivy Clippings for Free Houseplants

Take clippings from outdoor ivy and root them in water to create free houseplants. Additionally, inexpensive shade annuals like fuchsias, impatiens, begonias, and primroses can be potted indoors to add color and thrive in lower light conditions.

3. Dress Up Candles with Natural Materials

Instead of storing away candles for the warmer months, dress them up as natural works of art. Use a glue gun to attach dried twigs, flowers, cinnamon sticks, potpourri, pressed leaves, or coffee beans. Alternatively, tie raffia or ribbon around them and group them on a shelf, tabletop, or mirror.

4. Paint Houseplant Pots

Give your room a designer touch by painting inexpensive houseplant pots. Sponge paint over clay pots or use stencils to create interesting patterns. For an elegant look, try using metallic craft paints over clay pots. Combining metallic paints can result in a sophisticated, upscale appearance.

5. Repurpose an Old Wooden Stepladder

An old wooden stepladder can serve as a charming plant stand. Depending on your room's style, you can paint it or leave it rustic and weathered. Full-size wooden ladders also make great patio decor.

6. Add Spring Details to Window Treatments

Enhance your window treatments with small grapevine wreaths as tiebacks or swag holders. Glue on small bunches of dried flowers to add more interest. This is a great way to reuse flowers from damaged arrangements or leftover projects.

7. Use Artificial Plant Vines

Buy artificial plant vines from craft stores and drape them over the tops of your window treatments or wrap them around a floor lamp. Watch for sales to get them at a low cost.

8. Create Decorative Storage with Cardboard Boxes

Cover cardboard boxes with fresh floral fabric and stack them on a table like hatboxes. Using scraps from other projects can result in creative, decorative storage that is virtually free.

9. Install Shelving for a Garden Window

Create a garden window in your kitchen by installing inexpensive shelving across the inside frame. Fill the shelves with plants and cuttings to create a big impact. The bright light and moisture in the kitchen will help the plants thrive. Avoid south-facing windows, as direct sunlight can be too intense for most houseplants.

10. Paint Small Paper Mache Birdhouses

Paint small paper mache birdhouses and hang them from your curtain rod or the bottom of a shelf or cabinet. These can be found at craft stores for as little as 50 cents or made from small cardboard containers and paper mache paste.

11. Frame Garden Catalog Pictures

Use beautiful pictures from garden catalogs to create botanical prints. Frame them and display them as unique, budget-friendly artwork.

12. Transform Clay Pots with Gold Spray Paint

Use leftover gold spray paint from the holidays to transform small clay pots and saucers into coasters and silverware caddies. They stack well and are an inexpensive way to add a touch of elegance to your home.

13. Make an Herb Drying Rack

Create an herb drying rack for your kitchen by nailing small wire brads into a lathing strip or an aged piece of wood. Hang flowers, herbs, or grasses to dry directly on the rack. Use rubber bands to secure them, as plant material shrinks when it dries. Cover the rubber bands with ribbon or raffia for a finished look.

14. Fill Clear Bottles with Colored Water

Save clear bottles and fill them with colored water for a bright accent in a window. Use a glue gun to dress up the bottle caps with organic odds and ends like beans, lentils, or dried flowers.

15. Display Fresh Flowers

Never underestimate the impact of a small container of fresh flowers. Even a pretty cup full of roadside daisies can brighten a room. A couple of packets of seeds can keep your house in cut bouquets all summer. Sunflowers, cosmos, and zinnias are easy to grow and great for arrangements.

16. Replace Heavy Window Treatments

Replace heavy window treatments with simple drapes of gauzy fabric. This material is inexpensive at fabric stores, or you can repurpose tablecloths. Look for bargains at garage sales.

17. Use Cloth Napkins or Placemats as Window Treatments

Hang cloth napkins or placemats over the rod for a unique window treatment. Experiment with overlapping, laying them on the diagonal, or tying them with ribbon to create a charming valance that complements your kitchen or dining area.

18. Create Ivy Topiaries

Make easy, virtually free ivy topiaries by potting up ivy cuttings and forming a wire coat hanger into your desired shape. Secure the wire in the pot with sticks or bamboo skewers and wrap the ivy around the wire. As the ivy grows, continue to tuck and wrap it until it completely covers the wire.

Conclusion

Bringing the freshness of spring into your home doesn't have to be expensive. With a little creativity and some inexpensive materials, you can transform your living space into a vibrant, springtime haven. Embrace these fresh, frugal ideas and enjoy the beauty of the season indoors.

For more inspiration, check out Better Homes & Gardens and Martha Stewart for additional tips and ideas on home decor and gardening.