Winter is almost over. In fact, the first official day of spring is March 20th ... That's Saturday! With warmer weather on the way, you may be thinking about getting the house freshened up and ready for the new season. John Elliott Interiors is here to help you create the home interior of your dreams for any season. We can also help with inspiration for your spring cleaning to-do list, room-by-room. Keep reading to find out all about it!
The Bedroom
1. Sort Through Clothes
The change of seasons is the perfect time to go through your clothes. Start with the closets and remove any clothing that you won't wear any more. Check to make sure your warm weather clothes still fit well and donate any that are still in good condition. If there are any items that you didn't wear all winter long and don't have a sentimental attachment to, then find a new home for those cold weather clothes as well. If you have a smaller closet space, then it may be a good idea to seal up your off-season clothes and store them out of the way.
2. Swap Out the Bedding
When the temperature changes drastically, it might be a good idea to switch your bedding. In the winter, you could prefer a thick, down comforter. But, in the spring, a lighter comforter or thin quilt could be perfect. Colors can also make a big impact on how a space feels during the season. Deep reds, navy blue, dark browns, and other rich colors speak to a warm, fuzzy feeling. On the other hand, white, light blue, bright yellows, and other cheery colors like these speak to a fresh atmosphere that's perfect for hotter months.
The Kitchen
1. Clean Your Cabinets, Inside and Out
You may have an established cleaning schedule for your kitchen. But, it's probably not very often that you completely empty the cabinets and clean out the inside shelves. You also may not regularly clean off the outside of your cabinet doors and drawers. Because of all the cooking, baking, and activity that goes on in the kitchen, these surfaces can collect a layer of grease, food particles, and dust that all congeal together to create a thin layer of grime. Because it happens gradually, you may not even notice how bad they've gotten over time. It's a good idea to wipe them down with some warm water and a bit of soap. (Just make sure not to use to much and warp the wood.)
2. Deep Clean The Floors
The floors in your kitchen can take quite a beating. Because of all the food, moisture, and grease that comes in contact with the floors, your flooring in the kitchen may need more regular attention than the floors in the rest of the house. The grout between ceramic tiles will need extra attention to ensure it stays bright and doesn't start to look dull and grimy. Wood floors may need a professional deep clean and to be re-sealed every so often. If you use area rugs in the kitchen, these will also need to be cleaned regularly to prevent dirt or bad odors from lingering.
3. Clean the Appliances
Pay special attention to the appliances in your kitchen. Your microwave, oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal, stand mixer, toaster, panini press, blender, and all the other appliances you use on a regular basis work really hard. Take time to deep clean all the parts on your appliances so they last longer and can keep making delicious meals for you and your family for many more years!
Bathrooms
1. Deep Clean the Showers
Go the extra mile in the bathtubs and showers by scrubbing the surfaces to get rid of any grime buildup or limescale. Now could also be a good time to snake the drains to make sure the pipes are clear from any hair or other clogs. Take some extra time to clean the shower heads and break up and calcium deposits or limescale that have built up from having hard water running through them on a regular basis.
2. Scrub the Toilets
This is probably already a part of your regular routine, but now it the time to pay extra attention and scrub underneath the lip of the toilet bowl. An area that may often get missed is behind the toilet. This can be a trap for dust bunnies and other particles. Thoroughly clean this area and set glue traps for any spiders that may be roaming around the bathroom. (Spiders often like damp, warm environments. And poisonous spiders like Brown Recluses like to crawl along the wall.)
The Living Room
1. Clean Soft Surfaces
The soft surfaces in your home can take a lot of abuse on a daily basis. Your couches, throw pillows, blankets, carpets, and curtains can collect a lot of dust, bacteria, and other unpleasant materials if they aren't regularly cleaned. Some of these items can be easily cleaned in the washing machine, but others may need professional care from a cleaning service.
2. Refresh Your Décor
The decorations in the living room typically reflect the season in most American homes. A lot of people decorate with holiday themed items throughout the year, changing it out with each new reason to celebrate. If you are someone that goes all out for the winter holidays, you may still have some cozy, rustic décor on display in the house. There may even be a little bit of glitter left over in the carpet from the Christmas tree ornaments. Swap out the "cozy" items for fresher, brighter decorations that welcome in the new season and warmer temperatures.
Design at the Lake of the Ozarks
If your home interior needs a facelift in general, then it may be time to consider a total redesign. John Elliott Interiors is the best interior design company at the Lake of the Ozarks, and we are here for you! Come visit our high-end home store or give us a call to get started on the home of your dreams.
