Do you really need another to-do list? I am sure you can look around and spot a million things that need doing around your home before spring. If, like me, you are a master of creating lists, but not always a master of completing them, you may have found that exhaustive list-making is often the cause of overwhelm and can make it harder to start.

My advice is to ask yourself what the most important project for your home is this spring and start there. The rest of your list can be actioned by setting aside a few hours over the course of the next few months.

As the weather warms, I encourage you to potter about and enjoy the season, rather than rushing through it. Whilst it can be very satisfying to see the fruits of your labour after a big spring clean and declutter, completing it in stages can lessen the overwhelm and make tasks feel like more of a pleasurable project than a tedious chore.

During weekends, it can be fun to involve the whole family. Kids enjoy being a part of home-based projects. Whilst it may take longer to complete certain tasks, with a little fun and patience, working together can be a memorable family exercise.

Allowing your kids to help is a wonderful way to teach them how to care for and value their home environment. It can help them to understand the work that is required to keep a home maintained and operating well, which is an invaluable life skill. I have fond memories from childhood of being involved in home maintenance projects, stopping for morning tea, and eating Sao biscuits together, topped with tomato and cheese …

Tip one: Air it out  

On sunnier days, I have started to air out our home, opening doors or windows to encourage airflow. The energy of a space can feel stale after being closed up throughout winter, so dusting, decluttering, and inviting airflow can provide an instant burst of new energy.  

Tip two: The great outdoors  

Landscaping, lawn mowing, weeding, planting, and fertilising are all excellent spring projects. If you have a small space, clustering pots on a balcony with fresh spring blooms or planting a herb garden is a wonderful way to bring life to a small outdoor area. Gardening can be a cathartic experience and children love it, too.  

Tip three: Crystal clear  

Window washing is an often-overlooked task, but the results are terrific. Sparkling clean windows and dust-free flywire instantly invigorate your home by letting light in. In time, I will also wash and put away additional blankets and heaters, but not too soon, as spring can be crisp in Canberra.  

Seasonal decorating: Should you or shouldn’t you?  

The usual advice for spring decorating is changing your interior colour palette to lighter and brighter cushions and throws, decorating with fresh blooms, or switching your art around to lift the space, inject colour and add vibrancy.  

These options can help, but consider purchasing quality, timeless items to bring out each year, rather than buying cheaper trending items that require annual replacement. Adding softness to hard outdoor spaces through the application of outdoor rugs and soft furnishings can create an enticing outdoor entertaining space, which is a worthwhile investment given the time we spend outdoors during the summer months.  

Another little tip is to mix fake flowers into the garden for a bigger impact. To achieve pink impact en masse, I had to take all the stock at the $2 shop and ask if there was more out the back. One or two here and there does not cut it, so my advice is to shop big.   

Here’s a local shopping recommendation: For vibrant, eye-catching cushions, visit Luxe & Beau in Fyshwick or online at luxeandbeau.com.au. It’s a new store with a fresh focus on colour, and well worth a visit.

If you have bigger projects planned for your home or are cost-conscious, prioritise spending on more important long-term design projects, or invest in stages rather than updating with trending seasonal dressings each year.

Whilst purchasing cheaper décor can be enticing and feels good short-term, my motto is always “buy quality, buy once”. So, if you are looking to update your style for spring, make décor decisions with longevity in mind and invest in more premium pieces that you will love for many seasons to come.

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