Molly McLean

The first hints of Spring bring thoughts of birds, greenery and blooming flowers. It also makes me want to start decorating! I am a firm believer that the table should always be set, and every good setting needs a focal point, so what better place to start then the centerpiece?

A floral arrangement suited to your style or a collection grouped together on a tray makes a great choice. You can group three small pots of flowers on a tray, a single silk floral arrangement or even dried flowers.

You can find some items around your home that will also make great centerpieces such as a group of vases in similar colors filled with fresh spring flowers. If you are simple, try a small fern in a terra cotta pot.

Centerpieces don’t have to be restricted to the dining or breakfast table. Place a centerpiece on your patio table as well! A fresh pot of flowers works on a small table or a group of three pots in varying heights provides interest for a larger table. Just remember to use complimentary colors to enhance your table’s surroundings!

Bedside tables play an important part in bedroom décor. Not only do they need to be visually pleasing in the room, but they also serve an important purpose. You don’t have to be limited to matching bedside tables. As a matter of fact, I prefer mine to be different to give the room an asymmetrical look. Any flat surface whether it is a small table, desk, dresser or an actual bedside table can serve the purpose.

Bedside tables need to perform a task, but they need to be pretty as well. Add a decorative lamp, your clock, and a few magazines for nighttime reading in a nook or drawer. If your table has an open space, use a basket to hide such things as creams, a flashlight and other necessities. I always like to add a piece of linen to the surface to dress up the surface a bit so it looks softer.

In the guest room, you can be a little more creative and add a pretty container that houses such things as lotion, tissues or other necessities that make guests feel more at home.

Have you done all of your spring-cleaning? I’m not much of a spring cleaner, but I have a cousin who takes every window treatment in the house down, washes them, irons them and rehangs them. She goes through the entire house shelf-by-shelf, closet-by-closet - cleaning out everything. She jokes that she lives in squalor the rest of the year! Well, as long as your house is somewhat clean and you can find most things, then I suppose you don’t have to thoroughly scour every nook and cranny. A clean house is a great feeling though and if you do get in the spring-cleaning mood then think about your home décor. Maybe it’s time for a fresh new coat of paint or a new bedspread. Simple changes can go a long way in giving any room in your house a new look.

If you’re thinking about repainting, then a great place to find a new color is in your bed linens, pillows or other accessories in your room such as artwork. If there is hot pink in your bedcovering, that may be a little too shocking for an entire room; however, a lighter shade may be just right and it will give your room a totally different appearance. Paint is one of the least expensive ways to redo a room.

If you don’t want to move all the furniture in your room and drag out the brushes and plastic, then just change the bedspread and add some colorful pillows for punch. I am a firm believer that you can’t have enough pillows! When you are ready to go to sleep at night, just pile them up in the corner!