It’s a New Season at Home on the Hill

Originally uploaded to flickr by cherrypatter

Spring time on the Hill means many things to many people: blooming flowers and trees, picnics in the park and long walks to Eastern Market. For designer Julie Anderson of Anderson ReDesign, spring is also a time to reexamine our homes and lighten everything from the décor to the clutter. If you are ready to embrace spring and all that it brings to your home, Anderson offers the following tips to help you decorate for spring.

Make an Impact
If you’d like to freshen up your home and make a big statement, Anderson suggests that homeowners paint the entryway and largest room on the main floor a new color. “A gallon of Benjamin Moore paint and about eight hours of labor gives the part of your home that people see the most a new look,” says Anderson.

“Popular spring colors include cool blues, greens, grays, and lavenders, which make a space look larger,” says Anderson, “and warm colors such as yellows, browns, and reds, which are called advancing colors because they make a room feel smaller.” Anderson notes that the color on the sample swatch you select will probably look more like the color located one position below it when applied to the wall.

Refresh Linens, Pillows and Throws
For many homeowners, the idea of painting a room, even a small room, can be met with dread. If you’d like to make an impact without paint, Anderson recommends homeowners purchase new bed linens for the master bedroom or pillows, throws and table linens for the living room and dining room. New linens, pillows and throws are, “a low cost way to brighten up a room by introducing new colors and patterns that remind people of spring and summer.”

Clear out the Clutter
Anderson has two rules when it comes to addressing a home’s clutter: purge and hide. “Our mothers participated in the spring cleaning ritual for a reason: it’s a great time to remove excess items from your home,” says Anderson. “Spring signals a new start, so seize the opportunity by editing your clothes closet, children’s toys and home accessories that add to clutter or remain unused or unloved.”

When it comes time to hide the things you just can’t live without, look for furnishings that help you stay organized. “Armoires neatly hold linens, books, multimedia items, even toys,” says Anderson. “Leather ottomans and chests can pull double duty as both storage centers and coffee tables.”

Julie Anderson is an interior designer and president of Anderson ReDesign. She lives in the District.