4 Ways You Can Brighten Up Your Space

Spring is finally here! Well, we’re really about a month in and luckily we’ve already had some days that have felt more like a mild day in summer! I’ve been loving it!

Not only do the longer, warmer days bring upon all of us new hope and an unexplained energy, but it gives many of us that urge for ‘spring cleaning’. Yet spring cleaning doesn’t have to be limited to our homes, it can be applied to many aspects of our lives. Of course starting with the space you live in can (and will) benefit other areas in your life. When we create for ourselves beautiful spaces to live in, we create a different way of thinking in general.

Spring brings on all things new. No one ever lost out by following nature as guidance. Stop and think for a moment, how would your home feel by bringing on that same energy? Think about waking up or coming home to a home or space that’s dark and cluttered as opposed to a bright spacious place (no matter how big or small your place is). A bright, clean or light uncluttered space sets a calmer, more mindful, clearer mood to your day.  There are many of us who want to make a change at home to achieve this but sometimes overwhelmed, we’re not sure where to start. Not that you can change everything in your home you want overnight, there are things you can do to give it that warm, simple, clean look in a short time. Best of all with very little or no money at all!

Here are 4 things you can start with to not only transform your space to a clean open feel, but your mind will follow along with it as well, giving you an overall sense of peace.

Declutter

Sounds extremely simple, yet many, many people struggle with this. Whether it’s just not knowing where to begin or feeling too sentimentally attached to your possessions, it’s not something most of us can just do overnight. Yet the more you begin to work toward decluttering and overall just owning less, the easier it will be for you. The less stuff you have cluttering up your space the more peace of mind you will have in every aspect of your life. Being surrounded by paperwork or any kind of clutter from the week, month, or even years before does not benefit you in anyway. In fact, clutter can slowly suffocate you, whether you realize it or not. Not only does it just sit around taking up your precious space physically, it takes up your mental space as well. If not constantly kept in check, it can get out of control, slowly closing in around you.

Start small if you need to. One small area a day. Eventually you will see the benefits and as time goes on you will see it’s one of the greatest things you will ever do for your mind and your home!

Repaint

Don’t be intimated by this! You don’t have to be a pro to make your walls look fresh and new! It is a lot easier then you think, even for those of you who hate the thought of it. Not only can repainting transform your entire place, but it will give your place that clean, fresh, new look without spending a fortune (if you do it yourself). A clean painted room is the back drop…like a clean canvas… to setting the mood for the rest of the room. If you want to brighten up your home,  a couple coats of light paint will work like magic! If you want to add a bold burst of color, try adding it with paint instead of purchasing a whole new room full of furniture.  If you’re looking to add a darker warmer tone to your home, what better way than to warm up your walls with rich earth tones?  The best thing is you’re not investing that much money, (except more of your time) but it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t turn out the way you wanted, you can always paint it back to the color you had. More than likely you will fall in love with your new color and walls!

I will say those paint swatches are tiny so you might want to grab a few and tape them up on the walls to see the color in all different lighting throughout the day. Just grabbing a swatch and thinking your walls will look identical to that never works! (trust me. :P) Or the $3.00 or so it cost to purchase a sample might be worth it as well if you’re making a radical change!

Open Your Curtains!

I don’t know about you but I need light. Opening up your curtains is the quickest way to let in that fresh morning light! Sounds super simple but I see homes all the time with heavy drapes shut over beautiful windows, blocking out the light. Bright spaces aren’t for everyone but sunlight really is a positive mood and energy booster! If you feel you need something over your windows, you can always try a layer of sheer curtains. That way you still let in the light while not feeling like you are exposing every detail of your home to the world.

 

Put Fresh Flowers or Branches in a Vase

Fresh flowers add instant color and life to any part of your home or workspace. Not only that, some of them have an irresistible smell that when passing by you can’t help but be taken in by their sheer fragrance. If you’re a guy or someone who just isn’t a fan of having flowers around your home, then try adding some cut tree branches to a vase or pitcher. This works great any time of year, even in the winter with bare branches. Or get a hold of some evergreen branches. Not only will they last a while but they are sure to add a nice, pure and natural fragrance to any room. Bringing a bit of nature in can bring you a lot mentally. Not only will cut flowers or branches help create a more beautiful space, they can add a natural fragrance, a pop of color and a sense of calmness. Nothing sooths the soul more than a piece of nature.

 

There are many things you can do to clean up or brighten up your space at home, yet these 4 are fairly quick, easy and cheap! What have you done to brighten up your space? Have you tried any of these and noticed a difference in your home or in yourself?

Remember, it doesn’t have to take much. Sometimes it’s the little things that bring on the biggest benefits.