Welcome Spring!

I am back in town after spending some wonderful time with family for a few days! Many special times and new memories were created while we were away. It was nice just to get away from the "norm" for a few days...be with family, new place, new surroundings, new things to do, etc.!  While I was away and spending some time outdoors (in the 87 degree weather!) I was noticing and reflecting about how Spring truly brings "new life" to our surroundings.  The smell, the colors, the sounds (especially the BIRDS!), along with all of the other wonderful aspects that this season brings with it were much more evident to me. To be honest, while taking the TIME to do this....I was truly amazed....and inspired!


To welcome in Spring, this week we will take a look at a few "inspiring" ways to usher in new life to our homes. Of course, you know I will be talking about the use of fresh colors, but also a few other ways to help enhance your rooms this season. Today we will start by using BLUE in our decor. 

The color choices we have are simply amazing...which one (or two!) best inspires you!

Here we have a combo of blues... in the paint, tables, pillows, and a touch even in the drapery fabric. The use of softer blues brings with it a very calm and relaxed effect. Notice here how a "pop" of green is used as an accent with the blues.

This room brings in blue with a little more boldness and makes for a "happy and cheerful" place while creating energy in this space as well.  Can you tell the difference in the "feeling" here as opposed to the above use of blue?  By introducing several accent colors (yellow, red, and green) this design creates more of a "whimsical" effect in the room. 

And here we go back to the "calm and tranquil" blues, however there is no accent color used, other than just the black (which is great with most any color). If you prefer another pop of color, you could easily add a couple of accent pillows, a few accessories in that accent color over in the bookcase, and even colorful shades to the lighting above the mantel....and vwa-la...another new look created! 

This is another look similar to the above room, but with white walls for those of you still unsure of taking that step yet. The pattern in the drapery fabric gives a little more "energy" to this room too, don't you think?

Let's face it...not everyone is a "color" person.  Many people prefer mostly neutrals in their surroundings, but how about bringing freshness to the area by adding (or refurbishing) a piece of furniture in your favorite color (which is BLUE for today!). This can easily take your room from "drab" to FAB! You can tie in this piece by adding in new artwork with a touch of this color (notice how this art has only a slight hint of blue) and use a few choice accessories mixed in somewhere. It can be just THAT easy!

Here we have dark neutral walls, but have added a little "pop" of blue along with the use of pinks or corals. Even if you don't prefer to use any other color but the blue, it would still give you a great, inviting look. Perhaps your chairs are neutral instead...this is fine.  Add more pillows if you want or maybe even something as simple as a small blue side table in between the two chairs. Just adding a little blue in places will give you a new look and "refresh" the room!

I love the freshness in this room here....doesn't it "feel" like Spring to you?  I included this to show you the blue, but also how several other colors can indeed be added to create a space like this.  I say...if you are a "color" person...go for it...try it...experiment. This color palette of blue, green, orange and pink just creates a life of it's own here!  

What a relaxed feel this one creates, yet with the use of both soft blues and bold tones (in the coverlet and lamp stripes). Here, the use of the bold color doesn't add extra energy, but remains calm...yet happy. I love the punch of orange used with it...and all of the "patterns" in the room. Most of our clients are afraid to use different patterns (especially more than two), but this shows how you can intermingle several and it can still look great! 

In our last photo for today, you will find another way to "pop" some fun, refreshing color into your decor...simply with a ("Marjorie Skouras")  chandelier! Isn't this stunning? A completely neutral room with that much noticed "pop" in the center of it. I just love it!  How 'bout you?  I know you could be daring enough to try something like this, right?

So...whether it be with paint on the walls, a painted piece of furniture, fabrics, throw pillows and accessories, or just lighting...you can find a way to add "Spring time" in your home. The question is...what will YOU do?  Will you be daring enough to just try it in a big way...or start with small steps of color first?  Today we decorated with blue...but we will look at other colors the remainder of this week.  Hopefully, by the end, you'll have a better idea of which color(s) inspire you!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a blessed and..."Simply Irresistible" Monday!

Photo Credits: Country Home, Robert Erickson Designs, Conneticut Cottage and Gardens, Caldwell Flake Design, Home Interiors, Meg Adams and Atlanta Homes and Lifestyle.

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!