Summer-inspired spaces can renew, refresh your home decor

This time of year, many people are struck with the itch to change something - anything - in their homes.

Give in to it.

Spring is an ideal time to renew and refresh your home, and there are several ways to make rooms feel lighter and brighter as warm weather approaches, local design experts say.

It doesn't have to cost a lot to "summer-ize" your home. Simple changes can transform it from winter weary to delightfully breezy.

"A change of color is one of the most inexpensive ways to change a space," said Kristen Cichy, color consultant at Sterling Carpet One Floor and Home in Grand Forks. "And that doesn't necessarily mean lighter.

"Just a change of color can brighten your space. It gets you excited about redoing or decluttering your home."

Think light and airy.

Generous dashes of white in upholstery, accessories, window treatments and even woodwork trim will keep everything fresh.

"I get a lot of questions from people about trim, and whether they should use a darker stain or paint it white," Cichy said. She usually advises white.

"If you're tired of your kitchen cabinets, you can paint them, and they'll last at least another 10 years," she said.

Color

Look for ways to incorporate bright colors into your decor; they can add a cheery note to any room.

"You can add bright spots of color with accessories, (such as) a tea kettle, art or a picture frame," Cichy said.

Brighter colors are taking center stage but neutrals, especially gray and white, are still dominant in furniture and walls.

With gray or white as a backdrop, "you can go with accent colors, pops of color in accessories," said Haley Bratvold, a design consultant who also works at Sterling Carpet One.

"Poppy orange" is stealing the show as one of summer's hottest new colors, Bratvold said. It's showing up in patterned wallpaper, candles and other accessories.

"Most people think of orange as being 'fall,' " she said, but newer shades are more vibrant.

Bring more color into your home by painting old chairs, end tables, desks, dressers, frames and other items that, in the past, may have been discarded.

"A lot of times, all it takes is a coat of paint (to bring old objects to life)," Cichy said.

Cottage Paint, a clay-based product carried by Sterling, is especially useful for painting smooth surfaces.

"People have used it on brass headboards and kitchen islands," Cichy said. "The only thing it won't work on is raw wood."

The product, which requires no sanding or priming, dries within 20 to 30 minutes.

"It's truly made for people who hate to paint," Cichy said. "The more you screw it up, the better it looks. ... The hardest part of working with Cottage Paint is choosing the color."

Nautical

The nautical look is another strong motif for spring and summer decorating, the design specialists said. Who doesn't associate "nautical" with water, warm weather and boating?

Navy, a great starting point for your color scheme, practically begs to be teamed with energetic pops of yellow, red or white.

"You could (mix fabrics such as) a navy floral and add a navy chevron and a softer blue stripe," Cichy said. "Pattern, in general, is in. Start with one and see where it goes from there."

Choose accessories adorned with stripes, sea-type emblems or textures such as rope, burlap or twine and hang a round porthole-type mirror to cinch the deal.

Bring life into your home by adding touches of green - such as grass, spring or mint green - in solids or patterns, or with small potted plants.

"The next big trend is going to be air plants" that are hung in a glass terrarium, Cichy said. "It's almost another texture in the room."

"It's a cool little accent - simple, not so big," Bratvold said.

When spring gives way to summer, replace woolen or knitted throws with versions made of "more airy fabric, in a fun color," Bratvold said. "You can change your pillows to play off that color, using a lot of different textures and patterns."

She suggests teaming a simple-design pillow with others of varied designs, such as ikat, floral or geometric.

"Use at least three patterns in the room," Bratvold said. Displaying items with one shared color is an easy approach that will unite the look.

Although customers are sometimes wary of mixing patterns and colors, they shouldn't be, Cichy said.

"Whatever draws your eye is probably the right answer," she said. "If something catches your eye, there's a reason for it. Don't second-guess yourself."

1/4: Rescue an old frame with poppy orange paint, complete with a chalkboard inset, to create a colorful and practical decor item. Display it in the kitchen, mudroom or any place you want to leave notes or reminders. (Pamela Knudson/Grand Forks Herald)

2/4: Elements of nature, like this lamp with its branch-style base dipped in gold, introduce a welcome reminder of outdoor beauty to your home's interior. (Pamela Knudson, Grand Forks Herald)

3/4: Choose from any shade of fresh green to infuse life into your rooms. These opaque glass vases, in a minty hue, for example, make a simple but classic spring statement. (Pamela Knudson/Grand Forks Herald)

4/4: Minimal designs with natural textures, like this box-shaped hanging light fixture trimmed with rattan twine, lend a light and airy feeling to a "summer-ized" space. (Pamela Knudson/Grand Forks Herald)