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How to Welcome Nature Into Your Home This Spring

Welcome nature into your home this spring.

Credit: Blair_witch via iStock by Getty Images

The sights and sounds of spring bring a sense of renewal and refreshment. Ice melts into running water, green buds unwrap on tree branches and birds fill the air with songs of welcome. Unfortunately, responsibilities can reduce the time you get to spend outside. 

An easy solution is to bring nature indoors. Studies have shown even experiencing nature in small ways, like looking through a window, can positively benefit your health. Here are 12 ways to bring the outdoors into your home this spring. 

1. Bring Plants Inside

Indoor plants immediately make a room feel more comfortable, peaceful and put together. Consider placing some strategically around your house. You should include one in your home office, living space and anywhere you spend a lot of time. 

Some people avoid plants because they’re afraid they’ll kill them. However, several species thrive on a lack of attention – all you need to do is put them in a sunny spot and water them occasionally. Try snake plants, pathos and ivy for double-duty air purifiers. 

2. Open the Windows

Clear out any stuffiness from keeping your house closed up all winter by opening windows on opposite sides of the house. This will create a cross breeze, get air moving and bring all the lovely spring scents inside. 

If you’re allergic to some spring blooms, you can pick a strategic time to clear out your home. Another option is to invest in an air purifier to neutralize dust and allergens while improving the smell and feel of your indoor air. 

3. Change the Linens

Textiles make a big difference in the overall feel of your home. Winter decor usually comes in dark colors and uses heavy materials like velvet and corduroy. By contrast, spring and summer textiles are usually lighter materials like bright cottons and neutral linens

Make the inside of your home feel as fresh as the outdoor environment by changing your bedding to something lighter. Switching out pillows and throw blankets will also create an impact. Some people even change their curtains and bath towels to welcome spring inside. 

4. Take up Rugs

Rugs are perfect for the winter because they keep your feet warm and the floor dry from wet, snowy shoes. However, with spring comes mud – and the ideal opportunity to clean your rugs and roll them up until next season. 

Some people switch to lighter rugs for the summer. You can also invest in a doormat to catch as much debris as possible before people enter your house. If your wet spring weather has passed, now is the time to put rugs down outside, as well. 

5. Use Fresh Lemons

Lemons bring spring inside with their bright color and equally lovely scent. Use them to make lemonade or lemon-blueberry cake, or just put them on display on your kitchen table. These fruits mature in late winter to early summer, which explains why they’re so popular this time of year. 

Once you’ve used lemons to create something, make sure to put their peels down your disposal or use them for DIY cleaners. This also applies to other citrus fruits, including oranges, limes and grapefruit. The oils in their peels will release into the air, making you feel as happy and fresh as spring itself. 

6. Open the Doors

Another simple way to experience more of nature this spring is to open your house up and merge your living spaces into indoor and outdoor areas. For example, you can leave your back door open into your garden or move indoor seating onto your patio. 

Spend time outside comfortably by using weatherproof materials. This can mean installing waterproof flooring, adding a canopy over an uncovered porch, or investing in wicker furniture that won’t be damaged by a little wind and rain. 

7. Install Screens

Consider installing screens in any windows or doors you’d like to keep open if you have pets. You can even screen in a porch area so your dog or cat can enjoy the spring weather right next to you. This will protect them while still allowing you both to enjoy the season. 

Some pets will claw at screens, but you can often get around this by screening the top half of the porch and securely blocking off the bottom half. Screens will let fresh air and birdsong in while keeping large insects and spiders out. 

8. Plant Seedlings

If you’ve never tried growing seedlings before, now is the perfect time to start. You can grow several herbs for your kitchen window or begin a more ambitious project like a vegetable garden by raising delicate seedlings inside. 

Try planting seeds inside eggshell halves for a fun twist on traditional starter pots. The seedlings will quickly outgrow these small containers and become a focal part of your spring decor. Harden them off and put them into the ground after the last spring frost. 

9. Organize Your Closet

Spring also calls for a reorganization of your closet. People tend to wear heavy fabrics and darker colors like navy, burgundy and black during the winter. You may also store winter items like snowboots, coats and scarves in your closet. 

If you switch your clothes out seasonally, now is the time to go through your closet and pack away your winter things. Bring out the bright colors and light fabrics to make you feel as fresh as the season. Switch boots for flip-flops and get out your swimwear.  

10. Use Natural Decor

Another way to bring nature inside is through natural decor. Rattan has become incredibly popular over the last few years, both as furniture and for accent pieces like chargers. This light-colored wicker will make every room in your home instantly feel like spring. 

You can also consider decorating with actual pieces of nature. For example, you can display sand, seashells, pinecones and even walnut shells. Fresh flowers brighten every room and are relatively inexpensive, if you get them from the grocery store or your own garden.

11. Do Spring Cleaning

There’s a reason you feel the urge to clean everything when spring comes around: This season is reminiscent of a fresh start. For many people, cleaning your home is the first step to reimagining significant areas of your life like work, relationships and personal growth. 

A good spring cleaning includes cleansing and organizing. You can take this opportunity to empty closets and bins you haven’t touched in years and reduce the number of material things you’re responsible for. If you don’t have much time, start with the areas of your home where you are the most. 

12. Bring in the Light

Sunlight is another hallmark of spring. Natural light has a hormonal effect that helps you feel awake and energized. Spending time in the sun prompts your skin to produce vitamin D, increasing feelings of happiness and well-being.  

Longer, brighter days are one of the best things about spring. If you have to stay inside all day, try to work by a window or invest in a lamp designed to mimic natural daylight. People who work from home can consider installing skylights to make their entire home brighter.

Welcome the Spring

Spring is a time of change, renewal and refreshment. Use this list to bring nature indoors and experience its beauty even if you can’t spend a lot of extra time outside. Whether you throw open the windows, move furniture onto your patio or clean out your closet, you’ll feel lighter and more in tune with the time of year.

3 Comments

  • Regina

    A good spring cleaning also includes cleaning the HVAC system. To let the fresh air into your home, replace your air conditioner filter first. If you are allergic or asthmatic, consider replacing your standard filter with the HEPA filter. Such filters can remove particles at a size of 0.3 to 1 micron with ease. In simple terms, they can remove contaminants such as pollen, mold spores, dust, pet dander, and tobacco smoke. It might alleviate allergy symptoms.

  • Regina

    I like the idea of putting some plants all over the house! They can serve as natural air fresheners. Some plants can even absorb toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and benzene.

  • Regina

    Great tips! By the way, you can merge your living spaces into indoor and outdoor areas by installing large glass doors. It is a more appropriate way cause opening doors and windows passes hot air from outside to your home, making your cooling system work harder and consume more energy to function.

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