By Tyler R. Morrissey
All around you signs of spring are starting to appear. The days are getting longer, the temperatures are getting warmer and preseason baseball is in full swing. With the first day of spring just 14 days away, it’s time to start thinking about how to prepare your home for the coming season. We’ve gathered the following tips to ensure you and your house are ready after a long and cold winter.
Spring Cleaning
Spring is traditionally a time to clean your home. It’s not as cold, so working outside is not as abrasive, and it’s not humid so you won’t work up a sweat getting your most prized possession in order. Your closets should be a top priority when it comes to spring cleaning and home décor magazine House Beautiful has some tips to help you get started. Start by emptying your closets to see what you don’t need. Chances are you’ll find items you haven’t seen in a long time and if you’ve done without them for this long, there’s no need to take up valuable space. Once you have an empty closet, consider getting some storage bins or boxes to neatly pack the items you wish to hang on to. One of the biggest challenges for men and women is finding the best way to organize your shoes. Try investing in adjustable shoe shelves that neatly display all of your footwear so you can see what options you have when you get ready in the morning.
Get Ahead on Lawn Care
With this week’s Nor’easter on the mind, the last thing on your to-do list is to take care of your lawn. However, after the storm is the perfect time to get a head start on your spring lawn care and HGTV has some handy advice to help you avoid more work later this season. You can start by testing your soil pH. A healthy lawn needs soil with a balanced pH level, usually between five and seven, depending on the type of grass. If the pH level is too high, you can add sulfate with a broadcast spreader. If your pH level is too low, you can add lime using the same method. There is some debate on when to fertilize your lawn, but consider this before applying any treatments. If you fertilize now, a rainy April can wash away many of the important nutrients before your lawn can absorb them, so it’s best to hold off on this until late April or early May.
Life Begins in the Garden
In addition to your lawn, you can also be proactive when it comes to your garden. The New York Times has an annual home maintenance checklist that notes spring is the perfect time for some garden cleanup. Start by removing any leaves that survived the winter and if your property has any trees, consider hiring a certified arborist to check for any signs of illness. Problems such as numerous dead branches may be a sign the tree is dying and if large enough, a dying tree can pose a threat to your property. Also, if you haven’t already done so, March is the month to check your irrigation systems and repair any damage that may have occurred due to freezing lines or pipes. Even fixing small leaks can have a large impact on water waste. Preparing now for the spring season will ensure your garden stays healthy and will be easy to maintain when the dog days of summer arrive.
Cool as the Other Side of the Pillow
What does your bed look like right now? Maybe you have a heavy down comforter on it or some cozy flannel sheets to keep you warm during those chilly New England nights. Thankfully in a week or two we most likely won’t need that many blankets and we can opt for lighter bedding sets. The Sioux City Journal recommends purchasing breathable sheets to help stay cool when the temperatures rise. Sheex are a luxury brand of sheets available on Amazon and are perfect for people whose body temperature generally runs warm. The wrinkle-resistant linen features a breathable material that also wicks moisture away from the body.
What’s Trending?
While it’s still too early to determine what home décor trends will define 2018, there are already some interior design concepts that have taken an early lead. According to Décor Matters, one of the first trends to be predicted for the New Year was including forms of wall art in your home. Pinterest has reported that pins for wall art related images have increased by a whopping 637 percent this year. Wall art can definitely spruce up the entire look of your home, especially if you have a relatively simple and minimalistic design.
