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4 Fun Ideas to Celebrate Spring this Easter

Easter is coming this Sunday, and we’re getting ready and excited to celebrate here at Kelley Astore Interiors! Whether or not you’re religious, Easter marks a time to celebrate spring and all the budding life around us. Especially after such a difficult year, this spring feels especially symbolic and full of hope for a new and better life. All over the country, flowers are blooming, the days are getting longer, and the trees are sprouting with new life. Keep reading to find out 4 fun ideas to celebrate spring or Easter this year!

Traditional Celebrations: Family Time & Easter Egg hunts

Whether or not you’re religious and will be attending a service, there are many traditional ways to celebrate this time of year that will always be fun. Get the kids involved with dying and decorating Easter eggs, and then use the eggs you’ve decorated together to set up an Easter Egg hunt. Establish a prize for the winner and watch the whole family have a fun time.

Set up your backyard for an Easter Dinner with the family. Decorate with fresh flowers and soft colors. Be sure to check out our article for tips on hosting an outdoor celebration! If you’re unable to have family over this year, schedule a time for everyone to hop on a Zoom call for a virtual Easter Dinner. Have everyone go around and name a few things they’re excited for this spring and their hopes for their lives post-pandemic.

The most important part is being with the people you love, in person or virtually. Spring is such a beautiful time of year and should be celebrated in harmony with your loved ones.

Go on a Long Nature Walk

As blossoms fill the trees, this is one of the best times of year to get out in nature and take in the sights and smells of spring. On a sunny day, invite your loved one to join you and choose a trail you haven’t taken before. Turn it into a family fun activity by challenging the children to see how many different plants and flower species they can identify or find. If they’re able to find a certain amount, reward them with chocolate eggs or with choosing a movie to watch that night.

Alternatively, book a day off work and head into nature with your journal. Find a peaceful and quiet spot to lay down a picnic blanket and write down all of your intentions for the spring. Pay attention to the songs of the birds and the wind gently blowing through the trees – let it fill you up with hope for a better future.

Get in the Garden

The spring planting season has arrived and the warmer weather invites us to get into the garden. There is something in soil called Mycobacterium Vaccae which actually activates neurons in the brain that stimulate serotonin production. Serotonin is the brain chemical responsible for making us feel happy and content. That’s right – gardening is a natural antidepressant, which is perfect for anyone who gets the winter blues. Whether you’re planting in pots, a raised bed, or straight in the ground, it’s the perfect time of year to begin gardening on a regular basis. If you’re not sure where to start, visit your local garden center and employ the help of the staff to get you started. If you’re short on time or eager to fill your garden quickly, garden centers will have plenty of potted plants that are ready to be transplanted straight into your soil.

Get Creative With Flowers

One of the loveliest things about nature is that it is meant to be interacted with – not just looked at. It’s the perfect time of year to begin experimenting and getting creative with flowers. Why not try learning how to arrange your own bouquet? There are online classes and free resources to help get you started.

You can also try learning how to press flowers to keep their color and life around much longer than their natural life span. Alternatively, learning how to dry flowers and bouquets is a fun and simple task that will leave you something beautiful to decorate your home with.

Bring the spring inside!

In addition to these fun easy ways to celebrate Easter, be sure to check out our article on four ways to brighten your home in preparation for spring!

One of my favorite Easters was when I was able to celebrate in NYC. There were so many beautiful flowers around, and I can’t wait to go back when I’m able to. There is no doubt that this past year has been particularly hard on many of our hearts. Let us strive to learn from the Earth: no matter how cold or devastating the winter seems, Earth always comes to life in the spring. We too can grow again and look to the sun for our nourishment. Let us be gentle with our hearts and with each other. Happy Easter and happy spring!

Preparing for Spring: Four Ways to Brighten Your Home

Spring is just around the corner which means warmer weather, budding plants, Easter celebrations, more sunlight, and new life! This time of year is often bursting with hope and excitement for the coming summer, and there is plenty to do to prepare your home for this new season. Keep reading to find out four easy ways to prepare your home for spring.

Spring Cleaning

Perhaps the most obvious thing to do in preparation for spring is…spring cleaning! Something about the end of winter and the new year makes people want to do a deep-clean and declutter of their home. The concept of spring cleaning dates back hundreds of years and often is signified with major religious holidays such as Easter, Passover, and the Persian New Year.

Going through each room in the house and getting rid of clutter and scrubbing all the corners is the best way to feel refreshed with the weather. Spring marks a new beginning, and thoroughly cleaning your house is one of the best ways to feel that. If you can, try to spread your spring cleaning over a few days or even a couple of weeks to make sure that each corner, drawer, and closet in your house is getting the attention it needs. Get the whole family involved with different tasks for everyone. Practicing spring cleaning each year will help establish good cleaning habits with your children. Start by creating a to-do list of everything that needs to be done, split the tasks up, and plan a small reward for the family once it’s done. If done properly, spring cleaning will surely get you in the right mindset for the rest of the year.

Just add color

Color and spring go hand in hand. If you’ve opted for deeper colors and neutrals this winter, try to find a way to add nice pops of color into your home. This year, a lot of interior design trends are about bringing elements of nature into your home, as we discussed in our previous article, 5 Unmissable Paint Trends of 2021. As you walk down the street, you may be greeted with budding yellow tulips, soft pink cherry blossoms, and fresh green grass. Don’t be afraid to bring these colors into your home! An easy and cost-effective way to quickly introduce new colors into a room includes switching out throw-pillows, cushions, blankets, and bedding. Additionally, switching a lamp-shade to a brighter color, or even swapping out decor can quickly brighten up any space.

Houseplants and fresh flowers

Quite literally, spring is the time of year that new plants begin to grow. It’s the perfect time to bring some foliage inside the house as a joyful reminder of the springing new life outside. Additionally, house plants are very trendy at the moment, so will make your house look amazing! When deciding what houseplant to get, be sure to decide where in the house you’d like the plant to live. Take note of how much sunlight or indirect sunlight this area gets, and be sure to keep that in mind as you choose which plant to buy. Most garden center staff will be able to help you choose a plant that’s right for you, and advise you on how to look after it. Opting for a variety of sizes, colors, and type of plants will give your home the best look. Ask the garden center staff about materials to buy to look after your plants.

In addition to potted plants, one of the easiest ways to brighten up any space is with fresh flowers! Sticking with flowers that are in season adds the perfect pop of color. Additionally, fresh flowers can bring a beautiful smell into your home. Putting the fresh flowers in a colored vase is another easy way to add color. After purchasing a bouquet, be sure to cut the stems of the flowers at an angle and add some plant food into the water. Regularly switching this water out will ensure that your flowers stay fresh for as long as possible.

Prepare Your Garden

Your home doesn’t end with your house – it extends into your yard, and nothing is better than a beautifully landscaped garden. Gardening is an activity that the whole family can do. Whether you want to grow flowers, trees, or fruits and veggies, there is something for everyone! According to Psychology Today, “There is substantial evidence that frequent contact with natural environments [such as gardening] has beneficial effects on both physical and mental health, including reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, enhanced longevity, and for our interest, today, lessening symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.”

Now is the perfect time to begin preparing your garden for some spring planting in a few weeks. Whether you need to create garden beds, do some gentle weed-pulling, turn your soil, or contact a landscaper, there is plenty to be done in time for this planting season! Now is also the perfect time to start planning what you want to grow, how you want your garden to look, and to do some research on how to best achieve your vision.

Need help?

Looking to do some renovation this spring? We provide a full range of renovation and design services to bring our clients’ designs to fruition. We oversee and manage the entire remodeling and decorating process. We have ongoing relationships with a range of licensed contractors and skilled craftsmen who work under our supervision on all our projects. They include cabinetmakers, tile setters, upholsterers, furniture makers, carpenters, electricians, and a drapery workroom. Visit our services page to find out more today!