13 home makeover ideas for spring

It's springtime! We made it! And what better way to welcome the sunshine than by giving your home a quick refresh. Out with the winter coats and wooly blankets. It's time to break out the cheerful colours and make the most of springtime.

We dropped in on Toronto mom (and owner of vintage store The Arthur) Liz Ikiriko to get some simple tips on how to makeover your family's space for spring.

This article originally appeared in our June 2013 issue with the headline "At our house," pp.73-79.

If doing up a wall in chalkboard paint is too much to commit to, track down a vintage classroom chalkboard for the kids' playroom or front entrance hall.

Your little ones will have fun writing messages and you can jot down reminders about the day's activities.

Sure, everyone's hungry and sometimes not too pleased to be called to the table, but make a point of having one meal a week where you break out the pretty plates (even if they're plastic) and enjoy home sweet home.

The next time you're at a garage sale, keep your eyes peeled for old lockers or filing cabinets. These easily replace Ikea storage units and offer an industrial chic element to any room.

Just make sure they're secure to keep your family safe.

Spring flowers can brighten up any corner of the house. Here are two tips to make sure you get the best bang for your buck with it comes a spring bouquet.

1. Buy a few pretty stems and pad the blooms with cheaper foliage plants.
2. Look for flowers with straight stems (and avoid stems that have gone brown at the bottom), they'll last longer.

Need a tasty recipe to get you fired up for spring? Whip up our Decadent Berries & Cream Croissant-wich!

Get the recipe here: Decadent Berries & Cream Croissant-wich

A bright pop of colour can really wake up a room.

Try pretty throw cushions, or splurge and have a vintage chair reupholstered in a fresh hue to celebrate the new season.

Can't find the right bedside table for your little one's room? Mix things up and opt for a cute wooden chair.

Warmer weather mean it's easier to enjoy meals outside, so dust off the patio and fire up the BBQ — and invest in some dinner trays. They are perfect if the kids want to pitch in and carry their fixings outside.

They also make excellent mini tables — put them down for picnics so you're not picking macaroni bits out of the lawn later on!

Decorate the playroom with these adorable DIY flowers.

Get the instructions here: Pretty paper posies

After you've gone to the trouble of baking up some homemade treats, why not display them proudly?

Use a pretty treat stand (complete with dome top to keep your goodies fresh) to show off your handiwork and make the kitchen feel that much more homey. Just make sure the stand is out of reach for sticky little fingers.

Don't let old suitcases collect dust in your basement. Double check those hand-me-downs from your in-laws, there might be a nice retro one perfect for the playroom.

Once you dust it off, of course!

If a home reno isn't in the cards, start with something simple like reorganizing your prized trinkets.

Move around your display so that forgotten nick-nacks now catch your eye when you're dashing up the staircase or cuddled up in the family room.

Clear all the doodles and homemade cards from the fridge and playroom walls, it's time to redecorate with springtime art! Get the kids drawing pictures of their favourite spring activities or the pretty flowers growing in your backyard.

Get ideas here: Springtime crafts for kids

Quick and easy ways to update your home to celebrate spring!