Every year (months before Spring actually starts) I get the urge to give our house a big Spring clean. Maybe it’s because the weather is horrible and I end up spending way too much time indoors. I’ve done this for years and by the time the weather starts warming up, I can get out into the garden knowing the house is sorted.
Here are some of the bits I’ve done around our home recently to give it a little refresh!
1. Organise your kitchen cupboards
There’s nothing I hate more than wading through half-open packets of dry-ingredients in the cupboard trying to find what I need. It feels so messy and like a bad use of space! I decided to purchase lots of Kilner style jars to put on our shelving unit next to our beloved Smeg fridge. They’re full of muesli, oats, rice, pasta, seeds and nuts. It’s freed up so much space in our cupboards, makes it easier to find things, and it looks great, too. This also makes it easier for us to reduce our waste as we can use the refill stations at The Natural Store and Unrapped in Falmouth.
2. Purge your wardrobe
I recently went through each individual item in my wardrobe and threw away items that I hadn’t worn in the last 12 months and items of clothing that were tired and in need of replacing. Once I’d whittled my wardrobe down to just the pieces I actually wear, I replaced my mismatched coat hangers with matching wooden hangers. This was so satisfying and my wardrobe feels so much more organised!
3. Use natural materials
Ditch the synthetics and try and opt for natural alternatives to promote a sense of calm in your home. Almost all the furniture is our home is solid wood and we buy wool, linen and other raw materials, where possible (i.e. willow storage or old champagne crates, as opposed to flimsy plastic boxes). Generally, these products last longer than their synthetic counterpart and they feel so much nicer, too.
I’m in love with our wooden Thomas Kent clock and brass floor lamp from Litecraft in the bedroom👆
Living in Cornwall means I do a lot of online shopping. Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of little boutiques down here with beautiful homeware, but when you’re looking for something particular, there can be a limited choice. Luckily, Thomas Kent offer same-day delivery, which is great because I’m so impatient!
4. Replace worn bath towels
Bath towels are one of those things you don’t think about replacing, and if you do then you usually end up adding to your existing collection – at least, that’s what I used to do. I decided to replace my old hand towels and bath sheets with a matching set of natural, super-soft Egyptian cotton towels. I’d forgotten how good a new set of towels feel, and they look so much better now everything is matching.
5. Donate mismatched crockery
Crockery is another one of those things that seem to get forgotten. It’s funny because we get so much use out of our crockery every single day, especially since we work from home. I’m a big fan of handmade stoneware and reactive glaze crockery, so I decided to invest in a new matching set. We opted for this slightly wonky, speckled set (below) with unfinished clay bottoms that have a beautiful tactile feel. BEST. MONEY. SPENT.
6. Be mindful of your senses
Even when it’s cold outside, I try and open all the windows and let the air just flow through the house at least once a day, to give it a burst of freshness 💨 We have a collection of scented candles dotted around the house with uplifting aromas in the lounge and relaxing fragrances in the bedroom. I’m currently loving this aromatherapy candle from Scentered, which is a sustainably sourced, custom blend of natural waxes and essential oils. Goodbye fumes that cause headaches, hello ultimate relaxation!
7. Add a touch of greenery
I’m not great at keeping house plants alive – even though I have the best intentions. It makes the home feel so much brighter and fresher! I’m currently trying to grow 50 spider plants, along with cacti, succulents, a cheese plant, and a few other plants. I also try and keep fresh flowers in the house and we hang eucalyptus in the shower so that when it gets steamy there’s a gorgeous uplifting smell – it adds a bit of colour, too.