Orange Tulips by Christine Brun on Creators.com

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Orange Tulips

Sometimes the simplest things bring the greatest pleasure. This spring, try to bring a fresh new look to at least one room in your home. You can do this by spending little to no money; I guarantee it! Success is pinned on being visually ambitious and applying old world principals to your housekeeping efforts.

The art of trimming down goes hand in hand with small living environments. Nowhere is it more critical to keep things uncluttered. You may not have much extra room in the typical urban studio or tiny cottage and cannot afford for clutter to upset visual pleasure. These suggestions are dry and maybe even a tad boring, but they work.

Take your bedroom as an example. Force yourself to look at each thing in the room that serves no purpose. Get it out of sight. This includes that laundry basket of ironing or a pile of dirty clothes. They belong in the closet. If you have an over-the-door rack that looks unsightly, move it to the inside of a closet so you don't have to stare at a jumble. If you have a chair you don't sit in, get rid of it or move it to another room. There is nothing more lovely than clean, open space. Every square inch does not need to be filled with stuff.

Clean the room in the way that the traditional German housewife is taught: From top to bottom! That should include the window treatments. If you have blinds, dust them and wipe them with a damp cloth. If they are pleated blinds the chances are good that you can vacuum them and then soak them in cold water in the bath tub yourself using a gentle cleaning agent like Ivory liquid soap or Woolite. Be sure to check the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning. If you are nervous to do it yourself, find a mobile blind cleaning service. Remove drapes and dust them outside if you do not wish to dry-clean.

The sun does miracles to restore a good smell to textiles. Be aware that dry-cleaning may actually ruin your fabric if the drapes have been hanging for years. Many dry cleaners won't touch them without a release of liability.

If you have wood baseboards, dust and wash them. Move the furniture and vacuum underneath items, including under and behind the bed. Wash or dry-clean all of your bedding. If you have a ceiling fan, dust the blades and clean the light cover. You would be amazed at how dirty many bedrooms are because of dust generated by bedding, skin defoliation and tendency to never clean under the bed.

If your budget allows, treat yourself to a summer cover. I have been inclined to buy washable coverlets because we own dogs and recently bought a baby blue, white and camel pattern for the warm months. I can launder both my linen bed skirt and the lightweight cover, and I do it regularly. Knowing that the bed is clean makes me feel relaxed and refreshed. This is something that just takes a little bit of time and no extra money.

Remove things from the walls that are unimportant. Less is more. Consider moving art around the house. A big pot of fresh flowers will brighten your dining room like no one's business. Visit your local farmer's market for good prices on whatever is blooming in your area now. Spend ten dollars on a generous bouquet of the season's best that you split and display in two rooms. The fun part about using flowers is that it is a very affordable way to introduce bright colors and lift your spirits. My son and his wife live in Seattle and at this time of year, fresh tulips abound. Nothing perks you up more than a vase of vibrant tulips in red or yellow.

Photo Credit: None

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.