I’m a firm believer that a seasonal refresh works wonders in lightening the mental load.
Of course, the traditional ‘spring clean’ is all about a deep clean of the home, tackling all areas that a busy life prevents us reaching in our regular cleaning rituals. Whilst my ‘spring clean’ might involve a touch of spritzing and sprucing, I use the phrase here more so to describe a period of taking stock, reevaluating and preparation; both mentally and physically.
April is the perfect time to do this at Mulberry House. I think this is because I tend to think of approaching a ‘reset’ of my own in the same way that nature does, and this time of year contains the magical energy of potential. There’s something about the longer days, the warmer temps, and the signs of growth outside that grants a quiet permission to switch things up a little closer to home too.
Whilst I’m making way for new planting and exciting growth in our kitchen garden (read more in how I’m embracing Spring outdoors in this sister blog), the house feels as though its waking up again, too. I find myself drawn to a little refresh indoors to help stir our 300 year old farmhouse from yet another restful winter slumber. In return, Mulberry House gifts me a clearer headspace and mental real estate for fresh ideas, renewed inspiration and bursts of creativity.
Below, I’ve shared my top three most trusted avenues to ‘spring cleaning’ in a wider sense - the slow-living, Mulberry House way. Let’s create some space in our homes and minds, together.
It’s time for gardeners to clear the first few emerging weeds and prep the veggie beds for new delights. So, what better time than now to clear those pesky weeds in our minds, along with the shift in nature outside, Dear Reader? I do hope you enjoy.
Decluttering: physically and spiritually
I certainly can’t rival the queens of clean but I am a believer in decluttering. Perhaps contradictorily, I am also very much someone who is a collector of things, and a firm believer in ‘stuff’ being what gives a home heart. I’m a maximalist to my core and a lover of stripes, florals and checks (my squishy and ‘elegantly knackered’ living room decor can be found here if you’re curious). I think it works because I like to keep my ‘clutter’ intentional. The pieces that adorn your home should be personal, helping to tell a story, whatever you may like that to be.
For me, choosing what belongs in a room is all about assessing how it makes me feel. It’s helpful to channel Marie Kondo’s ‘does it spark joy?’ mentality. Some things are a no-brainer, others less so. It’s easy to find this spark of joy if a piece in your home has been passed down by a loved one or holds memories of days long gone, a category of which many of our treasures at Mulberry House fall into. Sentimental value always comes out on top.
The best way to declutter, in my opinion, is to take on a corner of a room at a time. Try and see what stands out (what sets off those sparks, what used to but doesn’t anymore, and so on). Be really honest with yourself. Dedicate an area just outside of this space for three piles - 1) recycle (or bin, if things are really too far gone), 2) donate or pass on to a friend, 3) sell. You’ll be surprised what comes out of the woodwork. When it comes to clothing, bidding farewell to anything that hasn’t been worn or used for a full 12 months is a good rule to stick by - off it pops.
This experience can be equal parts therapeutic and overwhelming, but breaking things down section by section certainly helps; especially for the most cluttered of homes. And, it’s all worth it when you find little-seen garments and pieces that hold precious memories. I also like to use this opportunity to ‘shop’ my own wardrobe; making notes on how I can be a creative with styling pieces in the future, and urging myself to think about outfit combinations I perhaps hadn’t already considered.
For example, I did a little declutter the other day and found a striped dress from Smock London I haven’t worn for a little while and it instantly brought back memories of last summer. I’m excited to style it this season with a knit tank from O Pioneers, and likely wouldn’t have thought of this combination had I not been working my way through my wardrobe in this way.
There’s no better feeling than the levity one feels after donating bags of pre-loved goodies onto their next stage of life.
Inviting Spring to the table
I love to welcome in the Springtime are by refreshing my tablescaping and most-cooked dishes, keeping things as seasonal as possible.
I like my table to be a little flamboyant - especially at this time of year when nature has so much colour and vigour to it. The goal is to reflect this indoors. It all starts with an excellent tablecloth, and I adore this handprinted one from Twizzell which adds a nice dose of Mad Hatters Tea Party to the occasion. I like to decorate with flowers and food; popping some rainbow carrots in a vase and using their flailing tops to add a little interest, adding some rainbow chard to a jar and letting the vibrancy of their colour do all the talking, etc. The list could go on. I’ve shared a little more in my Youtube video here, and below is a little inspiration:
For my favourite seasonal recipes, do pop back to MH HQ in future to find more tips and tricks.
Bring the outside in: an easy floral arrangement
We’re lucky to have abundant growth around us in the countryside here. If you’re fortunate to have a similar proximity to the outdoors, you’ll know that foraging at this time of year is a real joy. There’s lots of beautiful greenery out there to fill out your floral arrangements, all to be gathered without needing to spend a penny. Delights like pittosporum, blackthorn blossom, cherry branches, forsythia and hazel twigs can provide excellent backbones for displays of all sizes. Add interest and colour with seasonal blooms (think hellebores, hyacinths, heather, tulips, forget-me-nots). Later into Spring, joys like anemone, iris and ranunculus will start to pop up, which all help to add another level of drama and delight. If a garden isn’t available to you, and you don’t have much luck foraging nearby, you can of course source many of these at bargain prices from all of the biggest supermarkets. Farmers markets and local flower growers will be the best bet if they’re easily accessible to you, and they can advise you on what should be available and when.
If in doubt - a selection of the most bright and beautiful daffodils you can find will always, always, do the trick to brighten up any spring windowsill.
Til next time,
Leah
xxx
