Interior Transformations-Tips

1. Spring is synonymous with cleaning, so make it enjoyable. Put on our favorite opera or rock and roll CD and get the “good chi” flowing. Vacuum the tops of windowsills and doorjambs. Clean the globes on light fixtures. You can even create your own nontoxic furniture polish by melting the following ingredients in a double boiler.

• 2 ounces of olive oil
• 1 ounce beeswax
• 1 ounces coconut oil
• 1 ounce carnauba wax

Remove from heat and pour in 4 ounces of distilled water and combine with a hand mixer until creamy. Add 1/3-teaspoon grapefruit seed extract as a preservative. Add 5 to 10 drops of essential lemon oil. Stir well and let solidify. Store in a glass jar with a screw top. You can learn more about nontoxic housekeeping by visiting www.betterbasics.com

2. Capture spring’s enchanting light in a collection of colorful glass bottles or vases on the windowsill. No collection you say? Use small bottles from bath oils, spices, and cosmetics. An orderly line of small bottles with a single fragrant blossom in each on a windowsill or down the middle of a table exemplifies the beauty of simplicity.

3. To diffuse spring’s stronger light, use sheets of scrim simply hemmed and hung on a tension rod to create easy, interesting, textured curtains.

4. Burlap is great for occasional table coverings. You can simply tack it to the sides of compressed wooden round tables available at Target for under $10. Top with a fabric remnant complementary to your room, and you’ve got an inexpensive, attractive covered table. Add decorative trim to the fabric topper to give your room more personality.

5. Create a “mood board” before you begin a project, whether for the home or the garden. On a poster board tack samples of fabric, paint, wallpaper, and pictures of furniture or plants. See how your initial preferences change over time. If after one month, you’ve tired of a fabric, color, or plant, nothing is lost. Replace these with new examples. If an idea stands the test of time, this helps define the style you really want before you spend a dime.

6. For a fun and inexpensive coffee or side table indoors or out, find a large terra cotta pot, set it right side up and top with a piece of glass. You can even create a terrarium by adding soil and plants under the glass. Succulents add interest with their unusual form and texture.

7. Create a fun and whimsical hanging lamp by inverting a plain or painted terracotta pot and wiring it using a kit available from home supply stores for about $3. These lamps are especially charming on a porch or over a potting bench.

8. Along with spring comes the urge to spend more time outdoors. Create a stylish outdoor room that ‘s an intimate getaway right beyond your back door. Use a canopy tent available at warehouse stores to create an instant room. Use pea gravel or flagstone for flooring. If you have unattractive concrete, paint a “rug” on it or use a real sisal or sea grass rug. Shop for offbeat comfortable chairs and accessories at flea markets. Let your outdoor masterpiece evolve as we head into summer.