Fresh Spring Decorating with Nature
By Cait Johnson, author of Witch in the Kitchen (Inner Traditions,
2001).
Try these lively decorating tips to help bring more of nature's
colorful, happy, growing energy into your home. We even include a fun
and easy how-to for making deodorizing soaps that look just like
speckled wild bird eggs. Nature shows us the way:
1. Make a clean sweep.
Old grungy winter energy--and dust and dirt--can make our homes feel
pretty dreary and stuck. An old-fashioned spring cleaning, one that
gets rid of things we no longer need or use, as well as the cobwebs
and grit, is a time-honored way to say "I'm ready!" to Spring. Think
of it as clearing our the dead weeds in your life-garden to make
space for new things to grow. Donate unwanted items to your local
charity.
2. Invite a new color over to play.
Winter's palette is mostly neutral: white snow, gray dirty snow, dark
bare branches against gray dirty snow--this can get a little bleak
after several months. When Spring finally rolls around, one of its
greatest gifts to us is COLOR. Spring is the perfect time to bring a
color into your home that you've never used there before: a teacup
the tender golden yellow of an egg yolk, curtains the eye-opening
chartreuse of new leaves, a hyacinth-mauve toss-pillow, a scatter rug
the intense blue of a bluebird's wings. Every time your eyes rest on
one of these fresh, bright, hopeful new colors, your whole self will
feel refreshed.
3. Celebrate birds.
In spring the birds return, bringing their heartening songs and
cheerful flying, their picturesque nests and tender eggs, along with
them. It is so good to welcome them back! Since the dawn of human
time, people have envied the birds their magical ability to fly,
their ease in the ways of air and sky. You may want to make a place
in your home for a reminder of these beautiful and fascinating
creatures. Find a downed or abandoned nest to place in a special
spot, or put a photo or picture of a bird that you especially like
somewhere prominent. Feed them outdoors with their favorite foods
(see The Foods Birds Prefer.)
4. Feather your nest with some birdy ideas.
a. An old birdhouse hung on a wall makes a great key-holder.
B. You can buy lovely nest-like creations made from wicker in various
sizes at your local crafts store. These can be used to hold spare
change, or as soap dishes, muffin-servers, fruit bowls, etc.
c. Eggs: egg-shaped soaps, plates or platters, cookies--so many
things!--are great reminders of the power of small packages to bring
forth new life.
You can also make these great Egg-Shaped Deodorizing Soaps -- Save
remnants of your bar soaps. When you have about 2 cups worth, grate
them coarsely into a bowl with a cheese-grater. Add a little water to
partially cover, and allow to soften for several hours. When soft,
add a teaspoon or so of used coffee grounds and mix well to blend.
Shape softened soap into egg-shapes and allow to harden on a plate or
cookie sheet. Good for deodorizing oniony hands in the kitchen!
d. Feathers can be had for the picking up. When you take a walk, look
for pretty specimens to bring home and display. When my son was
small, he created a beautiful piece for his bedroom dresser using
just a stone with a hole and a single blue jay feather stuck upright
in it.
5. Include flowers and fresh spring greens.
This is the perfect time to bring cheery, vital flowering bulbs and
other juicy living greens into our homes. Even a bunch of leeks or
parsley set into a pretty vase or jug can bring a sense of vitality
to a room.
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