| If you love the outdoors, why not find ways to | | | | well as some great online bargains. Why not take |
| bring the outdoor elements you love so much to | | | | advantage of this and buy some pretty floral |
| the inside of your home? It's not difficult to find | | | | fabric remnants and make some new cushion |
| creative ways to enjoy the outdoors in your own | | | | covers for your sofa or some throw pillows for |
| living room. | | | | your bed. Buy some green and some white place |
| Spring Cleaning | | | | mats and appliqué white leaves on the |
| Believe it or not, a thorough cleaning is one to | | | | green ones and green leaves on the white ones. |
| bring some outdoor elements inside. Buy the | | | | You can make tiebacks for your curtains and |
| freshest smelling cleaners and get out your | | | | then sew miniature flowers on them. |
| broom and duster. Clear any musty smells that | | | | Other Tips |
| may have built up over the winter by opening | | | | Use a geranium leaf stencil to add decoration to a |
| your windows and let the fresh breeze clean the | | | | wood floor or a wall. Buy tiles imprinted with |
| air. Take your curtains down and take them to | | | | fruits, flowers or vegetables. Remember the color |
| the cleaners or toss them in the washing machine. | | | | of your summer garden and let it be an inspiration |
| Take all of your area rugs outside and shake | | | | for color schemes throughout your home. To |
| them out. Fill some bowls full of dried flowers and | | | | create lovely accents for the corners of your |
| add your favorite essential oil or light scented | | | | rooms, decoupage wooden boxes with nature |
| candles. | | | | orientated scenes. You could also paint tiny leaves |
| Flowers and Plants | | | | and flowers on wooden drawer handles. To give |
| Imported tulips and daffodils appear early in the | | | | your potted plants extra style, paint terracotta |
| flower markets and supermarkets and are not | | | | pots with colorful flowers. |
| that expensive. When buying these flowers please | | | | Finishing touches |
| remember that they should never be placed in | | | | Flowers are one of the most beautiful elements |
| the same vase, as the daffodils will damage the | | | | of the outdoors. Take some photographs of |
| tulips as they produce a chemical, which is toxic | | | | some pretty blooms, and then enlarge and frame |
| to them. Buy some herbs and place them on | | | | them. Then hang them in groupings on a bare wall. |
| your kitchen windowsill. Fill an earthenware vase | | | | Another way to bring outdoor colors in is to fill |
| with curly willow branches. Gather twigs and | | | | clear glass bottles and jars with seasonal |
| mosses and arrange them in a basket with faux | | | | emphasis, such as pomegranates in fall, limes or |
| eggs and flowering plants for a table decoration. If | | | | lemons in summer, green apples in spring and |
| you are a gardener, pick flowers from your own | | | | pinecones in winter. Arrange seasonal collages, like |
| garden, dry them and turn into an everlasting | | | | driftwood, sea glass and shells and put them in a |
| arrangement. | | | | shadow box frame. |
| Sewing | | | | You can quickly and easily find special ways to |
| Not everyone is a seamstress, but if you are you | | | | bring the outdoors in, and make your home a |
| know that there is always a shop having a sale as | | | | more beautiful place for you and your family. |