Craft Your Ideal Home: 10 Simple Ways to Update Your House This Spring

Spring has sprung and the longer days offer a perfect excuse to shake off the winter cobwebs and add a splash of new life to your home. Whether you’re looking to inject some cash into your property or you want to attempt a makeover on a budget, there are lots of easy ways to spruce up your home this spring. Read on for some simple inspiration on how you can achieve your ideal home.

Clear Out the Cobwebs

It’s called spring cleaning for good reason! Now’s the time to clear out any clutter that’s not useful. Start by weeding out any unwanted clothing or other items that are taking up space rather than doing something useful. Donate anything you can to charity and move on to those tasks that need some elbow-grease like cleaning your oven, dishwasher and windows.

Introduce Nature

Nothing says spring like blooming blossoms. Fresh flowers add a lovely touch to your home and spring blossoms like tulips are an economical way of adding a burst of colour to any room - especially if you’re expecting visitors. If you have a bigger budget, pop down to the garden centre and pick up some greenery for your home. Indoor plants of different heights look wonderful grouped together and add a touch of life to even the most ordinary space.

Cool Down the Bedroom

Upgrading your bed clothes is a small investment that can make a huge difference to your bedroom. Pack away your thick winter flannel and fleece materials and instead choose cool, pastel colours to inject that fresh spring feeling into your bedroom.

A Lick of Paint

If you’re looking for a simple way to make a room feel instantly transformed, painting is a cheap and effective solution. For duller spaces, white is a great choice if you want to make the most of the natural light in the room. White can also act as a lovely canvas to layer colour on top of – with vibrant rugs, curtains and furniture.

Curate a New Look

Artwork is a great way to give your home a new focal point. Make a day of it and visit galleries and flea markets to see if you can find a gem. Better yet, buy a blank canvas and paint something yourself if you’re artistically inclined. If you don’t want to part with existing art or photos, why not upgrade their frames and experiment with placing them in a new room?

Chim Chim Cher-ee

If you were busy enjoying a roaring open fire all winter, now’s the time to give your chimney a spring clean too. It’s recommended by the National Safety Authority that chimneys are cleaned at least once a year to prevent fires and dangerous fumes. Luckily, there’s a list of approved chimney sweeps at the Chimney Sweeps Association of Ireland website and spring is the perfect time to tick this task off your to-do list.

Pull a New Look Together

New curtains are a great way to update a room and give it some personality. In springtime, think less about insulation and more about decoration. And don’t forget to consider the rest of the room when picking out patterns and colours, you’ll be surprised how easily curtains can clash with other furnishings.

Add a Statement Piece

If you have a limited budget but want to make a splash, one statement piece of furniture can do the trick. A bright yellow couch might seem a bit out there, but it’s just one of a number of colours that have been proven to have a beneficial effect on your mood.

Maximum Efficiency

For a lasting investment, you can reduce future energy bills with solar panels. Getting these installed before the summer months will ensure that you are gaining maximum impact from all those rays of sunshine that will hopefully be coming our way. Need more tips? Check out our guide on how to make your home more energy efficient.

Invest in Storage

The best way to ensure that your home retains that spring clean freshness is to invest in some long-term solutions! Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. Get a storage system in place and stick to it. That means when the warmer months come around next year, you’ll already be ahead of the game.

Need some help updating your home?

If you’re thinking of updating your home this spring and need help with the financial side of things, why not consider a home improvement loan? Whether it’s solar panels, an extension or a kitchen renovation, AIB offer loans from €1,000 with a loan decision in just three hours*. You can apply online through AIB Internet Banking, the AIB Mobile App. You can also book a branch appointment or phone 0818 724 725 if you’d like to speak to someone in person.

Use our handy loan calculator to find out how much you can borrow today.

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* 3 hour loan decision applies to fully completed new personal loan applications processed within 3 hours 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri excl. bank holidays. Loans from €1,000-€30,000. Excludes applications: to restructure or clear existing AIB credit facilities; received through Branch and referred to a lender for review, from customers in financial difficulty; for Student and First loans; applications through Business Centres; or where total borrowings exceed €100,000 (excluding Home Loan debt up to €600,000).