April showers bring May flowers ... and SPRING CLEANING!

Its that time of year again! With the warm weather and vibrant colors of spring comes spring cleaning. So why not de-clutter, get yourself organized, put away the heavy blankets and sweaters and get ready to freshen up your home with the warmth of spring!


Step 1. Clean, condition and protect


Cleaning may not be everyone's favorite part of spring but the results help our home and minds feel refreshed after a long and dreary winter. Here are a few tips we have found helpful when beginning our spring cleaning:

• Wipe walls and ceilings. Walls and ceilings become very dirty with the day-to-day dirt and grime. vacuum dust off walls and use a de-greasing cleaner to make it look like a fresh coat of paint was applied. 
• Clean upholstered furniture. Take cushions off and clean underneath and on the sides of them. Use furniture care products such as Guardsman fabric protection spray to keep fabric looking great year after year.
• Dust your home thoroughly. Get those hard to reach places that may get forgotten during your normal dusting routines. Avoid using dusting sprays that leave a filmy grime. Instead try Guardsman's "Ultimate dusting cloth" that safely removes dust from surfaces without scratching our spread it around.
• Wax wooden surfaces. Clean wooden surfaces with with a lightly dampened cloth. Then use a protectant product like the Guardsman revitalizing oil to protect your wood finished from harmful UV rays.
• Clean and condition leather furniture. Utah's dry harsh climate is hard on our leather it it important to clean and protect it every 3-4 months to keep it looking healthy and smooth. Just like our skin! We like to use the Guardsmans leather cleaner and conditioner on all our leather products.
• Cleaning tips provided by Martha Stewart living. Click here for a complete spring cleaning checklist.

We clean and protect all our furniture with the Guardsman protection products and programs. Maybe you didn't buy our "Gold in Home" protection program for your furniture, not to worry we carry the full line of Guardsman cleaning products right here in our showroom. To learn more about these products visit the Guardsman protection website our come in to speak to one of our designers.




Step 2. Organize


After you ave finished cleaning your home from top to bottom organizing those winter items and accessories is the next challenge. Organizing doesn't have to be done in a dark and dingy basement with the all white metal and plastic shelving. Here are a few tips for organization:

• Use multi-function items. A buffet that doubles an entry console. Here you can store items such as hats, scarfs and gloves for the unpredictable spring weather. 
• Make your organization into something fun and interesting. Display your items in a nontraditional and artistic way. Use bookshelves and shelving units with a mixture of open and closed units.
• Mix in accessories. Added colorful accessories can make your display and bookshelves look more purposeful and less utilitarian but still functional; while also added some fun color for spring.

So remember try not to do this...

Try something more like one of these...

Shelving units with open and closed compartments ad interest while keeping your organized

Multi-function pieces help small spaces stay organized without a lot of furniture.

Step 3. Refresh your decor

After your all clean and organized why not bring some of those bright and vibrant spring colors in doors? Adding small pops of color with paint, wallpaper and accessories can help brighten up your home without breaking the bank. Here are some tips for making your home feel the warmth of spring:

• Add color! Using small amounts of bright colors and patterns can help brighten up your space without overwhelming it with color.
• Repaint or use wallpaper. A fresh coat of paint or an accent wall of a bright fun wallpaper gives an old room new life. Don't be afraid to go bold and your walls, treat your wall coverings as an art piece.
• Don't forget about your floors. Maybe all new hardwood floors throughout your room don't fit in the budget right now so give your floors a new updated look by adding a large area rug. Go big on your area rugs, its ok for a rug to take up an entire room.
• PILLOWS, PILLOWS AND MORE PILLOWS! Pillows make all the difference. They make such a huge impact without spending a ton of money. Play with color and pattern in your pillows to add interest and excitement to and old sofa or chair.
• Colorful lighting is an interesting accent. Lamps often get forgotten about. Remember that accent lamps and chandeliers are a great place to add color and do something completely crazy and different. Don't be afraid to put a modern lamp in a traditional or transitional space and visa-versa. The opposites in style can add interest and create something completely unique.
• Update your window coverings. Switching out heavy draperies for a light sheer roman shade or a roller shade will help let a lot of light into your space and make it feel more open and warm.

Don't get stuck in the dreary color palettes of winter try adding colors and accessories such as these to bring the spring into your home...

Stop by our showroom and speak to one of our talented designers to get started on refreshing your home for spring!