By Jamie Ducharme, News Staff
Though gray skies and low temperatures last week may not be any indication, spring is here – and that means it is time to brighten living spaces with a few key interior design changes.
“Interior design trends tend to follow fashion trends,” interior design blogger Angela Raciti said. “So right now it’s neon color, prints. Change it up; everything doesn’t have to be so matchy-matchy.”
Raciti, who is also a wedding stylist and planner working towards her master’s degree in interior design at the New England School of Art and Design, writes the interior design blog Diary of a Chair.
Spring updates are all about color, she said.
“Do anything you can,” Raciti said, “ because a pop of color is so great.”
Ali Brown, a sales associate at Michelle Willey, a home goods boutique at 8 Union Park St. in the South End, also mentioned the popularity of color and pattern, especially stripes.
“Stripes are in this spring,” Brown said. “Whether it’s in scarves or T-shirts or linens … any color combination of stripes is popular.”
Raciti, who said she likes to buy inexpensive houseware at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, stressed that bringing a springtime vibe to a dorm room or apartment doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
“Just get anything with color that will bring a drab dorm room back to life,” she said.
Raciti suggested a brightly colored duvet cover, fitted sheets or a set of plates to make a room feel more like spring without making a large investment. Brown said a new blanket or throw pillow could also do the trick.
Simple as it may be, though, some students said spring redecorating is not a priority for them.
“I didn’t really even think about it,” said Jennifer Latorre, a fifth year physical therapy major who lives in an off-campus apartment on St. Stephen Street. “I usually do Christmas, but that’s really the only holiday I decorate for.”
Freshman journalism major Hannah DeYoung, who lives in a Stetson East double, said she didn’t do anything beyond “a big spring cleaning.”
“I haven’t really done that much differently since I’m going home in two weeks,” she said. “I might have rearranged a few things if I had more time, just so it feels different.”
Raciti also offered a design tip that works for everyone, even those with temporary dwellings.
“Just go to Trader Joe’s and get a cup of flowers,” she said. “It’s that easy.”
Brown had another easy tip: A thorough cleaning.
“Get rid of stuff and clutter,” she said. “Clear surfaces make a room look bigger and cleaner.”
To cut down on mess and add storage space for spring, Brown recommended using baskets or shoe boxes painted the same color.
“Just keep things simple,” Brown said. “Everything else flows from that.”
