It's official! Spring has begun and whether Mother Nature has realized it in your region or not, it's time to give your home a refresh. One way to freshen up the look of your home is to pull inspiration from the season itself. Here are a few of our favorite, creative ways you can change your decor for spring.

Try A Spring Color Palette

After a gloomy cold winter, the colors of spring are a welcome site! Bring them inside by applying your favorite palette in nature to the color of a room, accessories or even your doors. A few pops of spring's best pastels can take a room from gloomy to cheerful in no time.

Bring in Fresh Blooms and Greenery

The easiest way to incorporate a piece of spring is to simply cut a few of your favorite blooms and arrange them around your home. Add them to a grapevine wreath and hang on an interior door to create a welcoming feeling. We're loving this monogram moss wreath Jen Migonis created for the basement door just off her kitchen. Don't forget to open those blinds and let the sun shine in on those fresh, new accents!

Add Natural Texture

Spring isn't just about the flowers. Consider adding texture to your home with natural woods or greenery - a trend that is gaining popularity in 2015. Don't be afraid to add a touch of modern by mixing metals or create a more feminine look with soft accents.

 

What are your favorite ways to incorporate spring in your home? Comment below to let us know or share your photos with us on Facebook!

If there's one thing we've learned from this year's cost vs. value report, it's that over-improving won't help you recoup those major costs when it comes time to sell your home. As long as your home is functional and major repairs that impact the integrity are not needed, your dollars and time will be best spent on getting the little details right. These eight easy projects below will make your home ready for the market in no time.

1. Touch-Up Your Paint

Take a look around your home. After years of wear and tear, your walls are sure to take a beating. Look for chips or smudges in your paint and take some time to fill those in. Do you have a room painted in a bold color? Consider taking it down a notch by painting the room a neutral shade. Keep in mind that a buyer needs to be able to see her own style translate into the home.

2. Create Curb Appeal

When it comes time to sell, first impressions definitely count. Give your curb appeal an easy boost with a few potted plants around the door and a new welcome mat. If your front door color has faded after years of exposure to the elements, give it a fresh coat of paint and clean up the hardware to make it look brand new. Don't forget to polish it off with a welcoming wreath that will make buyers feel at home.

 

3. Organize the Entryway

The entryway is the first thing you see when you arrive home and will be first to greet potential buyers. Keep their minds at ease by organizing the space with hooks for jackets and keys, baskets to store shoes, scarves and various accessories and a bench to pull the look together. If there's not enough space for this organization system, create a landing strip with a small table to catch phones and keys and a couple hooks for purses and jackets.

4. Repair Your Flooring

Your walls aren't the only ones that take a beating through the years. Take time to clean your carpets and hardwood floors, remove any stains and repair chips and scratches. Hiring a professional to come in and do these things is certainly the easiest and most effective option, but also the most expensive. If budget won't allow for it, rent a steamer and spot treat your carpeted areas. There are plenty of tutorials online for repairing your hardwood floors, too.

5. Clean Fixtures & Hardware

Dusty, dirty fixtures and hardware can send the wrong message to potential buyers. They may be likely to think if you didn't take the time to care for those details, what else have you neglected that they can't see? Show buyers you did care for the home by paying attention to those details that are often overlooked by giving your fixtures and hardware a good clean. Don't forget your electrical outlets, too! Fresh covers can really pull the look of a room together and give it the feeling that the style was recently updated.

6. Refresh the Bathroom

There's no reason to fully gut a functional and quality bathroom to impress buyers. Make updates to small details like ensuring the hardware matches throughout the room. Consider purchasing a new, water-efficient shower head. Buyers will be impressed by the shine and will enjoy the added benefits of greater efficiency. Put the finishing touches on the bath tub by re-caulking. This tutorial will help even a first-timer achieve straight, professional lines.

7. Upgrade your thermostat

The connected home is in and energy efficiency is a growing concern for homeowners. Upgrading the thermostat is an inexpensive way to impress buyers with the level of control they will have over energy use in the home. Give them - and yourself - the option of controlling the temperature in the home via a mobile device or remote computer with a smart thermostat.

8. De-clutter

There's a reason why staged homes are so appealing to potential buyers. Unnecessary clutter can create anxiety and give a bad impression of the home by detracting from the more important details. Take some time this weekend to remove any items that may keep buyers from envisioning the home as their own. Consider renting a storage unit to keep your items safe until you move or add more organization with new shelving and cabinets.

 

What projects are you working on this weekend? Comment below and let us know!

Earlier this year, Hanley Wood released the 2015 Cost vs. Value report. The report compares the average cost of common remodeling projects and the return those projects can provide in various US markets. If you're thinking of putting your home on the market soon and would like to make a few cosmetic updates, you're going to need to understand the trends described in this report. Below are the top three takeaways.

Do Not Neglect Curb Appeal

When it comes to selling a home, first impressions definitely count. If the exterior of the home doesn't look as nice as the interior, potential buyers may never consider touring the home. Small, exterior upgrades that require little investment can provide the greatest return. In fact, curb appeal projects claim the top four positions for cost effective remodeling projects.

 

According to national averages, simply replacing your entry door with a brand new steel door can recoup costs by 101.8% (costvsvalue.com). If your front door is in good shape but a little bland, consider a fresh paint job and new accessories to make it look brand new again. Don't forget that old garage door, too. It may be fully functional but if it does not match the style of the home or the paint has faded after years of exposure to the elements, you could miss an opportunity to sell your home quickly and for the right price.

Focus on Efficiency

Energy efficient upgrades are more important to buyers than ever. Old appliances and windows can put a drain on energy consumption and home buyers place a greater value on lowering their monthly bills even if that means a bigger investment up front. It's even better if the upgrades are installed and ready to go on move-in day. Replacing old, drafty windows with new wood or vinyl windows can recoup over 70% of the cost to purchase and install.

Keep it Simple

Many homeowners believe that major kitchen renovations or bathroom remodels are the most effective ways to increase the value of a home; however, these projects are not likely to have the greatest return. Small-scale projects with little details that make a big impact are actually most likely to return the greatest value for the cost to complete. If your kitchen is functional but a little dated, consider making minor updates like replacing the hardware on your cabinets and doors or installing energy-efficient appliances. On average, major kitchen remodels recoup 65% of the cost while minor updates recoup nearly 80%.

 

Putting your home on the market and waiting for an offer can be a stressful time. Increase the odds that your home will sell quickly and for the right price by making updates that matter most to potential buyers. For even more insights into remodeling costs vs. value, be sure to download the report that is unique to your city and state at www.costvsvalue.com.

 

What remodeling projects are you prioritizing before you sell? Comment below to let us know!