Tips for giving your home a spring refresh

Springtime is rife with renewal. As the days grow longer, flora and fauna teem with new life, returning vibrant colors and new energy to Alabama’s landscape.  

It’s the perfect season to awaken your indoor surroundings, too, according to Tuscaloosa-based muralist Stephanie Kirkland.

“Spring is when we’re coming out of our dark, wintry cocoon,” the artist says. “It’s a great time to be inspired by new colors and to change the energy of your home and your intention for the year ahead.”

The Yellowhammer State boasts a wealth of interior design talent, including these 6 savvy locals, who might just motivate you to launch a spring refresh for your own home.

Montgomery-born artist Camilla Moss treasures her time with a brush in hand, and it shows. Her joyful, hand-painted watercolor motifs—later assembled digitally into textile and wallpaper designs—somehow feel at once ephemeral and like instant heirlooms. 

Her work itself is a result of a personal refresh: Moss left a 15-year career as a CPA with the birth of her youngest child in 2018. It wasn’t until then that she discovered her artistic talent. 

“Inspiration is everywhere if I take the time to stop and enjoy it,” Moss says, “from botanicals to butterflies to seashells found on the coast and clouds in the sky.”

As part of her long-term design strategy, Moss loves collecting vintage pieces along with work by her favorite local artists to create a story with her home designs. And for a quick refresh when a renovation just isn’t in the budget, she recommends simple, cost-effective tricks that get the job done.

“I’ve always said that a can of paint can make a huge impact on a space,” she says. “And changing out cabinet hardware and light fixtures is next on my list.” 

Spring is particularly well suited for closet clean-outs and getting rid of items that no longer fit, according to Brady.

“I’ve found over the years that closets are the thing people have their big ‘Oh my gosh!’ moment over,” she says. “Having a system for your laundry and where everything goes completely changes your morning and your day.” 

From hot pink squiggles that play alongside safflower splotches to shades of blue and green that neatly line up into a geometric border, Burge’s expertise is designing unconventional rugs and finding the artisans to make them.

“I know how it feels to nest, and it brings me great joy to deliver that feeling to others,” she says. 

As for spring spruce-ups, Burge says blues and greens are timeless and that she expects to see designers leaning into greens even more this season. She recommends incorporating color with a quick restyling of shelves or a coffee table, a fresh coat of paint on some wooden chairs, a new runner and, her other personal favorite, pillows. 

His is one of the rare shops that sees a project through from the wood’s harvest to its installation. 

When adding reclaimed wood to interiors, flooring may seem like the obvious choice. But River Bottom also creates paneling, unique mantels, furniture, and on-trend, barn-style sliding doors. Perhaps the biggest surprise hit in his company’s repertoire is faux ceiling beams and columns, Turner says. 

“They’re real wood, but they’re not structural,” he adds. “That’s caught on big-time.” 

For spring, Kirkland is loving earthy green and bold sienna hues. 

When deciding on an accent wall, look for one that has no doorway on it, such as in a small space like a hall or a bathroom. She also recommends not holding back on what you really want, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a pro. 

“What you love will never go out of style. People can always tell when a home feels authentic!” Kirkland says.

And she’s right in step with her customers, as designers gravitate to layering textures and less saturated colors than have been popular over the past several years, Folmar says. Case in point: One of her most popular recent offerings has been a toned-down orange chintz printed on fine grass cloth. 

When it comes to giving your home a spring refresh, Folmar says she enjoys using soft furnishings like table runners, throws, and pillows, plus mixing old and new to add depth.

Travel pro and award-winning journalist Jessica Fender chronicles her around-the-world adventures on Instagram @travelerbroads.com. And she’ll take one of everything, please.