How to refresh your home and garden for spring

Lighten up, says Adele Cardani. Now that warmer days are finally here, it’s time for flouncy fabrics, floral touches and a lick of green paint – and to set the scene for alfresco dining

Back to nature: Andrew Martin’s Secret Garden collection (Andrew Martin)

In London, the weather has progressed from a frigid, unbearable nightmare, to wet, droopy and now tolerable. The city’s parks have been enlivened by technicolour carpets of daffodils and tulips. It’s out with bulky outerwear and knits, and in with lighter layers, billowing sundresses, and a sense of sartorial freedom. As I write this, my balcony doors are flung open, letting in a respectfully hushed but still very rich symphony of birds chattering. I’m burning Malin+Goetz’s Bergamot candle, and the effervescent aroma of joy and possibility and citrus trees in bloom rushes into my nostrils – dare I say, spring is finally here!

Celebrity interior designer Naomi Astley Clarke tells me: “I find that the turn of the season brings with it a natural instinct to not only give the house a good polish but also to refresh and update my furnishings. Perhaps it’s the change in light or the smell of jasmine blooming in my garden, but I look to employ a fresh, clean palette as I design and reconfigure spaces this time of year.” She continues: “In the bedroom, for example, think a base of crisp white bedding with a floral headboard or throw cushions, and sheer linens for dressing windows. The key is to give your sanctuary a gentle uplift.” With this in mind, I’ve rounded up the season’s most prevailing decoration themes and expert tips for adding a breath of fresh air into your home.

When spring rolls around, textiles are bound to pay homage to the glorious outdoors. Equal parts grandeur and ease, the appeal of the English country house – and its vibrant, blossoming garden – is enduring. You may be donning your Miranda Priestly-esque sunglasses and uttering: “Florals? For spring? Groundbreaking.” But why reinvent the wheel concerning what makes a spring look so delightfully spring-y? This year, ditsy floral prints have been eschewed in favour of bold botanicals and large doses of colour.