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Community, Crafts, Ideas & Trends Published: April 10, 2024 | Updated: May 22, 2024

Spring Planting and Gardening Ideas

Adding plants to your home is an excellent way to liven up your space for spring. Creating a beautiful spring garden or decorating with indoor plants can initially seem intimidating. You might be wondering what plants to get and how to incorporate them.

Keep reading to discover everything you need for decorating with spring plants.

The Best Plants for Spring

Selecting plants that bloom during this season is a must for decorating with spring plants. A thriving garden will be easier to care for while making your home feel lush and verdant.

Below are some plants that do well in spring and beyond.

Azalea

Azaleas are ideal for adding a pop of color to any outdoor space. They produce highly saturated flowers that will look full all spring long. You can find azaleas in various colors, from pink and purple to yellow and orange. These shrubs also vary in size. Some can get as tall as 20 feet, while smaller azaleas grow between 2 and 6 feet.

Tulips

These elegant flowers bloom between March and May. Ultimately, their bloom season and life span depend on the temperature. Tulips can last one to two weeks in cooler weather and bloom in late spring.

Rose Bushes

This timeless shrub typically blooms in the later part of spring. For that reason, rose bushes are wonderful transition plants when summer arrives. However, if you’re looking for a low-key garden, roses may not be for you. These plants require more upkeep than your average plant to remain healthy during the cold seasons.

Pansies

If you’re looking for an unstoppable color for your spring garden, pansies are a must. Although they require a lot of sunlight, they can still thrive in cold weather, so a little snow in the spring won’t hurt them.

Dogwood

The dogwood shrub features stunning, large white flowers that blossom in April and May. Plant them in your front or backyard to add a clean, contemporary look to your home for the spring. Help dogwood plants thrive by keeping them in shady areas and moist, well-draining soil.

Magnolia

Magnolia blossoms have become a symbol of spring. Their soft pink petals and teacup-shaped structure will grab anyone’s attention. The time they bloom depends on the variety you get, with some popping as early as March. Add this tree to your garden for beautiful flowers year after year.

Indoor and Outdoor Spring Plants

There is no right or wrong way to enhance your home with plants. But that can make choosing the right ones hard. The best place to start is by deciding if you want indoor or outdoor plants.

Outdoor Plants

Give your curb appeal an instant upgrade by adding spring plants. Even a small spring garden will add sophistication, style, and warmth to outside spaces. Still trying to decide what to plant? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Plant Flowering Shrubs

There are many springtime options when it comes to shrubs. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and hydrangea are some seasonal favorites.

Add a Seasonal Flower Garden

Tailoring your garden to match the season is a fun way to switch things. Install a range of annual spring flowers to enjoy heady scents and vibrant colors. Pansies, gladiolas, and tulips are all good options since they handle cold weather well.

Plant a Vegetable Garden

Early spring is the best time to start growing vegetables. Here are a few that are in full bloom:

  • Onions
  • Carrots
  • Spinach
  • Mushrooms
  • Peas

Plant Fruits

Don’t limit yourself to vegetables. Spring is the ideal season for fruits too. Here are some that are perfect during this time:

  • Strawberries
  • Cherries
  • Plums
  • Blueberries
  • Apricots

Indoor Plants

Plants aren’t strictly for outdoor areas. They can uplift your indoor spaces as well. Add them to any room in your house for a calm and chic atmosphere. Even though you can’t have all the same plants that you would have outside, there are still a lot of great options like:

  • Orchids: These sophisticated flowers add minimal elegance to any space.
  • Lilies: Peace lilies and Calla lilies are both ideal for springtime décor.
  • Gardenia: Fill your home with the sweet smell of spring with gardenias.
  • Snake Plant: The snake plant is easy to care for and has a striking appearance.
  • Aloe Vera Plant: A low-maintenance plant with a sculptural structure.

Don’t feel like you must commit to one or the other. Having some greenery inside and outside will give your home an inviting appeal, inside and out.

How to Decorate With Plants in Spring

Decorating with plants is a great opportunity to be creative. Think beyond the basic planter pot or outdoor garden. Here are some unique ideas that will set your home apart this spring.

Ideas for Decorating With Indoor Plants

Get a Plant Shelf

Make your indoor garden the focal point with a plant shelf. A cascading one will add a waterfall effect to leafy hanging plants. Or you can use a tall shelf to display various flowers and succulents.

Get a Hanging Plant

Hanging plants are wonderful for small spaces. Not only do they save room, but they also give the illusion of a taller ceiling.

Create a Terrarium

Terrariums are a clever way to add style, and they’re ideal for plants that require little upkeep. Air plants, succulents, and cacti are all good options for terrariums. Custom design your own with pebbles, soil, moss, and rocks.

Ideas for Decorating With Outdoor Plants

Lined Walkways

Make your home more inviting by lining your walkway with flowers or shrubs. Depending on where you live, desert plants like lavender, yucca, and agave also work well.

Container Gardens

Container gardens have become increasingly popular over the last few years. By choosing outdoor planters over traditional gardens, homeowners are saving time on maintenance while adding a contemporary look to their yards.

Hanging Garden

Vertical gardens are the latest outdoor trend making its way into everyone’s backyard. Not only is it stylish, but it’s also a great space-saving hack.

Door Wreaths

Spring flowers and wreaths will make your home shout spring. Add one outside or indoors to create a welcoming environment.

Should I Use Fake Plants?

Fake plants are a good option for low-light indoor areas like bathrooms and foyers. Many high-quality imitation plants look as good as real ones and will last much longer.

What Do I Need to Decorate With Plants?

Whether planting inside or outside, you’ll need some gardening essentials before starting. These items include:

  • Gloves
  • Pruning shears
  • Garden fork
  • Hand trowel
  • Gardening spade
  • Watering can
family_art_activities
Crafts Published: March 26, 2020 | Updated: May 28, 2020

5 Kid-Friendly Art Projects You Can do at Home

Find fun in days spent at home with your family by participating in art projects! These activities are rooted in principles of art therapy and will help bring relaxation to your day. All while creating a beautiful masterpiece.

Continue Reading
Crafts, Health & Wellness, How To Published: February 6, 2017 | Updated: April 15, 2024

DIY Valentine’s Day Bath Bombs

We understand that with a busy schedule, it can be hard to find time to relax and unwind. Just when we feel like the busyness of the holidays has passed, Valentine’s Day sneaks up on us. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for friends, teachers, a loved one, or even yourself, a heart shaped bath bomb is something anyone would be thankful to receive.  Below are the foolproof instructions on how to make them.

What You’ll Need:

Heart Shaped Ice Cube or Baking Tray

1 Cup Baking Soda

½ Cup Citric Acid

2 Teaspoons Epsom Salt

¼ Teaspoon of Essential Oils (we chose rose and eucalyptus)

Dried Flower Petals (we used rose)

Rose Petal Witch Hazel

Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients

Mix baking soda, citric acid, and Epsom salt in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add Oils

Once thoroughly combined, slowly mix in essential oils, distributing the scents evenly.

Step 3: Add Witch Hazel

Slowly pour in small amounts of witch hazel until the mixture is wet, but still holds its shape well.

Step 4: Place Dried Flowers in Tray

Add a few buds and petals to each mold in the tray.

Step 5: Pat Mixture into Molds

Tightly pack the mixture into the tray molds and let dry overnight.

Chocolates and flowers are great but the gift of relaxation and pampering is hard to beat.  Watching love fizzle can actually be fun and beneficial with these DIY heart shaped bath bombs. Let us know how it works for you in the comments below.
Crafts, Home Accessories Ideas, How To Published: January 19, 2017 | Updated: October 5, 2018

Refreshingly Simple—DIY Reed Diffuser

Do you have a vintage vase or bottle that you’ve been holding onto for years? Maybe it’s time to put those accents to work. Follow these easy step-by-step instructions for turning your ancient artifacts into a breath of fresh air.

Supplies:

  • Any narrow-necked vase or bottle that is essential-oil safe
  • 1 cup light, unflavored oil (corn or canola work best)
  • 1 tsp essential oil (scent of your choosing)
  • ½ cup alcohol (or unflavored vodka)
  • Tan, black or brown rattan reed diffuser sticks

Step one:

Combine ingredients in a glass measuring cup.

 

Step two:

Stir gently to ensure the scented oil mixes with the other ingredients.

Step three:

Pour into your vessel until about 1/3 full (save remaining mixture in an airtight container until needed).

Step four:

Place reeds in the vase or jar. Make sure they’re long enough to extend several inches above the opening to allow the fragrance to escape.


And that’s it! Place your diffuser wherever a touch of fresh air is needed. Periodically flip the reeds to release the fragrance anew.

What combination of essential oils do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section.
Crafts, Entertaining, Guides Published: August 29, 2016 | Updated: February 13, 2020

Poor Weather? Have a Rainy-Day Staycation

“What do you mean it’s snowing? It’s almost March!”

There are plenty of ways to say it: We are staying in tonight. And we always feel upset, too — our weekend has just been taken away from us and now what is there to do? We’re here to tell you that staying in for the night is not always a bad thing! In fact, it can be the perfect time to reconnect with your family AND de-stress from that long work week. It’s just like a vacation… in the comfort of your home!

Since the weather outside is still frightful, we are her to help you find fun things to do at home! It starts with a space that is cozy and comfortable all year and the perfect night in is within reach. Here are some tips for making the most of a poor weather day.

Create a Comfy Spot

A warm gathering area is the foundation for a night at home, whether you are streaming a movie marathon or hosting a game night for friends. Select a spacious seating option that gives everyone a relaxing place to unwind during your staycation. Dress the space up with stylish throw pillows and blankets that also add to the comfort.

Get The Pizzas, Cause We’re Having a Party

Making dinner doesn’t have to be a chore this weekend, in fact you can make it the main event with some small touches. A personal pizza party is a great way for everyone to be creative by choosing their favorite toppings and making their own designs. It’s a fun way to get the family away from their phones and to enjoy a home-cooked meal that everyone made!

Find all the ingredients at your local grocery store. For the base, use whatever fits your preference — pre-made dough, gluten-free, and so on. Since it’s a personal pizza, add all the contents that make for a delicious meal.

Veggie Monster Pizza

Ingredients:

  • Bell peppers
  • Spinach
  • Portobello mushrooms
  • Mozzarella cheese

Meat Lover’s Delight

Ingredients:

  • Pepperoni
  • Ham
  • Sausage
  • Mozzarella cheese

And We’re Off to the Games

game6

Now that you’ve enjoyed your own culinary creations and have settled into your cozy living space, it’s time for an activity. We’ve got the perfect solution: Family Game Night! Any game will do the trick—pick something that’s easy to learn but challenging enough to keep the whole group engaged. Depending on your choice of game, it’s a great way to test your mental and physical abilities, all while inspiring some friendly competition!*

Make Memories Last

Most mementos are stowed away in your home’s storage space, to be found years later covered in dust. Make those tokens and memories something that your family looks forward to! Time capsules are a sweet way to capture the memories worth sharing and to create an exciting reveal down the line. We recommend waiting a full 10 years until you retrieve the capsule.

Ways to create a time capsule:

  1. Use a simple plastic water bottle and seal the top with hot glue
  2. Completely drain a paint can and fill with items (decorate the outside with stickers or use the paint itself to make designs!)
  3. Our favorite, use an old trunk lined with metal on the inside. See here.
capsule1

What to fill it with. You can fill your time capsule with anything meaningful to your family. We love the idea of stowing away special family keepsakes such as current photo albums, favorite CDs and songs loved by the family followed by recordings of their voices, and even a family recipe. Extras: newspaper clipping of current events and a wine bottle, to age deliciously over ten years!

How to bury it. Dig deep. You want your time capsule to be at least a foot down and then completely covered. This protects it from fire and weather damage as well as keeping your memories safe from prying eyes.

Be Careful! Choosing where to bury your time capsule can be tricky and even illegal—make sure that you are burying it on owned property; we recommend grandma’s house (if she’s planning on staying a long time) and putting a garden sign to mark the place. Other options: the attic, basement, or a local storage unit (anywhere that you will feel safe and remember to look!).

Share your favorite staycation pastimes with us by using #MyAshleyHomeStore! Your space might even end up on our Instagram feed. If you need more inspiration for creating a cozy space, browse our Pinterest boards.

*Ashley and Ashley HomeStore are trademarks of Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc.  All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.  Scrabble and the owner(s) of the Scrabble trademark have no affiliation with and have not endorsed or approved Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. and Ashley HomeStore or their products and services.