Ahhhh, spring.
Bright sunny skies, flower stems peeking through the hard dirt, and a fresh, updated look for your commercial space.
Because here’s the thing about design: it’s never really done.
Even when you’ve spent months (or longer) ensuring that the design of your restaurant, hotel, or healthcare facility is just perfect…there’s always a way to revive and reimagine a space.
No, I don’t mean you should start knocking down walls or picking out new fixtures or finishes. What I do mean is this: as seasons shift and the scenery outside your door changes, consider bringing some of those seasonal vibes inside, into your decor.
Wait…do I *really* need to switch up my design?
Unless you literally finished within the last 6 weeks, then yes, you absolutely do.
And there are several important reasons why.
- To stay current.
Even beautiful, timeless designs begin to feel stale over time. And that’s the last thing you want the people coming into your facility or office space to feel. You want them open-eyed and engaged; you want them to feel like they’re in a place that’s updated, not just done once and left as-is. People want to patronize a business or healthcare facility that feels homey, with little touches that create a warm, inviting environment. - To take stock.
Your gorgeous drapery might be a magnet for dust, and that quirky, specially designed chandelier may have already passed its limelight. It’s a good idea to take a step back every few months and assess how your space looks: does anything need a good cleaning, is anything broken or out of date, do the layout and decor support — or hinder — your workflow? Building in this design “audit” seasonally ensures you actually get it done. - To experiment.
Want to introduce more color, but not sure how your employees will react? Want to play around with different textures, but don’t know how it will go over with residents? Switching up your decor with seasonal touches enables you to try out a new design idea you’ve been thinking about on a low-cost and low-commitment scale.
And here’s how to do it.
Your Seasonal Design Primer
COLOR:
You’re not redoing your color scheme at all, so don’t even think about paint. You’re layering on accents to incorporate more of a seasonal flair.
- Spring: Lighter shades — pretty pinks and lilacs — and anything pastel calls to mind the burgeoning of life after a cold, dark winter.
- Summer: Go bright and bold, especially with blues (reminiscent of the sky and ocean) and yellows (reminiscent of the sun).
- Fall: Muted tones in oranges, reds, and browns warm up the room.
- Winter: Think whites and beiges, plus metallic holiday tones like silver, gold, red, blue, and green.
TEXTURES & MATERIALS:
Pillows, throws, lampshades, drapery, rugs — these are simple to switch out (or add) to complement the season at hand. You can even invest in slipcovers and pillowcases to easily update the look of your furniture and accent pieces.
As a rule, lightweight, thinner fabrics — cotton, canvas, microfiber — go with warmer weather. Heavier, more textured materials — wool, fleece, velvet — are best for cool temps.
ARTWORK
Most businesses can’t afford to change out large art pieces, but you can find smaller, less expensive prints to grace your walls and shelves at different times of the year. For example, art in color schemes or themes that reflect the seasons (for example, beaches or shells in the summer, holiday scenes for winter).
FLOWERS & PLANTS
Fresh flowers are an automatic signal that somebody cares about this space and is regularly updating it. But even faux flowers have come a long way — they’re beautiful and readily available (hello Amazon), and they never die, making them an ideal way to add seasonal decor.
Spring: I have a special place in my heart for spring tulips — you can’t go wrong with those. Primrose, peonies, and crocuses are other gorgeous spring flowers.
Summer: Opt for sunny daisies, vibrant dahlias, and of course sunflowers.
Fall: Look for orchids, chrysanthemums, succulents, or even dried flowers. Mix in seasonal elements like berries or apples.
Winter: Choose roses and lilies in deep, contrasting colors, or go with the classic poinsettia. Try incorporating twigs and pinecones into your floral designs.
If you don’t want to switch out your flowers for the season, you can still change up the vase or add beads, ribbon, or rocks in a seasonal color or tone.
3 bonus tips:
- Add floating shelves in bathrooms, behind the register, or in the lobby so you have space to display seasonal decor.
- Don’t feel like you have to change everything each season. Pick 2-3 spots to feature seasonal decor, and leave the rest as-is.
- Don’t neglect the *actual* outdoors. As you work on updating your interior, freshen up your outdoor space: doorways, signage, sidewalk space in front of your store, and of course landscaping.
