It’s such a joy to see spring finally arrive in Seattle. Trees are blooming, bulbs are emerging, and the sunnier, warmer days (between the windy, cold, rainy ones) are inspiring fresh ideas. Recently Birch Lane invited me to join their Spring Refresh campaign, and I’m excited to be part of it alongside four other bloggers. I’ll also be taking over Birch Lane’s Instagram feed to share the ways we refreshed a corner of our basement for spring—please stop by and say hello!
If you’re new here, we moved into a 1950s house six months ago. Leaving our mostly finished previous home was difficult, but being close to family in Seattle has felt like the right choice, and we’re treating this as an adventure. You can find our move story and a video tour of the new house on my blog.
Our first projects here weren’t glamorous—replacing the sewer line topped the list—followed by repairing a cracked driveway and an awkward side courtyard. With those exterior tasks underway or finished, we’re finally turning our attention inside and making this house feel like home. That’s why this Spring Refresh project was such a perfect kick-off for updating our basement.
A few days ago I shared before pictures of our empty basement. Our plan for the lower level is to create a comfortable family gathering space. Longer-term updates will include new flooring, blinds, paint, trim, and furniture. We sold our large navy velvet sectional with the old house, so we’re essentially starting over with seating. This Spring Refresh arrived at just the right time to give the room a jump start.
Starting a room from scratch can feel overwhelming. If your room is already cute, a seasonal refresh may be as simple as swapping pillows or accessories. But when you’re furnishing a whole room, you have to start somewhere. Because we aren’t completing the entire room at once, we chose to begin with one piece we truly love and build the rest of the space around it.
We fell in love with a beautiful blue-green Larson nailhead trim chair from Birch Lane in the Bryant Calypso textured slub fabric. The chair and matching ottoman exceeded our expectations in quality, comfort, color, size, and proportion.
Most of the additional furniture we plan to add will be upholstered in neutral fabrics, so this chair’s fresh color will be a special focal point. It sets the tone for the overall palette and contributes to the light, fun vibe we envision for the room.
Seeing the chair and ottoman in place brought the first hint of what this space will become, even before we paint. I love dreaming about a room, but I especially enjoy watching those ideas take shape. Until now, the lower level had been a random collection of items, so placing a new chair felt like an important first move.
Since we plan to replace the carpet with hard surface flooring, we placed a neutral striped rug directly over the existing carpet to define the seating area. The rug grounds the conversation zone now and will also coordinate nicely with the new floors when they go in.
Of course Jack approves of the ottoman—his little paws always make me smile.
I love the nailhead detail on the chair; it adds a touch of sophistication that elevates the look. A scalloped pillow cover in a light spring hue brings in additional seasonal charm and shows how easy it is to change the chair’s feel with different pillows throughout the year.
We’ve loved Birch Lane’s woven lidded baskets for some time. One lives in our bedroom holding extra pillows and blankets, and this one will hide remotes and small clutter in the basement. Placed beside the chair with a tray on top, it doubles as a small side table when needed.
I have a soft spot for statement lighting, and the Stratford floor lamp we chose was an immediate favorite. A lamp like this finishes a reading nook and provides practical, movable light that can be repositioned as the room evolves.
Four practical tips we used for this spring refresh
1. Add color to update a room’s look and energy. Leaving winter behind, introduce a fresh spring hue—upholstery in a bold but solid color can act like a neutral base, making it easy to switch seasonal pillows and accents throughout the year.
2. Tidy and introduce texture with a woven basket. A lidded basket is perfect for corralling clutter, stashing magazines, or hiding remotes while adding warmth and texture to the space.
3. Start small—focus on a corner. You don’t need to redo an entire room at once. Transforming one previously uninspiring corner into a comfortable reading or relaxation spot can make a big impact and inspire the rest of the room’s design.
4. Choose lighting that adds personality and function. Every seating area benefits from a nearby light. Floor lamps are versatile, easy to move, and work well tucked into corners or alongside chairs to create cozy, well-lit nooks.
Shop this post and more spring finds at Birch Lane. I’m grateful to Birch Lane for providing the chair, ottoman, lamp, and pillow used in this refresh.
Sources:
Larson Nailhead Trim Chair in Bryant Calypso Textured Slub (I recommend ordering fabric samples when possible, as colors can vary between screens.)
Larson Nailhead Trim Ottoman in Bryant Calypso Textured Slub
Stratford Floor Lamp
Scalloped Pillow Cover
Woven Lidded Basket
Taupe and Ivory Striped Rug
Horse Bookends
Wood Mirror
Also be sure to check out the other bloggers who participated in the Spring Refresh campaign for more inspiring room updates and ideas.