Writer | Sarah Spohn

Feeling Blue? Get fresh new ideas for colorful spaces at a home and garden show

Wintertime blues can feel draining and early spring in Michigan can look a lot like winter. If you’re looking for a source of inspiration for fresh, bright, colorful new ideas to implement in or out of your home, consider penciling in a home and garden show to your calendar. 

Many see the New Year as the perfect time for decluttering and organization. After that fresh start, though, some of us don’t have the energy to keep up with our purging systems or daily tidying routines. If you’re feeling stuck in a rut when it comes to decor and design inside and outside of your home, consider visiting a one-stop-shop full of vendors and local exhibitors at a home and garden show. It might be just what you need to get a jumpstart on your daunting to-do list. For many people, seeing trends in person, and walking through sample room layouts and vignettes makes all the difference. If Pinterest boards or glossy magazine photos just haven’t done the trick yet, perhaps it’s time to buy a ticket for a home and garden show. They’re pretty affordable, family-friendly events, with ticket prices ranging from $5 to $20.

Pinterest proves great for quick bursts of inspiration, current design trends, spatial layouts and picture-perfect room snapshots. With the internet, the options are endless, but visiting an in-person home and garden show can really help you wade through the clutter, and see what you’re visually drawn to when it comes to paint colors, glossy or matte countertops, hardwood or plank flooring, etc. 

Many home and garden shows can provide visitors with everything from outdoor landscaping, pond features, pool and deck installations, flowers and houseplants, as well as free gardening demos to help flourish your green thumb. With the changing of seasons, the introduction of warmer weather means more time spent outdoors. If your patio, lawn, or four-seasons room is anything but inviting or needs a revamp, attending a show can provide you with design ideas, local business recommendations and more to get you started on your makeover. 

Indoor spaces looking for a colorful refresh or a complete revamping can also find inspiration at home and garden shows. Typically, they include local business vendors specializing in interior improvements, repairs, decor and design, paint colors and trends, kitchen remodeling, tile/carpet, tools/equipment and more. Exhibitors frequently hold seminars showcasing their trademark tools in action, reputable and unique methods and insider DIY tips for homeowners. Your admission ticket can even get you one-on-one conversations and Q&As with industry experts. 

Attending home and garden shows is a great option not only for new homeowners, but also for those looking to build their dream homes, and also those looking to update their homes to match their current style. Oftentimes, families can outgrow their spaces, or how they were initially intended to be used. Updating an old children’s bedroom to a home office or workout room might be on the to-do list, but finding the right contractors to do the job is easier than you think. Many times, you can even set up future appointments, appraisals and get estimates with contractors on site. Many offer discounts on valuable services to show attendees – what a winning combo. If you’ve been putting off an interior or exterior home makeover, look up local home and garden shows for the first step toward a bright, colorful refresh.