If you want your caravan looking fresh and inviting for next spring then now is the time to get it into shape. You can do some simple groundwork now and reap the rewards next year!
Whether you’re closing your caravan up for the winter or simply doing some autumn jobs, here are some quick and easy ideas to brighten up your space ready for spring. Don’t put this off for another year because Future You will thank you for doing it now!
Get your garden furniture and accessories in the autumn sales
Did you know autumn is the best time of year to buy garden furniture and outdoor accessories? Homeware stores sell off these bulky items before the Christmas stock hits the shelves and you’ll often find a bargain. While all the other shoppers are thinking about cosy winter decor, the outdoor living items are massively reduced!
Look out for barbeques and benches, comfy garden sofas, sun loungers and outdoor tables where you can entertain the whole family. It’s also worth looking out for accessories like cushions, umbrellas and outdoor rugs too. Pots, planters, outdoor lighting and gardening tools can also be found at bargain prices.
OK, you won’t get much use out of these items for the next six months, but you’ll be pleased you bought them when spring comes around and they’re all back at full price!
Plant your spring bulbs now
Is there anything better than a caravan surrounded by beautiful, bright flowers!? Pretty little crocus in purple, yellow and white, tulips in every colour of the rainbow, yellow and orange daffodils and flamboyant hyacinths with a scent you can’t beat!
These gorgeous blooms are a real pick-me-up and you’ll be the envy of the caravan site with such a beautiful plot. Just imagine sitting out in the spring sunshine, enjoying a cuppa in the morning light surrounded by all these flowers.
Thankfully, it isn’t difficult to have a caravan surrounded by spring flowers. You don’t need a green thumb and they won’t require any maintenance, support or gardening knowledge to encourage them to grow.
All you need to do is pop your bulbs into the ground this autumn and wait for them to appear next spring. They’ll come back year after year and your flower displays usually get better and better each spring.
Tips for planting spring bulbs
Spring bulbs should be planted between September to October and it’s best to get them in the ground before the first frost, which is usually late October to early November. Plant them in a sunny spot at about 2-3 times their depth with the shoot facing upwards. It’s recommended to space the bulbs out by a few inches but I love the effect of having them blooming together so I usually plant them a bit closer!
In my opinion, you can’t have too many flowers so I plant as many bulbs as possible. If you feel the same then it’s best to buy your bulbs in bulk online. Otherwise, budget home stores like B&M or Home Bargains are a great place to pick up your bulbs. You’ll need a small trowel or a bulb transplanter, which makes it even quicker and easier to create the flower-filled plot of dreams.
Bulb lasagnes in pots
If you don’t have access to much ground or space to plant your bulbs then plant them in containers. Get the biggest posts you can, fill them with compost and create a ‘bulb lasagne’. This is where you plant a variety of bulbs at different depths within your pot with the tallest ones closest to the bottom.
The effect is a bold and dramatic display with tightly packed flowers. You can even create these pots at home in the autumn and move them to your caravan in the spring. You can pop them inside at the end of winter to encourage them to bloom sooner.
Give your caravan a lick of paint
Now the heat of summer has subsided, it’s the perfect time to give your caravan interior a refresh. It’s amazing what a lick of paint can do and, thanks to the smaller size of most caravans, it’s actually quite easy to do!
Most caravans have wallpaper so, rather than removing it all, it’s best to apply a primer designed for wallpaper and then use normal paint on top. This quick refresh can make a world of difference and brighten up your space ready for next spring.
If you close your caravan for the winter then now is a good time to do it as you’re packing everything away and then it’s ready for when you return.
Update your curtains, blinds and cushions
The quickest, easiest and most effective way to update your caravan interior is to change your curtains, blinds and sofa cushions. New curtains can dramatically change the look of your caravan and give it that quick refresh with minimal effort.
Once again, look out for fresh and airy prints that are more likely to be on sale as stores make space for the cosy winter options.
Plant summer blooms
OK, I’m skipping ahead a season from spring to summer but if you want to go the extra mile then it’s also worth planting some extra flowers to bloom all summer long. You can plant hardy annuals or perennials in the autumn, which won’t do a lot until next summer, but they’re well worth the wait. Pop your seeds in the ground, add some compost and keep the area free from weeds. Mother Nature will take care of the rest and your perennial flowers will return year on year.
Perennials are great for caravan owners because they can fend for themselves, even during hot weather. My favourite perennials include lupins, poppies, hollyhocks (which self seed and spread), rudbeckia and delphiniums.
You can also plant cutting flowers such as sweet peas in the autumn for beautifully scented blooms you can pick and display inside your caravan.
So what are you waiting for? It’s time to head to the homeware stores, grab your seeds, bulbs, paints and cushions and give your caravan some TLC ready for spring!
