If you've been following along for a while, you already know Alex Mills. Interior stylist, Newcastle local, mother of three, and the woman behind one of our favourite Instagram accounts, @thestylingstories. Last year we visited her gorgeous 1930s Art Deco home and talked about how she creates a home that feels beautiful without the fuss. [You can read that here.]
This time, we asked her about something a little more seasonal. How she resets her home for spring, what she actually changes, and why her new Everyday Sofa in Cocoa Fine Chenille is absolutely not just a winter choice.
Spring hits differently every year. What's the first thing you change when the season shifts?
I don't make any drastic changes. I'm a big believer that small shifts in texture and colour can completely change how a space feels. I'll usually swap out our olive green sheets and quilt cover from winter for something lighter and fresher in spring. At the moment that's a pretty muted yellow and lavender combo.
I'll also pack away the thick winter blanket we use for snuggling up on the sofa, and often I won't replace it. There's something really nice about embracing that spring-clean feeling and simplifying your space a little. You don't need to completely reinvent a room for it to feel different. A few thoughtful changes can make a big impact, especially in smaller spaces.
If you're doing a five-minute spring refresh and nothing more, what do you touch first?
Surfaces, definitely. Kitchen bench, coffee table, hallway console, bedsides. I'll clear everything off, give them a quick wipe down, and then be a bit ruthless about what goes back.
"Stuff" can so easily creep in and become part of your everyday life without you even noticing. I find that simplifying these little areas can make a surprisingly big difference to how your space feels. And you don't have to tackle the whole house at once. Choosing just one surface, drawer or cupboard makes it feel much more manageable.
What's your one non-negotiable swap every spring?
For me, it's bed linen and cushion covers. I've collected a nice little stack of cushion covers over the years, but I keep a set number of feather inserts in our home and just rotate the covers around the house. A little space-saving hack, if like me your home doesn't have a linen cupboard.
I love changing up the colour palette every now and then, but I don't follow a strict seasonal schedule. Whatever I'm drawn to at the time. I run on whims and vibes.
A season shift shouldn't mean going out and buying a new version of everything. Considered edits, with things you've probably already got.
Cocoa is a warmer, earthier tone than what you had before. What made you choose it for spring?
A couple of reasons. Firstly, I see chocolate brown as a new neutral. It's absolutely exploded in popularity, and I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon, even heading into spring and summer. Eva's new Cocoa is such a beautiful, rich shade, and I love that it works equally well with warm or cool colour palettes, so it's a really versatile choice.
Secondly, I have three children and two dogs. Need I say more? I don't have to stress about every little lived-in mark, and I appreciate that practicality in this season of life. And lastly, it looks really good.
Spring light changes everything. Has it changed anything about your home?
We were just saying the other day how much we love how the light is shifting coming into spring. In the mid to late afternoon, we get this beautiful warm sunlight that streams into our living room and creates beautiful dancing shadows on our Eva sofa and the wall. Golden hour hits different after winter.
We've had new linen sheer curtains installed too, which has been a game changer. It'll be nice to cut some of the bite out of that sunlight over summer.
Our home isn't particularly big, so we're kind of locked in with where things can go. But I've spent the four-plus years since we moved in fine-tuning our furniture choices and where everything sits, and I think we've finally got it to a point where everything feels really considered and right in its place.
Where does your Everyday Sofa sit in your spring setup?
It sits in our living room. We have a long, narrow living room with two sofas facing each other. The Eva Everyday Sofa is the star. I love its structure and shape, and the fact that it never needs fluffing to look neat and tidy.
Our other sofa is an older one, not Eva, with feather cushions, and I kind of hate that all it takes is someone sitting on it for it to look dishevelled. Our Everyday Sofa is low maintenance, timeless, and works within all seasons. And most importantly, it's really comfortable. That should always be the starting point with any sofa, right?
Shop Alex's Everyday Sofa
Everyday Sofa in Cocoa Fine Chenille.
Washable covers. Modular. Made for every season.
