Rooms For Rent blog

As soon as the weather begins to shift and winter’s chill starts to melt away, you can almost always find me completely immersed in a project outdoors. Whether I’m freshening up our porches, pulling garden tools out of storage, or tidying up new flower beds for the season ahead, spring always brings an extra pep to my step. After months spent cozy indoors, stepping outside again feels like opening the door to a whole new chapter. And before summer arrives in full bloom, I’ve learned there’s no better time to start getting our outdoor spaces ready for the months ahead.

If there’s one plant in our landscape that consistently stops people in their tracks, it’s our Limelight hydrangeas. Every time I share these beautiful blooms, my inbox and Instagram messages start filling up with questions—What kind are they? How do you care for them? Do they need full sun? When do you prune them?

After sharing these hydrangeas over the years, I thought it was time to gather all of your most frequently asked questions in one place. If you’ve been thinking about planting Limelight hydrangeas, or already have some growing in your yard, this post will answer everything you need to know.

Today I’m sharing a very special announcement with you!! A new series I am kicking off called: Plant a Garden. If you caught my post on our home project goals earlier this year, you may remember that expanding our raised bed garden has been something we’ve been working toward for a while now. What started as a simple idea quickly got pushed aside as other projects (like our back porch renovation) took priority, and life happens. Instead of simply planting and sharing bits and pieces along the way, I’ll be documenting the entire process of building out our new raised bed garden area — and bringing you along with me every step of the way.

Each year, as the ground begins to thaw and the trees begin to bud, I’m filled with anticipation as a new season begins. Signs of spring pop up all around our yard, and with it come new ideas and fresh inspiration, like something that’s been resting beneath the surface all winter is finally ready to come to life. I used to say fall was my favorite season. But more and more, I find myself waiting for spring. The longer days, the warmer air, and the sound of birds returning in the morning—it all feels like a deep breath after a long winter. And just like the world outside begins to wake up, I always feel inspired to breathe new life into our home as well.

Nothing feels better than shaking off the dust of winter by refreshing our spaces for spring and getting ready for the warmer months ahead. After a long season of boots, salt, and heavy layers, our entryways and mudrooms often take the brunt of it all. I spent some time cleaning out our mudroom area the other day—getting rid of all our heavier winter items, sweeping up all the sand and salt that gets tracked in, and putting away our winter gear. Even just a couple of hours made the space feel lighter, brighter, and ready for a new season.

A few years ago, I shared how much I enjoy decorating with faux stems around our home. While I’ll always love fresh flowers when they’re in season, faux stems have quietly become one of my favorite decorating tools, especially to help me bridge the gap when Spring hasn’t quite yet arrived. I’m often asked where my faux stems are from, and the truth is, many of them I’ve had for close to ten years now. It’s proof that when you invest in good quality faux stems, they can last season after season and year after year. While I still use many of those original stems today, I’ve also discovered some beautiful new additions recently. If you’re looking for realistic faux stems for decorating your home, these are my current favorites for 2026.