After the dreary days of winter, the arrival of spring feels like a breath of fresh air, as snow melts and beautiful greenery takes its place. A change of scenery inside your home can be just as uplifting.

"Spring is a great time to think about changing up your space," said Alykhan Velji, principal and senior designer for Alykhan Velji Designs. "Out with the drab and dated and in with the new and fresh."

Here are five of Velji's top design trends for spring (all photos courtesy of Joel Klassen [klassenphotos.com]):

Bringing vintage or retro design into the home can be a fun way to add style and personality.

"Incorporating vintage or retro elements in design is very on trend right now," said Alykhan Velji of Alykhan Velji Designs. "The great thing about adding such pieces in your design is that they add character and make your home feel curated and less like a showhome."

The top home renovation apps for your next project

When searching for new property listings, we all know to turn to realtor.ca. But where do you go for support when starting a home improvement project? Before you roll up your sleeves or slip on your work boots, go high-tech with these top home improvement and renovation apps.

Given our climate, it's no surprise that Calgarians spend a lot of time indoors. Fortunately, the latest design trends offer some exciting ways spice up your home's interior. From colours to curves, let Alykhan Velji of Alykhan Velji Designs and LeAnne Bunnell of LeAnne Bunnell Interiors walk you through a range of options to keep you on the cutting edge.

HGTV star Todd Talbot shares advice from 20 years in real estate at the Calgary Home and Garden Show

At the age of 22, Vancouver actor Todd Talbot bought his first home, paying his mortgage with the help of a rent-paying friend.

It was a unique occurrence among his theatre colleagues.

"(As an actor) you don't make a ton of money and you are pretty transient," said Talbot, who, as a teenager, appeared on the Hillside TV series with fellow Vancouverite and current Hollywood heavyweight Ryan Reynolds.

However, it was this initial foray into real estate – $190,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo two blocks from Kitsilano Beach – that sparked Talbot's second career as an entrepreneur, leveraging one piece of property for another, and then another, and eventually leading to ownership of several real estate companies.

Trendy design pieces for any budget

Alykhan Velji talks top design trends for 2018

Whether planning a design overhaul or revitalizing a favourite space, award-winning designer Alykhan Velji has his finger on the pulse of what's up-and-coming in the design world. With that in mind, here are three of his predictions for Calgary's top design trends in 2018.

HGTV Canada's Tiffany Pratt brings energy and design expertise to the Calgary Fall Home Show

Designer, author, maker and HGTV Canada star Tiffany Pratt hits the main stage at the Calgary Fall Home Show this weekend, where she'll wow audiences with her down-to-earth design savvy, while imparting tips for creating charismatic and colourful design style.

"I'm really going to be talking about transformation," said Pratt. "Everyone is looking for change – they want to be inspired with colours or experience an update or have something new."

Pratt will be walking show attendees through the process of creating beautiful spaces using simple DIY design projects and pops of colour. She will also be sharing the story of the year-long journey of design transformation she experienced while renovating her home in Toronto's waterfront Beaches community.

Interior design experts set to hit the Home + Garden stage in March

Tiffany Pratt loves colour.

An interior designer, stylist and host of HGTV Canada's Home to Win and Buy It, Fix It, Sell It, she's also a self-proclaimed "rainbow hunter" and "rainbow thrower." Even her vibrantly hued hair, which takes inspiration from the rainbow, attests to her passion for palettes.

It's no surprise, then, that colour will take centre stage when Pratt makes her debut at this year's Calgary Home + Garden Show.

Local designers offer advice on how to create personal spaces

One could describe Calgary-based interior designer Amanda Hamilton as trend averse.

"Focusing on trends is a sure way to date your home," she said, pointing to dwellings from the 1980s that show their vintage via their yellow-oak interiors and brass details. "We don't follow trends. Trends are interesting for people who are into fast design."

Hamilton added current economic conditions can also further influence trends' relevance.