Many people, including myself, suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) which can put you into a real funk once the days start getting shorter. Lack of natural light combined with shorter days and cold temperatures are a challenge for those who suffer from SAD and even for those who don't.
The best way to alleviate the depressive offshoots of the winter blues is to focus on what makes you feel good. Cheery colours, cosy comforts, good friends, music and good food are all things that can help you make it through yet another winter. By making a few changes to your décor you can enhance any or all of these experiences so that your home will be a haven of comfort and pleasure which can help make winter a little more bearable.
Even those who enjoy winter can benefit from these changes to their décor. As they say, a change is as good as a rest, after all
Cosy, warm rooms or areas in the home are a great place to battle winter chills. Soft, textures, sumptuous finishes and plush surfaces will be a comfort after a day out in the cold. Whether you choose to create this oasis in your bedroom, on the living room sofa or a favourite reading chair, be sure to fill the area with lots of soft pillows, cosy throws and decadent plush surfaces from head to toe. A fireplace is warm and inviting and might be just the spot to unwind and cuddle up in after a chilly winter day.
There's nothing better than a roaring fire in the winter. Whether wood burning, gas or electric, a fireplace warms up a room literally and figuratively. The new technology available in electric fireplaces allows for most any home to be able to have a fireplace in any room. They are beautiful and much more energy efficient than their predecessors. So, if you think you can't have a fireplace...think again. Check out your options in stores or on the Internet just to get an idea of what's out there. If not, an arrangement of large, chunky candles placed on a non-flammable tray can mimic a roaring fire. Just be sure to be safe with any open flame.
If you find that your rooms feel dim, especially in the darker winter months, you might want to cheer them up with colour. Splashes of vibrant colour, like yellow, can help keep your mood light and your outlook cheerful. You can add colour in a non-permanent way via area rugs, accessories, linens and window treatments. If your room needs freshening, however, new wall colour might be necessary. Again, choose a colour that lightens your mood. The colour purple encourages creativity and might be good in a den or child's room; yellow will instantly cheer up a room and therefore would be great in the kitchen; red stimulates and energizes which might work in the living room or den; blue and green are calming and would be great in a bedroom or home office. Use colours to their full potential by taking into account the affects they have on mood as well as how they look.
Entertaining guests helps keep spirits up so create an environment that is beneficial to the style of entertaining you prefer to do. You may love having dinner parties so stock your kitchen with great utensils and cookware and make your dining room dramatic and elegant. Perhaps you like to have friends over for card games, to watch sports or just to visit with. Ensure that each activity coincides with a comfortable setting and proper seating for the purpose intended.
The right song can change your entire outlook so be sure to add music to your day. Whether you play an instrument or can only play the radio, music will lift your mood and keep your outlook positive. The right background music will also enhance your dining experience and other group functions.
There's nothing like a long, hot bath to chase away the winter chills. Create a spa-like setting in the bathroom by treating yourself to at least one set of luxurious, high end towels. Decorative soaps in attractive containers make great ready-to-use accessories. Thick and thirsty bath mats will keep your feet toasty and will provide a sense of luxury. These are all small items that, even at high end prices, are affordable, so treat yourself.
On a final note, photographs or paintings of summer settings can help you while away the dark winter months. Keep them in plain view to remind yourself that summer is coming. Green houseplants (even fake ones) can make you feel summery inside. The lack of seeing green grass can put a damper on your mood but having some houseplants around to look at and tend to can help fill the void.
Your home should be an oasis at any time so treat yourself to a few non-necessary items that will make you and your family feel spoiled and special. Summer is a few short months away.
Connieoliver@shaw.ca
