Interior Design Tips to Improve Mood During Winter Blues

WHEN we describe the long, cold winter the color blue is often used to highlight our feelings of dark days.

And this winter has been especially hard on everyone with our usual entertainments out of bounds and even visiting family restricted.

So, what better way to banish the winter blues than look for some other colors to brighten our homes - and our moods – as we it patiently for spring to arrive

It is easy and inexpensive to bring a whole new feel to your home with just a few changes in décor – and the blues will soon be gone, quite literally.

First is the color itself – we use blue to describe the winter and our low feelings because it is a cold color. That is easy to fix – bring in some brighter hues to introduce warmth into your coldest rooms. A riotous yellow, or orange – even a vibrant green or pink – can soon have a room looking refreshed.

And we are not talking about a full repainting either - these bold colors work exceptionally well as an accent or contrast to a neutral background. Indeed, less can be more in its effect – though do not go overboard by introducing to0 many colors or the overall impact is dulled.

Add some pieces to literally reflect the new positive mood – metallic or mirrored surfaces bounce light around a room rather than it being absorbed by dark colors, which works wonders for our mental welfare. Consider a new mirror, or chrome lamps, or anything with a metallic finish.

Ditto for your soft furnishings – indeed, these can be a great and temporary way to introduce bold and bright colors without ever having to get a paintbrush or roller out. Some new cushions, a throw or tow, or even a new rug, and your whole room are transformed without ever having to get messy. All it takes is a quick trip to the store and it is done. We offer some great upholstery services to make sure your furniture is as fun as you want it to be!

Art on the walls is another quick and easy fix to bring a riot of color into a cold or plain room – prints of famous paintings of all types are easy to come by, or even get your children to get creative with the paints and buy a few cheap frames – a gallery is born.

While we are talking about brightening up a room, we can do so quite literally – invest in some new light fixtures, or some lamps, and up the wattage of your bulbs. Our bodies need light so dump the 60-watt bulbs and get some 100 – or rather, the LED equivalent so we do our part for the environment at the same time.

And modern bulbs also give you the chance to experiment with color – it is easy to get the latest LED bulbs complete with a remote control to change their color on demand, giving you huge flexibility as the mood takes you to change the ambiance of the room instantly.

Finally, do not forget nature – we are looking forward to spring when green shoots sprout before our eyes. So, accelerate the process and bring in some new house plants or cut flowers – and enjoy.

And don’t forget the curtains, let some natural light in with some beautiful custom-made curtains, drapes, and blinds from Carmen’s. Escape from winter for a little while with us!