Cozy Winter Rooms
Tips to liven up your living space
With the dreary winter months spent scurrying from driveway to duvet, Seasonal Affective Disorder is bound to set in. Take some therapeutic measures and follow these tips on how to beat the winter blahs by spicing up your space.
Colour
Colour is the most powerful element to consider in vitalizing your living space. Not only does colour reflect our likes and personalities, but it also has the power to enhance or affect our moods. Warm colours (reds, yellows, oranges) evoke joy and excitement, while cooler hues (blues and greens) promote rest and relaxation. During the winter months when you want to "let the sunshine in," consider accenting your space with bright, energizing and uplifting colours. The trick is not to overpower your space with colour, but rather to create visual dynamics by placing colourful elements throughout your space.
If you consider taking on a painting project, create an accent wall that evokes vitality without overpowering your space. Use one solid colour or investigate painting techniques that incorporate appealing colour or texture combinations. If painting is too much, shop for colourful fabrics that can be framed or stretched like art canvases. In this way you can play around with colour, texture and pattern combinations without making a formal commitment to your walls. You can also change the arrangements on a regular basis, eliminating the feeling of commitment to a design or colour scheme. This also applies to accent items like throw cushions; draperies; table, bath and bedroom linens; and even tableware, which can be mixed and matched for variety. Use contrasting colours for dynamics, or complementary colours to create a more soothing, harmonious effect. Never be afraid to use colour!
It’s Alive!
There’s nothing that speaks vitality in your home like the presence of living things. Consider greening up your space with plants or—if you’re feeling ambitious—an aquarium. If you find you don’t have a green thumb or haven’t the patience or budget for an aquarium, consider bringing fresh, colourful flower arrangements into your home on a regular rotation. The colours and fragrances will have you hearkening to spring and summer, ultimately lightening your spirits.
Personality
Blank walls, neutral colour schemes and an overall lack of identity in a space do nothing but nurture the winter blahs. Make your home speak "you" by injecting a little of your personality into it. Display collections of your favourite items or showcase your own hobbies/creations/accomplishments. Liven up a dull corner or hallway by creating a collage of family photos arranged either chronologically or thematically. Consider colourful groupings in fanciful frames or dramatic black and white shots in more minimal frames. If you’re a crafter, create colourful, textural or "just plain fun" accent pieces for your home. Embroider some funky tea towels, quilt an exciting pillow cover, knit a new throw or have some of your favourite needlework projects framed. Consult crafting resources and speak with fellow crafters. You’ll quickly realize there are limitless possibilities when it comes to energizing your space and putting your own personal stamp on it with fresh, new ideas and projects!
– Kathryn Bailey, HGTV.ca