The winter blues can settle in quickly when the skies outside turn gray and the sunshine is just a distant memory in our minds. Occasionally, those gray days yield to a very weakened sunshine and that means we can do some things inside our homes to take advantage of those rays of sunshine.
Just a few quick changes in a room can transform it into a wintertime oasis. Of course, we are all pinching our pennies these days and need to keep the budget in mind as we make the changes in our room.
I found it is a great idea to keep several pairs of draperies and sheer curtains on hand in order to change the look and feel of a room just by the change in drapery fabric and color. In the wintertime, it is nice to have a heavier drapery that can be closed up to help keep out any chilly winds that might penetrate the windows, but those heavy draperies can also be opened up on sunny days to allow the winter sunshine to flow through a light colored pair of sheer curtains. Even lace curtains are great for this because it allows the sunshine to paint beautiful patterns on the walls of the room and adds a lightness to the entire area.
If curtains and draperies are not in your budget these days, you could check out some very nice second-hand draperies and sheers at Goodwill, Salvation Army or any other thrift store in your area. Most draperies are only gently used and present a very good bargain when it comes to making temporary changes in your home. By keeping these decorating changes in mind, during the warmer seasons of the year, yard sales are also a great way to stock up on all those extra items you need to have on hand in the wintertime.
Another fresh idea for brightening a room and chasing away winter drabness is to purchase a fresh bouquet of real flowers occasionally. Just having a hint of springtime in the room does wonders for the soul. Of course, you can also purchase artificial flowers but those tend to be dust-catchers and can cause respiratory problems, especially in the winter when the air in most homes is already dry. Still, they could be a good idea if you tend to be allergic to the real thing.
If your home has tile, hardwood floors or laminate wood floors, room-size rugs can also be changed out periodically in order to brighten the room. Don’t forget to add a few throw pillows on sofas and chairs to further enhance and lend freshness to your room. You might not want to use light pastel colors in the wintertime, but just a few softer tones or even metallic tones added to the existing pillows can help provide a pleasant, comfortable feel to the room.
Making these changes in the room where the family spends the bulk of their time is usually enough to brighten the mood, providing that room receives an adequate amount of natural sunlight when it is available.
Taking steps to brighten and add some cheeriness to our living space is a sure way to chase away the winter blues.
Source: Personal Experience
