Are you feeling a little blue now that all of the holiday decorations are put away for another year? You are not alone.
Lacking all the sparkle of the holiday ornaments and lights, your home can feel boring, drab and empty.
Home décor is often challenging this time of year since our natural light is typically dark and gray. Many people find the dark and gray depressing.
Easy, inexpensive ways to bring life into your home are exactly what the doctor ordered.
Here are just a few suggestions that will liven up your home during the winter months and beyond.
Reusing holiday items
Certain holiday items such as beaded garland and other decorative ornamental pieces can be kept out if they work with your existing color palette.
An easy way to bring a warm glow to any room is gold or silver candles and candle sticks. Freshen up your existing candles by adding a new scent or color, and arrange them in odd-number groupings.
Place them on your mantel, or use them as the centerpiece for your dining room or kitchen table.
Same items, new arrangement
With the empty spaces left by the removed holiday items, it can be the perfect time to rearrange furniture.
Move table lamps, re-arrange pictures or photographs or add some new accessories to your room.
Liven up your living or family room with the addition of some new throw pillows.
Decorate with books that have colorful pictures on the front cover. You will be amazed at what fun you can have decorating with book covers.
Flowers
Fresh flowers are an inexpensive way to brighten up the cloudiest day. Primroses are starting to appear at local markets, and they definitely say spring! I love to make arrangements using miniature carnations or alstroemeria since they stay fresh for a long time.
If your budget allows, silk flower arrangements are great pick-me-ups. Using flower colors that are multi-seasonal will allow you to use them beyond the winter months.
Silk arrangements are an investment that will give you year-round pleasure, and they can be refreshed occasionally with new flowers.
All of these suggestions can add warmth and provide some variety that will help you overcome the winter blues.
Hang in there, and remember spring is just around the corner!
Kathy Banak is owner of Authentic Home, a home décor and design store at 2809 N.E. 55th St. She can be reached at mptimes@nwlink.com.
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