How to Lighten, Brighten & Cheer up A Room in the Winter

The Seacoast newspaper asked us to come up with an article on "How to Help Your House Escape the Winter Doldrums." For us, we'd already started prepping the store for spring on the 1st of January and when we went to the Atlanta Gift market we bought a number of little things to help pop a room.

In this economic market, small outputs can produce big change in a home... the little things truly add up. I know this sounds silly, but a sparkly clean home with clean windows and floors makes you really feel great.

Using reflective surfaces:
Mirrors to catch the sun and punch the light around a room. You can also remove pictures from a wall and replace them with several mirrors.
Mercury glass vases and votives with candles.
Sparkling glass items are light and clean feeling.
Books with white covers.
Silver and gold things lend a rich lightness to a room.



Roll up the oriental carpet and lay down a nice sisal or bamboo slat one. The lighter flooring will open up a room and give it a refreshing feel.

Citrus & spring green flowers and silk flowers freshen up a room and do not seem out of place. Big bouquets are excellent statement pieces and can dictate the mood of a room instantly as can small clusters of flowers on coffee table, bureaus, alongside stacks of books and other places... the fake silk flowers are perfect for this. Also, icy branches are fun and joyous when folded into other greens...like with the tulips below.

In the dining room or kitchen table a celebration of color is another way to add spice... with a great table cloth, placemats, bright dinner napkins and White china. Or, huge displays of white china can clean up a heavy wall.

The display of antique Imari is quite festive. Bring your color out!

Bring the 'hope' of nature in with bird nests and things made from natural materials. Or do the opposite and stock up on cozy throws, fires and candles.

Some more icy branches mixed in with greens.

Hanging "light' pictures or in this case, antique bee prints help brighten the wall and push light around.

Red is just happy... and if mixed with feathers... bold and fun.

Pillows are another way to really jazz up and add excitement to a room. Replace darker colored pillows with lighter, happier ones!

Lastly, give in to winter and light some Beeswax candles, a fire and roll up in cashmere throw and just enjoy the soothing ambiance.