We take a look at some of the best ways to brighten up your home before spring comes (March 20th) and does the rest.
1 – Make a terrarium
A cursory visit to Pinterest will show you that terrariums are all the rage at the moment. These delightful little jar gardens can bring you some long-lasting flora even in these dark days. The juicy little green plants inside provide quite the contrast with the spindly, dead plants in the outside world at this time of year.
Having a terrarium in any room of your house can certainly brighten the place up, but making one from scratch can also brighten your mood. This fun and helpful guide from Mahahome shows you exactly what you need to make your own terrarium, and gives you a step by step walk through the creation process. Follow these steps and you’ll be well on your way to fighting off those winter blues.
2 – Let there be light
If you want to literally brighten up your home, letting in more light is the best way. There are many simple ways to do this, such as: moving everything out of the way of windows to make sure nothing blocks the sunlight, and getting rid of blinds which don’t let enough sunlight in (even when they are open). Replacing blinds with thin, pale curtains is the only way to ensure you let enough sunlight into your house, and painting the walls white or a very pale shade of another colour can help the light bounce around the room, creating a more vivid, dazzling space.
Opening your house up to more sunbeams doesn’t just make it look better; it helps you stay healthier and in a better mood. A lot of research has confirmed that natural light is great for your health, it’s even been suggested that sunlight helps the brain create a natural antidepressant. Having sunlight in your home has many benefits, including boosting your general well being, so letting in more sunlight is a fantastic idea, especially in the winter.
3 – Keep it clean
Too much clutter can make a home darker and less comfortable in the winter. Store your stuff elsewhere, or clear them out completely for some peace of mind. Clutter experts Clearance Solutions say clearing your house can actually clear your mind due to the strong links between mess and stress.
If you don’t do it already, organising your home with the Konmari method is a great way to make sure your house stays, bright, clean and spacious, making day to day life a more pleasurable experience. Marie Kondo, the method’s originator, encourages homeowners to be very strict in deciding which items to keep and which to throw away. The aim is to make sure everything in the home is completely essential, meaning every room in the house seems bigger, more spacious and more comfortable.
