How to Brighten Your Home During the Short, Winter Days
Here in Florida, we have the unique pleasure of sunlight and relative warmth during the winter months, but we are still at the mercy of shorter days and less opportunities for outdoor time. You can beat the urge to hibernate through the winter and keep yourself motivated and active all day, by keeping your home bright, warm and cheerful. Here are some easy tips to help you create the feeling of a beautiful spring day, even in the middle of February.
Switch Out Your Lightbulbs
SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a real medical condition, suffered by thousands of people, every year. It is very rare in Florida, but that does not mean we cannot adopt some of the techniques utilized in the northern states to combat it. The most common approach to a lack of sunlight is the use of light bulbs that imitate that light, like daylight full spectrum bulbs. These amazing light bulbs create both visible and invisible color wavelengths of light colors and trick the brain into believing it has been outdoors on a sunny day. Down here we do not necessarily need something that extreme, but to make your body feel the days are longer, switching from incandescent to ultra-warm white, LED bulbs, can make a huge difference in how you feel in your home. Try buying LED bulbs in variety packs and testing them out in your home until you find the quality of light that you are the most comfortable and motivated by.
Bring the Outdoors In
Even when it is not spring outside, you can replicate the feeling of plants in bloom, indoors. The pop of color that a vase of fresh flowers gives to a kitchen, and the sense of flourishing life (along with the cleaning of the air) that potted plants in your living area provide, can renew your energy levels and keep your indoor space feeling like an oasis of light and life. This can also solve the problem of your plants freezing on those rare, cold, Florida nights. Do not forget to replace your window coverings with light colored, sheer fabrics that can be pulled back to expose the entire window, ensuring enough light for the plants. For extra light, remove your screens for the winter. This allows more light to come through during the short, winter days when the breezes are most commonly pleasant, and the insects are few.
Declutter for 10 Minutes a Day
There is something about an excess of “stuff” that can make a room look small, cluttered, and dark. Open and brighten that room by dedicating 10 minutes a day to look around and get rid of all those unnecessary items you have collected and that are now filling shelves and tabletops. Leave the essentials and the much-loved items, then replace heavy, dark furniture with reflective items made from metals or glass. Choose furniture that allows air and light to flow through it, like tables with long thin legs, or items painted with light colors. Even though most people like the warmth of rugs during the winter, here in Florida, it is not that necessary, and the light that is reflected off a shining, hard wood floor or white tile surface will fill any space with freshness and light. If you must have the softness of rugs, avoid dark colors and throw down something bright and colorful. It is not suitable for every lifestyle, but a white rug can be both comforting and light-reflecting at the same time.
For more great decorating ideas, visit one of our showrooms, or check out our website at https://www.haynesbrosfurniture.com/.
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