With today being Blue Monday, interior experts have revealed 4 simple ways to boost your mood this winter.
From maximising your window view while working from home to brightening up your room with artificial light sources, these simple tips could help make a huge difference…
1. Maximise your window view
Getting as much daylight as possible is incredibly important… Even if you might not be able to get outside for the majority of the day, utilising your window view is a great way to ensure you see the light of day.
Adam Pawson, Marketing Director at Safestyle says: “If you’re working from home or spending time indoors during the day, try to make sure that you position your desk in a way that lends itself to a window view. Not only will this ensure that you have enough natural daylight, it’ll encourage you to want to step outside.
“If you don’t have a garden to look out onto, incorporate some indoor blooming plants, such as Cyclamen or Hibiscus or hang a windchime from the top of your window frame which will gently sound when your window is slightly ajar.”
2. Invite the light in
Another way to help maximise the hours of daylight you get in your home is to think about the curtains and blinds you have. Helen O’Connor, Product Manager at 247 Blinds and 247 Curtains says: “We always want to invite plenty of light into our homes, but this becomes even more important in these darker autumn and winter months when daylight hours are shorter. During the day, ensure maximum light enters your space by fully opening your curtains.
As for blinds, this depends on which type you have. For roman blinds and roller blinds, you’ll want to pull these high up the window but allow for some to remain on show to inject some pattern and colours into the space. As for venetians and shutters, they naturally allow light to flow through your home and keep the space bright and airy – just be sure to utilise the slat functions to make the most of the natural daylight.”
3. Brighten up your room
For many of us, the winter months mean waking up whilst it’s still dark outside. If this is the case, it’s important to think carefully about where and how you’re using artificial light sources in your bedroom.
Marlena Kaminska, designer at Value Lights, advises: “We all know that being exposed to light first thing in the morning is key to our overall wellbeing, but this can be hard during the winter months when the sun rises later.
“Whilst brighter lighting in the morning is recommended, it’s important to think about the colour of the lighting as this can make a real difference to our mood and energy. Avoid cool white light as this is harsher and less easy for our eyes to adjust to. Instead, during the winter, switch these bulbs out for a warm white option. The yellow undertones of these bulbs are not only easier on the eyes but also signal calmth and warmth, helping to kickstart your day off right!”
“Make sure you also focus on spreading light throughout your bedroom through thoughtful placement of light sources. A tall floor lamp is a great choice to banish the gloom of dark corners and keep things feeling open and fresh. To maximise brightness, opt for an uplighter style to illuminate the entire ceiling and choose unpatterned lampshades to better diffuse light.”
4. Add routine into your morning
One way to beat the winter blues is by adding small rituals into your morning routine. Lucy Ackroyd, Head of Design at Christy, says: “Making your bed is the first step to creating a more clutter-free space, and as the saying goes, a tidier home leads to a tidier mind. Once your bedding is perfectly smoothed out and styled with throws and cushions, you also feel more inclined to start getting ready and make the most out of your day.
“Being disheartened by the gloomier weather can leave you feeling unmotivated and uninspired. The ritual of making your bed, including dressing it with soft furnishings, every morning can help you formulate a routine to combat this.”
“It’s surprising how much satisfaction and pride you can feel by carrying out the first step of your routine; it can be the catalyst that encourages you to complete further tasks throughout the rest of your day.”
