Bright Ideas for Beating ‘Winter Home Gloom’
January is typically the most dreaded month of the year due to financial restrictions, lingering Christmas clutter, the removal of festive decorations and the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which affects 3/100 people on average in the UK. However, many of us may also feel that our homes don’t seem as welcoming as they should, which can cause ‘winter home gloom,’ making us dread going home in January. But don’t worry – there are plenty of simple ways to transform your space into a bright and cosy sanctuary, and this starts with how your house looks.
#1 Upgrade your entrance
The exterior of your home is what you see first and will affect how you feel when you first come home.
It’s important to make sure it feels welcoming and relaxing, so making your doorway emulate this is key. If your front door is looking tired, giving it a clean and a fresh coat of paint can instantly make your home look cleaner and more pleasing to look at. Opting for a calming deep blue, sunny yellow or vibrant red can help contrast the grey and dreary winter weather and provide an instant mood boost.
A welcoming front door can be nicely complimented by a new doormat and a plant or two as well as some wall lights to light up your doorway in the dark mornings and evenings. Not only will this look beautiful, but it will also help you to feel at ease when you arrive home.
#2 Replace outdoor light fixtures
Broken or outdated lighting fixtures can make your home less visually pleasing and can be a problematic for many reasons. Old lights won’t be as energy efficient and could be costing you more than you care to spend, while broken lights can prove hazardous if not fixed.
January is the perfect time to hunt for some stylish upgrades that can improve the look of your home while saving you money, especially if they’re solar-powered. Plus, replacing your lights can help to match the vibe you want your home to give.
Look for fixtures that complement your home’s exterior style while ensuring they’re practical. If your home has an elegant look or feel, opting for more classic light styles can be more suitable while modern-looking homes will look more cohesive with modern-style lights.
#3 Light up paths and driveways
They lead you to your front door, so making sure your driveway and any pathways well-lit can make or break how you feel coming home. Repairing any minor cracks and uneven surfaces can improve the appearance of your home too, and adding path lights can make your home look clean and well-maintained while having practical purpose.
Equally, mounting security lights on the exterior of your home that shine on your driveway can offer peace of mind by providing visibility at night.
#4 Decorate with lighting
Winter darkness can seem to last forever, but lighting up your home can create a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. Consider wrapping string lights around trees, shrubs and railings for an aesthetic and pretty look to greet you when coming home.
Lighting inside your home will also make a difference, as improving the exterior of your home may be counterproductive if you dislike the look and feel of the inside.
Fairy lights can also be strung around seating and cosy areas like living rooms, bedrooms and nooks for a calm ambient glow to help you unwind.
#5 Deep clean the exterior
Patios, pathways and driveways can become dirty during the winter months as debris, mud and rain can accumulate to create a layer of grime. Pressure washing any hard surfaces like exterior walls, concrete and patios will make them appear cleaner. You should also inspect your home for any peeling paint or damage, as touching up these areas will help to make your home more aesthetically pleasing.
Getting ahead of these tasks can make cleaning up your home ahead of spring much easier.
Written by Brian Davenport, Co-Founder of The Solar Centre