Got the winter blues? Try redecorating

There is more to cozying up to your space than turning up the thermostat, and when the winter blues hit, it’s going to take a lot more than that to turn your mood around during this particularly isolated season. Reimagining your room might just give your brain the illusion of a much-needed change of scenery.

That being said, going out to browse for home decor is tough at the moment with COVID-19 restrictions, so below are simple additions you can make to your room that should not be too hard to find online.

1. Warm lights

With fewer hours of sun and even fewer trips outside, the lighting inside your home becomes even more pertinent to regulating the mood inside. If you have cool white lights in your room, it won’t hurt to swap those out with a warm white or natural white. Better yet, bringing in a smart floor lamp (or a DIY  jar with fairy lights inside) doubles the ambience factor.

You’re not limited to lighting, however. Even small pieces of furniture in a warm or neutral-tone wood (think Muji’s home accessories) can tie the room together. Plus, something like a wooden wastebasket is definitely more charming and eco-friendly than any plastic occupying the space.

2. Mini plants

It is hard to go wrong by adding something living or organic to one’s home. A small plant could freshen up your room and offset the bleakness of dead trees everywhere you look outside. If you have never cared for a house plant before, it may be best to stick to ones that do not require much attention or sunlight, such as a snake plant or bamboo.

Medium or large-sized plants can fit into the picture depending on the size of your room, but let’s face it, a tiny version is absolutely adorable! And easier to maintain, of course.

3. Pillows, pillows and more pillows

Think you only need as many pillows as you’ve got heads? Think again. There is nothing that says comfort and luxury like layering your bed with different sized pillows, a puffy duvet and a throw blanket.

A bed with only 1-2 pillows and a thin blanket may suffice but can appear limp and definitely not as cozy as it can be. Choose a colour palette that works with the rest of the room and build your bedding around that.

Picking good quality and insulating material matters just as much as the colour, so consider fleece, flannel or the like to keep you warm.

4. Scented candles

It wouldn’t be a home decor article without a single mention of scented candles. If you are sensitive to fragrances, regular decorative candles will also do the trick to entertain your senses. Make sure to choose a brand that produces clean, non-toxic candles as some may contain ingredients that are not great for your respiratory system (paraffin wax, most commonly).

As always, don’t leave lit candles unattended or near flammable objects. Keep your fire safety knowledge sharp, and enjoy your new aesthetic!

5. Rugs

Area rugs can be expensive, but this list would be incomplete without them. When appropriately selected and placed, a rug can complete the look and feel of any room. Just imagine sinking your feet into a plush new rug when you get up in the morning, instead of hitting the cold, dreadful floor.

If it wasn’t clear, the ideas in this article focus on the pleasant sensory input that a mindfully put together space can provide. The information your body takes in through its senses, even those unbeknownst to you, can play a major role in either eliminating or adding environmental stresses to your daily life.

These are often insignificant details that may never occur to people, but once reformed, can make a key difference in the atmosphere and wellbeing in one’s living space. And after the year everyone has had in 2020, do we not owe it to ourselves to invest in a faux fur rug to make stepping out of bed and into the day as delightful as possible?

Most of the items mentioned in this article and more can be found at https://www.wayfair.ca/ (not an affiliate link).