If you decorate for the holidays, then you’ll know that from about September through December the house is constantly rotating through various holiday decor, from Fall, to Halloween, to Thanksgiving, and on to Christmas.  So by the time Christmas is over I’m ready for the holiday decorations to come down.  Yet, after they are all put away, the house seems…so empty…so quiet…so plain.  By the end of January, I find myself in a full-on winter funk and feel the urge to spruce things up a bit with some simple changes.

One caveat to this post: Retailers currently have a full selection of Spring decor in stock so I’m often tempted to snatch up a few fun items to add to my home’s decor to help battle the winter blues…but I resist unless I have a plan in mind.  Without a plan, it’s easy to get carried away  and buy things that meet your needs at the moment, but not necessarily your needs long-term.  So before doing anything, I think it’s important to have a plan in mind.  You can read my post on Creating a Design Plan {here}.

 

Once you have an idea as to what you want to accomplish, there are a couple of fast fixes that instantly change the look of a room without breaking the bank.

 

Fast Fixes for Winter Funk

 

1.  Redesign

This is what I posted about on Monday {post here} and I am a big believer in reusing what you already own!  This is the fastest way to give your home a makeover without spending a dime!

 

 

2.  Accent Pillows

It’s amazing what a difference accent pillows can make, so if you’re looking for a little change, decorative pillows are a fast and easy fix.  As we move into spring, consider lightening the color palette and/or the texture of a pillow.  Personally, I’m a fan of down pillows with removable covers, but they are more expensive so you have to take your budget into account.  But I like removable covers because they are easier to switch out and then you only have to store the cover, not an entire pillow.

Of course, if you can sew, making your own pillows is a great option, even if it’s just to add some embellishments to your existing pillows!  But if, like me, you can’t sew a stitch, there are some great no-sew tutorials available, like this one from Virginia at LiveLoveDIY.

 

3.  Plants and Flowers

Live plants always seem to instantly lift my spirits and freshen up a room!  If you don’t have a green thumb, cut flowers are equally beautiful and add color and softness.

 

4.  Photos

It’s easy to put a photo in a frame and then leave it there….forever.  But just as with other decor in your home, photos can be changed out as well.  To brighten a room, consider adding photos that include an element of nature in them.  Or, if you have a favorite photo that you want to display year-round, consider making a second print in which the colors are more saturated, so that the blues are bluer, the greens greener, etc.  The brighter colors instantly add a bit of pop to the room.

 

5.  Area Rugs

While area rugs can be expensive depending on the size and material, they are a very easy way to change the look of a room.  They can even be used on top of wall-to-wall carpeting to create a layered look and anchor a section of the room.

 

6.  Accessories

Thanks to stores like HomeGoods, you can get beautiful accessories at a reasonable price, and sometimes just a small change is all that is needed.  A vase, a frame, a clock or even a lampshade can greatly affect the mood of a room.  You can even DIY your current accessories, changing their look with a bit of paint, ribbon or other embellishments.

 

I’m currently in a funk over my living room.  Not only did it have the most decor during the holidays and so now seems the most empty, but also the furniture doesn’t really reflect my style.  We’re even still using my husband’s old coffee table from college!  I’m so tempted to get some new pillows for the room to change the look a bit, but I don’t yet have an overall vision for the space.  I’m working on a plan now and with any luck, I’ll be able to share it with you soon!

 

 

What do you do when you’re in a winter funk?

 

 

 

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