How to decorate your home to ward off the seasonal blues

Mary Cornetta, Tribune Content Agency on Dec 10, 2024

The winter season brings plenty of holiday cheer, but there’s no denying the gloomy months after daylight saving time can be difficult. The downside of having less sunlight during the winter months is that many people experience the “winter blues.” These blues can develop into seasonal affective disorder, a condition that’s believed to be caused, in part, by the season’s shorter days. And while SAD requires an official diagnosis, there are several small things you can do to improve your mood, starting in your own home.

For tips on how to decorate to brighten spirits, we chatted with designer Jason Saft, founder of Staged to Sell Home.

Winter is the best time to redecorate

Saft says the dreary winter months are actually the best time to redecorate your space. First, he suggests embracing the fact that wintertime — which coincides with the new year—is an excellent opportunity for a fresh start. It’s also a time when people are usually indoors more often than any other season, which makes it an ideal time to embark on a home design project.

As you’re redecorating, Saft suggests asking yourself, what can function better in my home? He gives the example of swapping out the duvet on your bed for one that can help you sleep better by keeping you warmer during the chilly months.

Start with a vision for your home

Before you begin any home refresh project, narrow down the exact vision you have for your space. Defining your reasons for wanting to put time and effort into decorating this winter is a good place to start. Saft suggests writing down your goals: “Let’s say you dream of hosting a dinner party but the dining room was never completed," he says. "Or, you want to hang a gallery wall but you need to clear some wall space first.”

Don’t forget to declutter

Clutter — or lack thereof — can have a profound effect on our mood. And, while it’s not considered a part of interior design per se, decluttering sets the stage for how your home looks and feels. “Once you pare down your things, you now have room to decorate,” Saft says.

If it feels like too big of a task to tackle at once, he suggests starting in the smallest space, because it will make a big difference in a short amount of time. This can look like replacing the shower liner in your bathroom or tossing expired spices from your pantry.

Decorating tips to combat the winter blues

Once you’ve envisioned the goal for your space and decluttered it, it’s time to infuse joy into it via your home's design. Saft shares a few of his favorite decorating ideas to inspire a cozy home refresh.

—Swap out fabrics: Swap out the fabrics around your home similarly to how you would with your winter wardrobe. Using heavier, warm textures, experiment with new throw pillow covers, bed sheets, and blankets. According to Saft, this is a cost-effective, yet impactful, way to upgrade your space.

—Use happy colors: While you may gravitate towards wearing darker colors during the winter, Saft says you don’t necessarily need to dim down your space. “Everyone likes different color palettes so you should go with what makes you happy. If warm plaid patterns don’t appeal to you, don’t incorporate them,” he states. If anything, light and bright colors might cheer you up and have you thinking about spring being just around the corner.

—Add extra lighting: Saft suggests adding additional light sources to your home to combat the early sunsets and dreary weather conditions of the season. One way to inexpensively illuminate a room is to switch out your cool LED lightbulbs for a warm 60-watt version if you don’t already have them.

Alternatively, you can try a new light fixture altogether. Saft explains that dome-shaped lamps push light up so opt for a different style, such as pendants or globes, that will shine light downward instead.

—Maximize your light sources: Since the lack of light is one of the reasons for feeling blue in the winter, you want to do all you can to increase it in your home. Once you've added additional bulbs, lamps, and other lighting, consider adding other elements that can brighten your space.

One of the more labor-intensive ways to lighten a room up is by painting it. Even if you love the color that it currently is, a fresh coat will look clean and vibrant. Use a glossy paint to reflect light around the room, especially when using a darker shade of paint. Saft also suggests adding mirrors to brighten up a space. “Always place them near a window so they can reflect more natural light,” he says.

(Better Homes and Gardens is a magazine and website devoted to ideas and improvement projects for your home and garden, plus recipes and entertaining ideas. Online at www.bhg.com.)