Guest Blogger: 6 Brightening Tips For Your Home This Winter

The winter months are famous for bringing out the blah in the best of us. Spring may be made for cleaning, but winter is the time to kick some life into your home – and the best part is, you don’t have to hire anyone or have Martha Stewart-type talent to do it. Here are six things you can do right away to re-energize your space and take back your home from the drab, depressing days of winter:

Clean It Up

Wipe away the cobwebs and suck up the dust bunnies from the tops of shelves and behind furniture. Doing so brings a lighter, freshly cleaned feeling into your home. TLC Home suggests moving the furniture, cleaning out the fridge and scrubbing the baseboards to bring in a fresh, spring-like feeling to your home.

Brighten your winter home

Image via: Jason Dewey

Focus on Windows

The windows are the main source of light in most homes, so why cover them up with heavy drapes? Valances and window treatments made from lightweight, breezy fabrics are great ways to bring a room’s look together while permitting natural light in. Using bold color or prints on windows can also bring new life to a room without having to repaint or buy expensive new accessories.

Re-arrange Your Space

One of the best ways to recharge your living space is to re-arrange the furniture. Why not try out different configurations in your living and family rooms? Experiment with moving couches and loveseats around – even the simple act of putting lamps and bookcases in new spots can rejuvenate a room and cheer you up.

Purge the Cupboards

Empty your shelves of everything you don’t or won’t use, from expired food to servingware and glassware that you no longer (or never did) use. Toss any dry goods that haven’t been used in six months or more. Clutter doesn’t just make the cabinets difficult to navigate, but it weighs on your mind, too. Getting rid of the barely-used will leave open space and bring peace of mind.

Brighten Things Up

Dark-colored accents, especially in the gloomy winter months, can make a home feel even more cave-like. Swap out dark accents for lighter ones – try covering drab pillows with colorful fabrics and ditch  anything heavy and wool-y for a lighter variety. Visit thrift shops and consignment stores to find brightly colored vases and accent pillows that can add to a room’s feeling of lightness.

Winter bedroom spring ideas

Image via: Schippmann Design

Stay Gold

When looking for ideas to add warmth to your winter home, remember to choose colors and textures that reflect what natural light is available in winter. Gold accessories look rich and stunning while helping bounce light around the room. Look for items like rugs, accessories, pictures and picture frames, vases and fixtures that come in gold or have gold accents. The smallest of changes can have the biggest impact on your mood, and with a little luck, spring will come early this year.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.