When the temperature drops and the nights draw in, it’s easy to feel disheartened by the change in season and tempting to let the winter blues creep in. But although it feels like the summer is a dim and distant memory, there’s plenty you can do to brighten your spirits and your home by giving your interior a year-round look of summer.
Keep it clean
It might be called a spring clean, but the approach of winter is the perfect opportunity for a thorough declutter. As the saying goes: “A clean home is a happy home” and even if cleaning isn’t top of your list of fun things to do, you can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction when you step back to admire a room that you’ve spent hours tidying.
If you have Karndean then cleaning your floor should be an easy task. Just sweep with a soft brush and mop with a pH neutral cleaner such as Karndean Clean to help keep your floor at its best. You may also want to take the opportunity to revitalise your floor with a deeper clean. For more information on this and general cleaning and floor maintenance check out our advice.
If you’re thinking of replacing your floor entirely, did you know that Karndean Designflooring is compatible with underfloor heating? You can find out more on this topic here.
Picture the scene
A lick of paint or new furniture and fittings are great ways of welcoming in a new season, but if you’re not in the mood for decorating or splashing out on replacement tables and chairs or blinds, there are lower-cost methods of bringing a fresh new look to your home. Think about rearranging your furniture; a simple change may be all you need to create a new and welcoming environment. Not practical? New cushions, rugs or pictures could make a huge difference to the way you feel in your home. On a budget? Try moving soft furnishings and accessories from one room to another. Rehanging a picture that was previously on a different wall could give your interior a whole new lease of life.
Consider colour
If you’re looking to lift the mood in your home, then adding colour is a quick and easy way to brighten your space. Introduce a single solid colour like burnt orange or fuchsia pink to a room and select a few key elements like light shades, cushions or vases to complement each other. Alternatively, bold patterns, geometric prints and bright floral designs can also help to evoke a feeling of summer. For a more subtle look, choose a nautical or seaside theme – a particularly effective style if you are located close to the sea.
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Bring the outdoors in
With your home taking on a warmer and tidier appearance, you’ll want it to smell fabulous too. Start each day by throwing open the doors and windows and letting in some fresh air. It may be cold outside but the circulating air will help prevent a stale atmosphere developing.
Bringing the outdoors in is good for the soul as well as your physical health. Surround yourself with plants and flowers – not only do they add colour and fragrance but they help reduce stress and improve mood and energy levels. Burning citrus or floral-scented candles is another way of enhancing your environment and restoring the feeling of summer.
Finally, with the reduced daylight hours, take a look at how your interior is being lit. Changing a lamp shade or window covering could make a huge difference to how bright your space is. Explore outside too – are there overgrown bushes or overhanging branches that are restricting the amount of natural light entering your home? A quick prune could be all that’s needed to lift the light levels available.
If you’ve found any of these suggestions useful, let us know. Do you have any top tips for recreating the look of summer in your home? Share your ideas with us on Facebook and Instagram.