A good friend on the west coast humbly displayed a photo
recently of his peach tree in almost full bloom. I found myself proclaiming,
“Awesome” out loud, followed quickly by a mumbled, lower toned, “awesome” as I
remembered the prognostication of a certain rodent that will remain nameless.
Yes, groundhogs are rodents, no surprise!
So, while everyone in the northeast patiently awaits an
invitation to view said peach tree up close and personal, what can we do to
chase away the winter blues?
I thought it might be fun to approach the question as it
pertains to interior design.
As you probably know, good design has a way filtering in to
your mind….color, scent, sound, light, and physical space all play a part in
your daily life. So, it stands to reason that if you can make some adjustments
based on say, seasonal changes, you could vastly improve your outlook during
that season.
So let’s start with some obvious changes….
Let there be LIGHT!
v
Pull back the curtains and throw up the shades.
While insulated drapes are a great idea to keep in the heat, anytime you offer
up more light into a space, you will improve your outlook. If you have a chance
to move your workspace closer to a window and you have a view of nature, you
can get a double dose of happy (more about that later!).
v
While I am a big proponent of the move to LED,
seasonally I still like the idea of replacing some of my bulbs with
full-spectrum lights. These bulbs carry all wavelengths that are useful to both
plants and animals and most closely resemble sunlight. Try Verilux or GE Reveal
for a boost of sunlight indoors. For those suffering from Seasonal Affective
Disorder, Verilux also makes some great personal devices to help reduce the effects
of winter’s light, or lack thereof.
Color me happy!
v
Orange is invigorating and refreshing. Yellow is energetic and sparks conversation
(although not a great choice for studying. Leave that to your blues and
greens). Green is the most prominent color in nature and in a world temporarily
covered in the absence of color, it is a natural choice to mimic the great
outdoors. And don’t forget your browns. A great grounding neutral that also
mimics nature and brings about a feeling of security.
v
If painting a room is not in the offing, you can
always try just a focal wall. Sometimes this is a good practice run for the
more timid of color. Even painting large inexpensive canvases allow a temporary
boost of color when its needed most and work well if you are renting and don’t
have control over the color of your walls.
Here is a photo of a room we did
up in Maine. While this is a seaside cottage, fully half the year is blanketed
in white fluffy stuff. Dining in this room provides you with more than your
daily requirement for vitamin c!
v
Don’t downplay the importance of accessories in
brightening up a space. Splashes of color and beach
inspired visuals are sure ways to keep the blues at bay. Even better are
personal artifacts that remind you of warmer days ahead.
Here are some ideas from a presentation board I am
presenting for a doctor’s reception room. We want to keep the space light,
colorful, and warm all year long. Everything can be drawn from nature, so even
though there is no natural light in the space, our choice of blues, oranges,
and creams will help reinforce the comfort and pleasure of the seaside.
Get out!
“It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a
claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that
emanation from old tress, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary
spirit.” ~ Robert Lewis Stevenson.
I know I promised to make this about interior design, but since so much of my design work is about
bringing the outdoors in, I thought we should spend a moment talking about how
important it really is to be out in it. Really important.
Nothing we can duplicate will have the same effect on the
mind and body as being outside, even if it is cold. While the colors of nature
are reduced in the winter months, those that do exist are sharper and more
prominent. Take note of the cobalt hue of the sky, the ebony and chocolate of
the tree trunks and branches, and the mature greens of the pines that stand as watchful
guard over the tender sleeping flora down below.
According to Your
Brain on Nature, in 1982 the Forest Agency of the Japanese government launched
an ambitious program to reintroduce a stressed and overloaded Japanese work force to the great outdoors. Almost 64% of Japan is blanketed with forests, so it seemed to make
sense that getting reacquainted with the landscape would be a good idea, being
that it was quite literally all around them.
Shinrin-yoku, or Forest Bathing, in these cedar forests has
had marked and lasting health benefits. Just 40 minutes a week walking in the
woods reduced blood pressure, relaxed the cerebral cortex and allowed for more
productive work and, more importantly, play.
All right, so after you have done your 40 minutes of Forest
Bathing each week, how about if we bring some of that mental and physical
utopia indoors.
v
Many indoors plants can provide real health
benefits as well as being esthetically pleasing. Aloe Vera absorbs toxins like
formaldehyde as well as spider plants that also absorb VOC’s from paint, CO2,
and even xylene, which is a solvent used in the printing industry. Gerber daisy’s
are a winner on their looks alone, but add that they help remove toxins like
trichloroethylene which is found in those dry cleaning bags and you may want to
finish reading this after you have run out and bought a dozen.
v
Take it a step further and add a living wall.
They can be as simple or complex as you have the care to give and the rewards
are immeasurable.
v
Wood, wood, and more wood. There are so many
studies out there now that are touting the virtues of natural wood in the
indoor environment. Natural wood lowers blood pressure, creates a connection to
nature and even relaxes the prefrontal cortex, allowing your body to take a much-needed
mental break. Have you ever walked into a house that has wood beams or wood
ceiling (ok, not the faux paneling faux pas) or seen a photo in Houzz and
thought, “Ahhhhh”? That’s your brain on wood! Try
a wood table or island to sit at for meals or as your desk. It is a great way to connect to the outdoors
and also add the benefit of texture to your sensory experience.
Sound Off
Winter can come with the welcome peace of quiet, but even
the greatest lover of silence can use a boost of sound to elevate their
mood.
v
According to Mindful Design Consulting sounds of
nature, such as birds, help create a feeling of reassurance. And you know that
if you live in a snowy region, any bird that is willing to brave the cold and
serenade you, for even a moment, can be as uplifting as seeing green below the
white.
v
There are great sound machines and apps that
come encouragingly close to the real thing. Ocean waves have the same rhythm as
a sleeping human body’s breathing. Apps like Sleep Pillow allow the layering
of sounds so you can have your beach and
spa music all in one.
v
For a real splurge, I have been suggesting
wireless sound systems similar to Sonos for amazing room-to-room sound
experience. They are simple to set up, use, and expand and it can allow for an
endless array of sounds, podcasts, and music (perhaps a little Vivaldi’s Summer?).
Depending on where you live in the country, March 20th might
actually be cause for celebration. A cherry blossom tree in bloom, impatiens
still requesting a bit of shelter from an abiding tree, or a peach tree past
it’s blooming prime and beginning to offer up a spherical sweetness bound to
please come early summer. For the northeast it’s the MSRP of the first day of
spring. It’s a starting point, a bargain, a negotiating tool.
Here’s hoping that while we patiently wait, as New
Englanders do, you now have a few new tools to help while away the winter hours.
And my back up plan is a recipe for a killer peach mojito.
Naturally yours,
Renee
