10 ways to give your home a mood-boosting makeover

With some dark months still ahead, many of us are looking for ways to boost our moods to beat the winter blues. These 10 easy tweaks to your home could be the answer...

1. Declutter to destress

Being surrounded by clutter can make it more difficult to relax – so make use of these darker evenings to have a clear out. Reducing the amount of junk in your home will make it easier for you to keep your house tidy plus you may be able to make some cash, and feel good about helping reduce global waste, if you can sell a few things you don’t need anymore on Vinted or the like. Donate the rest to your local charity shop. Or, if like us, you want to avoid simply putting junk into the back of the car and driving it around for weeks on end with the intention of going to the charity shop but never quite making it, you could try a company called Any Junk who can help you with the removal of any bulky household items.

It’s particularly important to keep your bedroom clutter-free. One way to do this is with easy to reach under bed-storage. And how about wall mounted hooks or a coat rack to pop in the corner and keep clothes and bags off the floor.

2. Bring in the sunshine

In the gloomy months, bring in a ray of sunshine into your home with a pop of yellow – the colour is said to help release serotonin in the brain. How far you go is up to you: you could go all-out and paint a room. The good news is, not long and daffodils will be available in the shops and gardens to help brighten our homes.

3. Create a sanctuary

‘In rooms like the bedroom, you probably want to feel calm and relaxed. In this case, beautiful shades of soft blue and sage green would give you just that,’ says My Bespoke Room’s Interior Designer Milena Vallier. ‘These shades are fantastic for destressing and helping to sleep but at the same time, they remain firmly positive’.

While in the living room, you could invest in this velvet House Beautiful Darcy corner sofa from DFS in Aqua. While in the bedroom, enjoy a blissful night’s sleep in this Birlea Green Loxley Upholstered Fabric End Lift Ottoman Storage Bed from Next.

However, you can still make an impact with smaller – and cheaper – changes. For example, you could add a splash of green with this cosy Dartmoor Wool Throw in Ice Green from Tom Raffield or with these velour cushions from Next.

4. Personalise your space

Identify what makes you feel good – family photographs, favourite books, artwork, and quirky souvenirs – and use them tactically to boost your mood. For example, could you create a gallery wall of your favourite photographs? And move things around every so often, so that you see – and appreciate – your space afresh.

Can making changes to your home boost your mood?

Yes, key factors in promoting mental well-being and happiness include a well-maintained outside space (58%), good natural light/ large windows (53%), an organised, tidy space (44%) and plenty of storage (37%). So making improvements to your home can boost your mood.

5. Harness natural daylight

Maximise the amount of natural light you get in your home; it helps maintain your body’s circadian rhythm. So if you’ve got trees in your garden blocking in light, get them cut back. If you work from home in a room that doesn’t get much natural light, can you move to a lighter room? While at night, you’ll need complete darkness to sleep properly – so invest in some well-made blackout blinds.

6. Create the right ambience

The way we use lighting in our homes has a powerful impact on our moods too. ‘Use table and floor lamps to brighten up darker corners and create layers of light, and don’t forget task lighting where you need it most,’ adds Milena. ‘Small accent lights, like LED strips under cupboards or plinths, can add a lovely warm glow. And if you don’t have a socket where a lamp is required, don’t despair as there are some gorgeous, battery-operated and rechargeable versions which will solve the problem without having to re-wire the house.

Winter is a great time to use candles to create atmosphere in your home, especially if they’re scented.

7. Get back to nature

‘Plants are a fantastic way to add a pop of green and bring a touch of the outdoors inside – something we all need more of in winter,’ says Milena. Plus, studies have shown the benefits of having plants in our homes, from boosting moods to reducing stress. So invest in houseplants, from adding to your kitchen windowsill to bookshelves.  

8. Fresh air can work wonders

While houseplants can help purify the air, make sure you open your windows and front door regularly to let fresh air in. Or consider investing in an air filter.

9. Don’t get cold feet

Wooden floors can look stunning but they can feel cold in the winter. So try investing in a rug.

10. Plan bigger projects

Use January to consider what bigger changes you want to make to your home in that year ahead that will make you happier living there. For example, have you been considering a garage conversion to get some much-needed extra space but never got beyond thinking about it? Or have you decided you need to sell up and downsize?

Article taken from HomeOwners Alliance - Written by Rebecca Gamble