?Brighter is Better

?It is late August and the chilly nip of fall is in the air. I should be tanning and fishing but I am looking out my window at sheets of gray rain, and I am listening to the weatherman forecast at least four more days of the same. When the weather or anything else starts to get you down, there are a few easy things you can do. Since rainy days will have you trapped inside, you might as well make your home as sunny and cheerful as possible. Whether you have a weekend, a few hours, or just a few minutes, you can brighten up your room and your outlook in many ways.
The simplest way is with a great bouquet of flowers. Take advantage of the summer months at local farm stands and buy a big bunch of sunflowers- they will really brighten up the room. A tall, yellow bouquet of sunflowers will make a bold, happy statement. Any flowers will go a long way in the effort to make your room sunnier, but if you are looking for a slightly more long-lasting effect, buy a flowering houseplant. A big tropical potted palm would certainly lift your spirits. Try some vines, or ivy – a little bit of nature inside makes a dark room look like a secret garden.
If you have a few hours on your hands, a simple rearrangement of furniture in the room will freshen it up. It will allow you to look at things in a new way and get your creative juices flowing. Liven up your room by trying new angles or arrangements for your furniture. Move your bed or favorite chair over by the window. Borrow throw pillows from other rooms to instantly change the look of your bed. Search the home for scarves, tablecloths, linens, or napkins to use in creative ways. Drape a bright table runner over a dresser top. Spread a colorful napkin on your bedside table. Throw a beautiful shawl at the end of your bed.
A single super-bright accessory added to a room can completely change the feel of it. Be on the lookout for great art that makes you feel happy, or paint your own picture as a therapeutic rainy-day project. Candles with tropical scents add warmth and inspiration to a room. To really brighten your outlook, choose a few photos of hilarious moments or loved one that really make you smile. Frame them in a colorful assortment of frames and place them around the room. Your smile as you look at these will light up the room you’re in.
For more substantial room-brightening changes, think about these options. Paint your room a vivid yellow. Paint the trim and doors white. It is a quick and easy weekend project that will add some serious sunshine to your day. Lots of natural light is the best way to banish gloom from your room. If you can get a room with skylights, or have them installed then you are in luck. If this isn’t an option, there are a few ways to maximize the available light in your room. Place mirrors near windows or directly across from them. This reflects light into the room, and opens it up by giving the appearance of more windows. Choose a minimal window covering such as a sheer curtain or simply a valance. This allows as much light as possible into the room. If you are still plagued by a lack of natural light, start playing with the lighting scheme in your room. Rearrange and angle light to brighten up a dark corner or reading nook. Illuminate that great piece of art with a spotlight. Buy a decorative lamp that adds drama and interest and, of course, light.
When the dog days of summer are depressing, or the world just seems against you, don’t let it get you down. There are so many creative ways to brighten up a room that can provide a private retreat from traffic, rain or an angry boss. If you can surprise someone with a bunch of daisies you might make their day. If you smile and feel uplifted every time you look around your home, then you will bring that sunny disposition to everyone you encounter. Brighten up your room and you begin to brighten up the world.
–Alison Bevilacqua