Winter Has You Feeling Down? How Your Living Room Can Combat It

That gloomy feeling you get every winter, when you just don't feel like doing anything or have trouble sleeping, is shared by many. It's caused by the lower sunlight levels that alter your serotonin and melatonin levels and disrupt your circadian rhythms. Its more serious cousin, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), magnifies these symptoms and can even be debilitating. You don't have to just wait to feel better as you count down the days to spring, though. Simple things like going out for a walk every morning, socializing with friends, or making sure you're getting enough vitamin D will help. Plus, some changes to the spaces in your home where you spend the most time, like your living room, are a great way to combat the dark mood whenever you're indoors.

If your winter malaise isn't severe, a few easy updates might be all you need. Seasonal interior design recognizes that the home's layout and look should take the changing seasons into account when choosing decor, colors, textures, and lighting. Some principals are easy to follow, like leaving your blinds and curtains open when the sun is shining, while others require an investment, like purchasing special lamps for light therapy. A more persistent case of the blues might mean making bigger changes to your living room's physical characteristics and interior design. Choosing a soothing paint shade to refresh your living room, for instance, can work wonders as just one of several options to uplift your space and your spirits.

Since the absence of light is a main driver of the winter gloom, you can make major strides toward a better mood with light therapy. An effective light therapy box emits 10,000 lux, a measurement of the intensity of the light. Since light therapy is trendy right now, make sure you buy one that meets the Center for Environmental Therapeutics standards. Budget about 30 minutes a day to sit by it. The lights come in designs from traditional lamps to a tablet shape that will easily fit in with your living room's decor. Set it in a convenient area where you can use it while reading, watching TV, or doing work, ideally within the first hour after waking up.

Think about design changes you could make that bring you happiness. If your workspace is in the living room, move it closer to a window. Bringing in container plants is an easy living room upgrade that makes an effective mood lightener. Light and bright shades of warm colors like yellows and reds in your paint choices, upholstery, and accessories, will help you feel less lethargic. Making physical changes to the living room may be beneficial for severe cases of the winter blues. Skylights or their easier-to-install cousins, sun tunnels, wash the room in sunlight, though positioning full-spectrum table and floor lamps that mimic sunlight around the living room may also help. For the quickest gains, though, you can try tidying and opening up your living room. Most people find clutter stressful, which will only worsen a winter mood. Adopt a few easy habits to maintain a clutter-free living room and create a more inviting, less depressing space.