There is a condition called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) that causes some people to become depressed and lethargic during the winter season. It is common in East Coast cities like Philadelphia that experience cold, sometimes stressful winters. One way to fight off the “winter blues” is to decorate your Philly home with inspiring decor. It might be chilly and unwelcoming outside, but you can always make your living space warm and welcoming. Here are a few ideas to try.

The Red Room
Red is an exciting, exhilarating, and inspiring color that gives you energy. Red can also be empowering and seductive. Choose one room in your house to turn into the “red room.” This is the place where you will go whenever you’re feeling a bit “blue” during the winter season and need your senses stimulated. Choose a deep shade of red, like mahogany, garnet, or currant for your walls. Use a high quality, luxury interior paint with a matte or semi-gloss finish. Choose a softer red loveseat or reclining chair and tables/chairs that are made of red mahogany wood. Have fun decorating the room with red accents and area rugs. Ideally 90 percent of the items in the room should be a shade of red.

Brighten Things Up
One possible reason why people lose motivation during the winter months in Philly is that it gets dark earlier in the day. In some cases, night falls as early as 5 o’clock in the afternoon on the East Coast during the wintertime. Combat the winter blues by brightening things up more both indoors and outdoors. Use your leftover holiday lights to decorate your bedroom and light it up at night.

The “Play” Wall
Sometimes the best way to fight the winter blues is to get a bit artistic and imaginative. Is there one wall in your Philly home that is particularly boring and bland? Spice it up by painting it like a mosaic, or hire someone you trust to express their creativity as you watch. This wall can become your canvas — visit it regularly to paint your very own home masterpiece and play with colorful ideas. Not only will you have an interesting and inspiring wall in your home to look at, you’ll also have an important task to look forward to each day or weekend.

There are ways to fight off the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder, better known as SAD or the “winter blues.” Use these simple yet effective ideas for creating inspiring decor in your Philly home this winter season.

Fight the Winter Blues with Inspiring Decor by Louise Gaillard | Coldwell Banker Blue Matter