Brighten up with These Fun Ideas to Bring Life into Your Home’s Decor

With winter upon us, it sometimes feels like the bright hues of summer and the warm tones of fall are just a distant memory. But what’s going on outside doesn’t have to reflect the tone and spirit of your décor indoors. You can brighten up your spaces with light tones and colors any time of year. You’ll not only open up your space, but you’ll also give yourself a psychological sense of warmth and life.

Subtle touches like blue contemporary area rugs or momeni area rugs are just the start of how you can brighten up your décor.

Here are a few more ideas:

Embrace the darkness – If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Deep and moody hues in a den or small tv room will give off a comforting, sit-and-stay awhile vibe. Think greys, dark purples, and almost-black shades like navy. A rug in a geometric pattern – particularly one with contrasting colors like black and white area rugs or area rugs with black and white – will keep the room from feeling overly dark.
Glow little bookworm – Why let your walls have all the fun? Paint the back of your bookshelves in a bold accent color to easily change the look of an entire room. Use a shade that appears elsewhere in the room to tie all the room’s elements together. Finally, remove some items from your shelves to let the color shine through and keep it from looking crowded.
Curtain call – Want to open up the look of a small room? Hang curtains! Rather than putting your curtains flush with the top of the room’s window or windows, hang the curtains as close to the ceiling as possible to add to the room’s vertical height. Curtains should still brush the floor. In a geometric pattern, this effect will help create a sense that the room is taller and more spacious than it actually is. Your tall friends will thank you.
Paint your walls like you would your nails — In the mood for a change and looking for high glamour? Instead of just painting walls with a matte finish, consider using a lacquer instead. The high gloss texture is reflective, bringing light into the room no matter what color you choose. It also sets a sophisticated mood that evokes a classic element. To draw attention to the finish, choose artwork with clean, uncluttered lines and complementing colors.
Cook up some style – When it comes to hanging artwork, the kitchen often gets overlooked. In reality, design pros want you to know that your kitchen deserves as much pizazz as the rest of your home. Hanging a large or framed print where it’s least expected will add fun and flair in space that’s otherwise seen as merely functional. To make it spill proof, cover your print with glass or acrylic. Cleaning is then as easy as wiping it down with a damp cloth.
Go off the hook – Instead of hanging wall art, install a picture rail on one wall instead. Prints, photos, and other artwork sit on the rail and lean against the wall instead of hanging. This is a great option if you’re constantly changing your mind about your home’s artwork or if you prefer to swap out décor by the seasons. Changing styles is no muss, no fuss and you’ll never have to paint and patch your walls where the prints once hung.
Find a whole new shade – Lamps are not only a great way to light up a room – literally – they can also add color and style when it comes to their lampshades. Many come with white or beige shades from the manufacturer, but these can quickly become faded and dull looking. (One designer has even said they begin to look like “unbrushed teeth” after a year – ouch!) With that in mind, don’t be afraid to mix it up with a colorful shade or a paper shade with a pattern. You don’t have to buy all news lamps – just purchase new shades at your favorite home goods store. There are no rules here – just what suits your personal taste. It’s an easy, cheap and fun way to lend a new flavor to any room.