All In Good Taste / January 2006
Decorating
out of the Doldrums
With the relatives gone, the decorations put away and the cheer of the holiday season just a memory, the house can feel cold and empty. Post holiday blues have led many women to extremes they regretted later, like completely recovering all the furniture in a big floral pattern, loading up on appliances and home goods at the after-Christmas sales or testing all possible variations that can be made for fudge.
Decorators suggest a light touch for the down days.
Keep the living room arrangement that accommodated the Christmas tree nice and cozy even without the tree. Try an interesting new area rug in that empty space and use it to define a special conversation place. Bright white and interesting colorful throws over the chairs and couches, and new fluffy pillows will draw people back into the room. Change out the art, switch it around, mix it up or hang something new, like travel posters or mirrors. Clear coffee tables and parsons tables of their usual accompaniments.
A clean, airy look will help ease the impatience for spring. Put away the usual small knickknacks and replace them with various live houseplants. Hang a windchime in the entryway or plug in one of the small decorative house fountains. Throw open the curtains and lift the miniblinds.
Bring in a favorite chair from another room or a vase that’s been gathering dust in the guest room.
Invest excess energy in painting and packing. Paint crown molding, the base board or the wainscoting a bright deep, rich color to fill the space with warmth. Clean up clutter-in rarely used parts of the house, too.
Use lots of candles. Get shiny silver frames and display the holiday pictures. Keep the lamps turned on and replace low watt bulbs with higher wattage.
Decorate with whites and creams if the house was decorated in burgundies and greens for Christmas. Replace cool gold and white decorations with warm, earthy colors.
Grab a friend or a feng shui book and rearrange the furniture. Make a point to include all the elements in harmony–earth,water, fire and air. Start an herb garden from seed in the kitchen window-or even a chia pet. The green sprouts of growing things are good for the spirit. PL
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