Introduction
It seems that if there’s a ever a month when people are most likely to get into a “funk” it is January. For one thing people are exhausted after the holiday rush and many hate the thought of going back to work and school. Then there’s the fact that most people are experiencing the coldest part of their year. This is the time when people are more likely to get sick and, in some cases, depressed. Why? For one thing during the winter, we spend more time indoors, which means me don’t get as much fresh air and we don’t get any sun. I also read somewhere that as humans we need green grass and trees. It helps us physically, mentally, and emotionally to be in these types of environments, to be out in nature. This is one reason, why we have parks right in the middle of metropolitan areas.

When I look out the window on a cold winter’s day, and the sky is gray, and the leaves are gone from the trees, and much of the grass looks dead, I think who wouldn’t feel melancholy on a day like this? Well, obviously we can’t control the weather, but we can control the environment inside our homes.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to liven up your decor this winter. In fact you can spend very little or no money at all. Here a few simple things that you can do to make your home warm, cozy, and inviting this winter.

1. Plants – A lot of people bring in their plants in the winter time. But why store them all in one room, when you can incorporate them into your decor. And if you don’t have any plants already, you can get one fairly cheap at the local market. (there’s the green we’re missing out on outside, and having plants in the house will create more oxygen, improving the air quality of your home.)

2. Wreaths – Wreaths, like the one pictured above, don’t have to be just for Christmas. A simple wreath adds color and style to any room.

3. Candles and lamplight – Light candles and turn on lamps to create a warm, inviting glow in your room. And the scented candles will fill your room with a soft, sweet aroma. The great thing about this is that most people already have these items in their home. Try placing them on mantles, end & coffee tables, and in front of mirrors. They also have a lot of new electric candles out on the market that are just lovely if you don’t like to burn wax candles.

4. Rearranging – Try rearranging the furniture or other decorative items like picture frames or figurines, to give your home a different look. You may even want to store some of the items you currently have out and replace them with items currenly stored in your attic.

5. Throws and throw pillows – Drape a quilt or a throw over a chair or the couch to add color and coziness to your living room. Try soft, warm fabrics in bright, vibrant colors. If you don’t have extra throws laying around, you can buy one for fairly cheap or make one with fleece fabric from the fabric store. Pillows will also have the same effect if you’re not into throws.

6. Rugs – Just putting down a new rug can dramatically change the look of a room.

7. Bedspreads (swap out) – I have a couple of comforter sets for my bed, and every few months, I like to swap them out. It makes for a good change. Even though you’ve seen the bedspread before, it’s almost like getting something new because you haven’t seen it in several months. This is a great solution if you get bored with your decor but don’t want to splurge on something new.

8. Bright, warm, rich colors – The key is to add warm, contrasting colors. Red is a great color, but a lot of people don’t like to use it because they think it’s too bright, but there are so many shades to try. I recommend crimson or cranberry. Pink is a good color as well if you use the right shade. (perhaps rose) Yellow is another great color to try. Blue, green, and purple are cooler colors, but if you use the right shades (perhaps something light or bold) these are great colors as well.