Driving Away the Autumn Blues

While the freshness of spring always tends to give my spirits a lift, autumn typically finds them settling like fallen leaves.

The chill in the air, the long hours of darkness, the sense that another seasonal chapter is coming to a close, I admit, it makes me a bit wistful and I work to remain motivated. Or perhaps the ol' brain just seeks to hibernate, and recharge for brighter more active days.

So as a little departure from the traditional Treasure Box Wednesday post here at The Thrift Shop Romantic, I thought I'd share with you a few things that have helped drive the autumn ho-hums away... Little things you also might want to try around the house to make it feel more warm, inviting, soothing and cheerful for those long cold evenings ahead.

Now, naturally, for individuals who believe they may have Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is something you should discuss with your doctor. My suggestions below are not meant to trivialize the condition, or "cure" it in place of actual medical treatment.

But given our busy lives, sometimes it really is just a small change... a little nicety... and unexpected merry detail that can help make even the longest, darkest day seem just that much brighter.

• Fill the house with an inviting scent. Whether you prefer a tart warmer, scented oils, or fragrant candles, a favorite warm autumn scent can temporarily help lift the spirits. While the world outside may be musty with dried leaves, a nice fragrance at home can trigger cheerier, comforting images of baked goods, fond memories, vacations or just warmer days.

• Light candles. Separate from the concept of scent, I've found lighting candles, and getting to see that nice warm glow, adds a lot to a room-- even if there's no special occasion-- and can create a cozier atmosphere. Obviously with kids and pets, this may not be ideal-- and would certainly require supervision to be safe. But as fall light wanes, a little flicker of light in the night does a lot to make the evening feel more special.

• Change textiles to richer, more vivid colors. Trade usual pastels for juicier colors and suddenly an autumn room takes on more life. I was surprised at the difference, for instance, in my bathroom, as I swapped out the pale greens, light pinks and whites, for this deep plummy purple, eggplant and warm dark pink. The room seems deceptively warmer-- and without ever touching that thermostat.

• Break out that Crock Pot. What's better than to come home from a long day of work and find dinner already made? A pot roast, soups, stews-- even a whole roast chicken-- are fantastic slow-cooked in a Crock Pot. And you can't beat the smell of home-cooking the moment you step through that door!

• Use reflective items-- luster and mirrors-- to bounce light. Those of us with older homes know, getting enough light isn't always easy. But the Victorians used items coated in luster-- a layer of metallic opalescence-- to reflect off the limited light there was, and flicker under the attention of candles. And this trick still works today. Add to that a few mirrors, or other metallic surfaces, and you can brighten up your space easily.

• Tackle that long-procrastinated craft. Whether it's sewing, latchhook, crochet, knit, needlepoint, sketching, beadwork, or a thousand different crafts, cooler days and shorter nights are a great time to think creative.

• Switch shower gel to a new, heavier scent. I know this seems like such a strange detail to suggest, but a good hot shower is the way so many of us start the day. And for those of us who really respond to scents, changing up the soaps you normally use to something new and fun-- and a bit more fragrant than normal-- is

• Take even fifteen minutes to a half hour, if you can, to curl up with a book or magazine. Time to mentally regroup can be extremely helpful when the days feel bleak and busy. So a little quiet time with a book... or my fave, a decorating magazine... is a nice way to settle down a bit and gain a fresh perspective.
  

Well-- that's all I have for today. But what are the ways you make the colder months warmer and more cheerful? Leave a comment below-- I'd love to hear from you!

• If you missed Sunday's post on Halloween decorating-- another fun way to make the house spookily whimsical for Autumn, click here.

If not, perhaps I'll see you Sunday when I hope to show the progress on the faux fireplace I'm installing! Take care, friends!

Decorating for Denial: Beating the Winter Doldrums

I don't mind struggling through drifts of snow. I can't feel the icy winds on my face. I'm blind to those grim, gray skies. And why?

Welcome to Winter Denial!-- Aloha! And surrounding yourself in an atmosphere of blissful winter ignorance can be quick and easy! Let me tell you how.

First: engage a dumptruck to pour one ton of clean sandbox sand in your front door. Spread it around to all your rooms. Mmmm... soft! (No, don't worry-- that expensive wall-to-wall carpeting will be just fine.)

Now purchase and strategically-arrange sunlamps-- one sunlamp per 3 square yards -- to give your living quarters that all-over Jamaican beach glow.

Next, engage two handsome lifeguards to patrol your beach and...

Okay-- yes, yes, I am kidding you. Don't call the dumptruck company just yet. (Though I'm starting to like that lifeguard idea...)

Still, today, I thought it would be fun to come up with a few more... er, realistic... ways to fight the Winter Blues and spread a little spring cheer around the house. Y'know, without causing our loved ones to engage a comfy spot for us in the local booby-hatch.

So how about:

• Wafting a few fresh scents around the rooms? A tartwarmer or scented candle in a clean, fresh scent can do wonders to make a house seem inviting, and lift the spirits. I currently have a Yankee Candle Company "Country Linen" in my tartwarmer, but lilacs, lavender, and ocean breezes can help make the spring season feel like it's right around the corner, too.

• Giving a nod toward spring colors a little early? Changing table cloths, place mats, or even place settings for a pastel or bold color scheme is a fun way to brighten up day-to-day living.

• Bouncing a bit of mirrored light?-- Reflective objects help take advantage of the light we have in our homes, can make spaces seem more open. So things like little mirrors, lusterware, and shiny fabrics, might just do the trick to chase away those final days of winter darkness.

• Investing in a few flowers? Whether it's an inexpensive fresh-cut bouquet or potted plant from the supermarket-- or even a snappy silk selection from Michael's-- flowers are a great reminder of warmer, brighter days. These were the cheery tulips I'd won as a result of the "Go! Smell the Flowers" blog's caption contest. It's been so nice to see bulb plants blooming inside while it snows outside.

• Bringing outdoor items in? Gazing balls on small stands, mossy-look statuary, and tiny topiaries are all nice ways to make it feel outdoorsy inside. And no, I'm really NOT recommending that earlier sand-and-sunlamps scenario. I just figure when you like vintage, romantic decor, a few cleverly-placed tasteful garden ornaments do help carry on that quirky, spring feel.

• Swapping in that spring wreath now? Say "Begone!" to red winter berries, pine and holly, and say "Ho-do!" to ivy, flowers, and whatever says "spring" to your taste. Will the neighbors wonder what's up? Hey, not as much as if you brought in that dumptruck of sand. Anyway, you're a confident decorator. You can handle it.

• Picking up a few gardening magazines? Nothing like thinking ahead. Seeing all the horticultural eye-candy in gardening magazines, seed catalogues and your favorite outdoor coffeetable books really can warm the heart, can't it? Why not get excited about summer plans now?

• Planning for Easter decor or craft projects? Due to the Retail Timewarp in stores like Target, Michaels and Wal-mart, Easter's been in full-swing since about... oh... New Year's. There are a number of cute and inexpensive items to create a cheerful Easter table. And it's not a bad idea to act fast, since those stores should be passing Easter and heading on to the Fourth of July any day now. Securing what you might want to use for this favorite of Spring holidays might just prevent regrets later. Plus, lookit the little chicks and bunnies!

Do you have any special things you do to say "hello" to the spring season? It would be great to hear from you about it!

And speaking of Easter craft projects, next Sunday, time permitting, I hope to share with you one rather amusing little craft piece I've been working on. I'll give you a hint as to what it might be: it's a sequel to last year's Peep Project. (Click here to read about THAT particular insanity in sugar form.)

Also, this coming Wednesday, we'll take a look at a few recently-discovered thrifted treasures. For one, you'll meet "Henry" and find out just what this talented septagenarian was able to do with a needle and thread. (If you missed last week's Treasure Box Wednesday feature and the Vignettes o' Thrift, click here.)

Until then, my friends, have some happy ones! I'm going to go grab the Yellow Pages and see if there are any Lifeguard Rental services out there. :)