Beat Winter Blues with a Garden Inspired Decor
Even the most dedicated snow-lovers can find themselves suffering winter blues when the sun disappears for days,
and that long gap between New Year's and spring stretches out before them. If you're an avid gardener, or just a
nature lover, you can find yourself missing the sights, sounds and scents of your backyard garden. One of the best
ways to shake those cold-weather doldrums is by bringing a bit of the garden into your home. Fortunately, there
are numerous resources available to help you do just that.
Even the most dedicated snow-lovers can find themselves suffering winter blues when the sun disappears for days,
and that long gap between New Year's and spring stretches out before them. If you're an avid gardener, or just a
nature lover, you can find yourself missing the sights, sounds and scents of your backyard garden. One of the best
ways to shake those cold-weather doldrums is by bringing a bit of the garden into your home. Fortunately, there
are numerous resources available to help you do just that.
- Grow an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen.
- Windowsill herb gardens bring the outdoors in and add a splash of natural color and earthy fragrance to your
home. Plus, they're a great source of fresh seasonings for your cooking. A variety of easy-to-grow pre-
planted herb garden kits are available from a number of sources, from your local home and garden center, to
online retail giants.
- Go Grand with Your Garden Theme.
- For year-round inspiration, consider creating a garden room with a wall mural that brings the outdoors in. Few
of us are up to hand painting our own murals, but fortunately there are alternatives. From professional
masterpieces to images of simple backyard gardens, search www for a selection of garden-themed murals
including a waterfall, a sun-splashed Mediterranean terrace, and a Monet-inspired water garden dappled with
water lilies. Murals to fit an average-size wall, can cost from $150 to $500, with some select images and
special sizes ranging higher.
- Brighten with Floral and Garden Accents.
- Floral wreaths, flower arrangements and fabrics are a simple, familiar way to add a garden touch to your
home. But for those who think outside the box, there are endless opportunities to create a garden effect. Your
favorite patio chair, subtly tucked into a corner of your family room, serves as extra seating and a gentle
reminder of outdoor socializing. Floral and garden designs have influenced home furnishings from coat racks
to wall switch plates. Choose items that you are likely to love year-round, or that are easy to swap out as the
seasons (and your tastes) change. For floral arrangement ideas, visit your favorite neighborhood florist or
craft store. Home décor items with garden or floral themes can be found through catalogs and Web sites from
a multitude of home furnishings companies.
- Sounds of the Outdoors
- Our sense of hearing has a profound influence on our emotions. Whatever feelings your garden evokes -
soothing, stimulating, relaxed or energized - you can recreate that mood with sound. Recordings of nature
sounds, from birdsong to wind moving through tall grass, are available from a variety of sources, including the
Web sites of your favorite music store.
- Let There be Natural Light
- Experts tell us lower levels of sunlight are the source of our "Winter Blues." Improvements in home insulation
no longer make it necessary to block out the winter with heavy drapes, so consider making the most of the
available sunlight by lightening windows with breezy, bright window treatments. You can supplement nature's
light with lamps and bulbs that mimic sunlight. Prices can range from less than $20 for bulbs to more than
$100 for a floor lamp. Check out your local home improvement store, or a specialty Web site that offers full
spectrum lights.
- Smell the Roses and the Lavender
- Scent is one of the easiest ways to bring the garden inside your home this winter. Simply visit your favorite
supermarket and choose from a wide array of air fresheners for a quick fix. For longer-lasting aromatherapy,
consider a tabletop automatic scent dispenser. Choose scents that will remind you of the outdoors without
being overpowering, such as lavender or strawberry. Bringing a garden smell to your winter home can cost as
little as $2 or $3 for a basic air freshener, to more than $100 for a tabletop scent dispenser.
| PresentYonder.com 645-7183 |
During the winter season, we create an individual Winter Watch
plan customized to suit your needs. As you may have
experienced, taking care of your property can be a huge
inconvenience. No need to waste time, day trips and/or energy.
We can help!
plan customized to suit your needs. As you may have
experienced, taking care of your property can be a huge
inconvenience. No need to waste time, day trips and/or energy.
We can help!