Here it is, the dismal month of January. It’s fair to say unless you’re a January baby, there’s nothing favourable about this month… most of us have overindulged over Christmas, spent too much and got nothing but work, budgeting and dieting to look forward to. However, instead of wallowing in the January blues, why not use it as an opportunity to get things perfect in your home ready for the more enjoyable months of spring and summer? Here are some tips to help cure the January blues!

Warm hues

For most people, winter has a negative impact on our mood, with its gloomy atmosphere and dark nights. So, to battle the darkness, liven up your interior with fresh and vibrant colours. Decorating your home with new colour schemes, furnishings and styles can make a huge difference to your humour.

Most of us subconsciously yearn after warm colours that remind us of the comforting summer sun. Introducing oranges, yellows, greens and indeed any natural colours is an excellent place to start if you’re looking to combat the winter blues. If you’re not in the mood for diving too deep into your pocket, then adding in new cushions, throws, curtains and even painting the walls are all inexpensive ways of really lift your interior. Many homeowners opt for painting the walls different colours to give extra character and captivation. We’d recommend not to use more than three tones in one room, as it can lose its impact and look too busy.

We’d suggest focusing on one room at a time to avoid disruption and things looking half-finished. Which room do you feel will benefit from a freshen up the most?

Lighten up

One of the main causes of winter blues is the lack of daylight, where our brain releases a sleep-related hormone that induces sluggishness. Now we know that artificial light is nothing compared to natural light, but it’s better than sitting in a dark and gloomy room! Take a look at your home lighting, replace old and tired bulbs, find places to add stylish lamps. Don’t overdo it though, too much artificial light can be too much – we don’t want to be blinded!

Replace or refinish your flooring

Has that dingey and tasteless vinyl been in your kitchen ever since you moved in? Flooring is one of the main features of a room, often one of the first things you notice, so it’s important to get it right! New flooring is one of the most effective ways of giving your room a whole new lease of life. If you’re fashion-conscious, then the new Luxury Vinyl Tiles are very on-trend at the moment, coming in convincing replicas of natural products such as real wood and stone. If an opulent and grand interior is more to your taste, then real wood flooring never goes out of fashion and comes in many different patterns, finishes and colours. If you’re wanting to get on board with the modern trend of underfloor heating, then go for engineered wood.

Now we know that reflooring your home is not quick or cheap, so if you are wanting a speedy and cheaper fix then refinishing or even a deep clean can really freshen up the look of your home. If you’re lucky enough to have wood flooring, then sanding it down and refinishing it is a great opportunity to eradicate any stains and scratches that may have occurred over the years. Again, if you have carpet, having it professionally cleaned will soon bring it back to its old self!

Make sure you’ve got a heavenly sofa

In winter, it’s more likely that you’ll spend more time on the sofa than you would in the warmer months. So, if yours is hard, lumpy, uninviting or even unfashionable, it certainly doesn’t help you get through the miserable January. The good news is that the new year sales always have good offers on sofas you’ll sink into – with new year’s resolutions holding us back, sometimes you just need to treat yourself to keep sane!