Escape the Winter Blues And Start Your Summer Decorating Now - Home Decorating Ideas to Lift the Blahs and Brighten Your Home

Don't let Old Man Winter put a freeze on your summer decorating plans and a damper on your mood. Start preparing now to let the sun shine in and brighten up your home again. From the living room to the lanai, there is something to be done for every room and it's not too early to start.

Have you been cooped up so long that you don't remember what it was like to enjoy a day on the beach or spend the afternoon out on the boat? Well, you're not alone. This winter chill is keeping everyone north of Georgia inside, but you don't have to chill on the summer decorating.

Bring the beach back into your home with a few simple decorating tips. It's easy. You also don't have to spend much money or revamp the entire house. Choose the most relaxed room of the house. Is your enclosed porch the casual room to hang out or maybe your den is the family meeting spot? Perhaps it's your kitchen that everyone gravitates to in order to escape the busy events of the day and kick their feet up. Whatever the case is in your home, it's the perfect room to begin with to achieve the greatest impact.

Start with a new light coat of paint. Champaigne yellow will refresh the whole room and provide a nice airy atmosphere to begin. It's also an ideal way to remember what color the sun is. Keep the trim light, as well. White baseboards and trim will accent any light wall color well and will blend seamlessly. Of course, white walls are not out at all, but you'll have to be sure to add extra splashes of color in the room if that is the color you choose.

Next, try throwing one of your most comfortable throws over a chair. One that has been washed many times or whose colors are starting to fade is the one you want. Remember, you wouldn't take a new blanket out on the sand, would you? Besides, the more worn your throw is gives the appearance of many comfy moments being had with it.

You can also set out a bowl of seashells that you have collected over the years. Too many shells or shells misplaced is not what you want to do. Just an accent bowl on a side table is fine or even just a single shell next to the table lamp. Another way to display shells is a hanging plant holder. They are obscure, yet beautiful, and stay out of the way. You can display a piece of driftwood the same way, if you happen to have collected a piece or two.

The walls. Don't change too much on the walls because we're going for subtle. Keep your family pictures up, but perhaps rearrange them here and there to open up a new space or two for a beach sign to hang. Beach signs don't have to be only for the beach house or back porch. You can find some exceptionally nice sign art at http://www.vintagemetalart.com for very moderate prices that will make you feel like you are right on the sand. Our favorite piece is "Beach Days" by artist Robert Lawrence (http://www.vintagemetalart.com/Beachdays.html) The vintage style of these charming collectibles is right on queue for the well-worn, nostalgic look we're going for.

Even if you're decorating indoors, consider placing a small Adirondack chair in the corner. They can take up a bit of space, but there is no mistaking the message. It, too, should be light colored (distressed white is perfect) to keep it subtle, yet very effective. It could also serve as the perfect chair for your throw to lay.

Lastly, you may want to replace the cafe curtains or drapes with a pair of long sheers. Put a little color in the sheers, as they are an ideal accent and inexpensive enough to change over seasonally. Again, I would stay with pastels... but try the browns. Just try it. We don't always realize the impact of brown in a room and for our purposes, it is reminiscent of a fishing pier or a ship's galley.

Well, that should do it. It won't break your back, it won't hurt your checkbook, and you have a breath of fresh air in the middle of these cold, dark winter days. You may want to wait until the end of February before painting, but there is really no reason to when you can be enjoying this lovely room right now. Consider it your sanctuary amidst the battle of the elements. Consider it nothing short of thereapeutic when you are holed up indoors for months at a time. It's why you're waiting for winter to be over, without having to wait.