Thursday, July 31, 2008

Can redecorating help with the blues?

"Caribbean Conchs" photograph by Etsy artist SherriStJames

If you've ever worked in a gray cubicle or under lots of harsh fluorescent lights, you'll probably agree with me that your surroundings can definitely have an effect on your mood. Why do we feel so much better when we go on vacation in the great outdoors? Why do sunny days (especially in winter) seem to lift our spirits? Why do we consider islands in the Caribbean to be paradise? I believe this is because our environment is vitally important to our emotions.

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Often the roots of depression are so complex - I won't to pretend that it can be fixed by decorating. But, I have a few friends that have struggled with depression (heck - we've all felt pretty lowsy at different times of our lives!). I can often see clutter, disorganization, and a lack of...well, prettiness...in the space they live in every single day. Often this is an outward symptom of their inner turmoil. But sometimes I think it can also be a contributing factor to the blues.


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One friend of mine lives in a place where there are few windows. Only one, in her daughter's room, receives any sunlight. The rest are surrounded by a heavily wooded area, which means very little daylight is able to come in the house. Add to this a situation where they have too much stuff in too small a space, and it's easy for the house to feel out of control. She usually feels like getting out of the house, rather than considering the home her refuge. She struggles with contentment in her home, and I think that some of these issues play a part in her discontent.

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I am not a believer in the mystic principles of feng-shui. However, I do agree that there is a real art to cozy furniture placement, artwork and accessories placement that makes sense, and good lighting; and depending on how these things are done, they can either elicit positive or negative emotions within you.



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This is why I love doing what I do; often I'm able to lift my client's spirits simply by rearranging their furniture and de-cluttering. They didn't know what was wrong before, just that something was; and by changing things around, their spirits were lifted in a way they didn't think was possible.




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I'm not just trying to blow my own horn here, people. These are really things that you can do on your own. Try to look at your space with an objective eye, and ask yourself these questions:
  • Are there areas of clutter that you've gotten so accustomed to that you don't even notice them anymore?


  • Does your room feel particularly dark at certain times of the day (or all times)?
    Do you have artwork or photos on your walls that you love...or are they just things that fill the space?


  • When you enter the room, is there furniture blocking your path that you need to walk around?


  • Are you displaying items out of a sense of obligation (i.e. they were a gift or inheritance) but they are not functional or beautiful to you?

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AFTER...


If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, go back and take a second look, and ask yourself just a few more questions:




  • Is there any way you can cut down on the pile of clutter? Go through the pile and figure out what you can donate, what you can throw away, and what you need to keep. Then, figure out a cute solution (baskets, boxes, etc.) for the stuff you have to keep, and store it out of sight.


  • If your room feels dark, can you switch out your curtains to a lighter version? Do you have a valance that is blocking daylight that you could remove or hang higher (to block less daylight)? Do you have lamps that you could repurpose from other rooms to place in every available corner of the dark room? Could you change your paint color to something a little more cheerful, like a light butter yellow, or an apple green, or a light blue?


  • Furniture that blocks your natural traffic flow is a no-no, in my book. Can you think of an alternate arrangement where furniture no longer blocks the entry to your room?


  • Can you purchase or re-purpose artwork or photos that you love, and display those instead of the pieces that you feel obligated to display? Pay attention to the emotion that art brings out in you - don't just try to follow decorating rules - buy artwork that you love and elicits positive emotions in you. It might be worth saving up a few extra dollars to invest in a piece of artwork that makes you feel happy or peaceful (or both).
***

I really do believe these little things can make a big difference in a person's quality of life. Whether you're singin' the blues, or just need a change for the better...ask yourself a few questions and then get busy making things just a little more lovely.

Thanks for humoring me as I stand on my little decorating soap box. :-)


**Images: all before-and-after redesign photos are property of Nesting Instincts

16 comments:

  1. Excellent post! I totally agree - with just about everything you've said. It's always good to have some reinforcement. :)

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  2. i am so with you, not just the final result but the act of decorating is great for keeping depression at bay. for someone like me who loves to nest and be at home, creating a pleasing aesethic surrounding is very very important, not particularly that it is a specific style or 'in fashion' just that it is how I like it...I really struggled a lot when we moved to Australia and could not buy a home because of our residency, once we bought and I could do what I wanted without restrictions it made a huge, like massive difference to my mindset and whole life

    go and blow your trumpet, those room restyles are fantastic, I am coming back here with a coffee in the morning for a real study of them (i'm in bed now and just about to turn off the light)

    i love your decorating soap box, can I come and stand on it too?? lol!!

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  3. Courtney, those are wonderful transformations! I know she must have been very happy with the AFTERS. I'm so with you too on making our homes a peaceful haven, free of clutter and ugly things. I have to live with pretty surroundings!

    Rhoda

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  4. Wow...they all look great...although I thought the green in the one bedroom was very nice...but I like the clean look. This house has been a constant work in progress since we've moved in...mostly because the rooms are all small and odd shaped...leaving me little room to work. I like the bed at an angle, and wish I would have tried it in my room before I had dh in the attic reroutingthe cable line...I don't think he would appreciate having to do it again...

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  5. I think you are right on about clutter and depression. When you wake up to a cluttered space, it seems to instantly suck the life out of you and you lose momentum to do anything about it!
    The afters are so great and you have inspired me to look at my rooms with a different eye (or I could always have my mom come over and share her eyes - she has usually has endless comments about my space!)

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  6. I couldn't agree more. Great before and after shots!

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  7. I agree...this is exactly what I am going through right now...I am just coming out of what I call a 'funk' and what is really helping me get out of it, is de-cluttering, re-decorating and believe it or not, BLOGGING about it.

    I started blogging on my MySpace, but none of my teenage nieces or nephews cared about decorating, lol, so thankfully I found the grown ups' blogworld and it is really a godsend for me!

    I have just found you from Hooked on Houses, nice to meet you :)

    Bella

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  8. HI COURTNEY-HERE I AM FROM CUCINA CARA MIA AND GLAD I FOUND YOU!!! THANKS FOR YOUR IDEAS ON MY RUG DILEMMA!! YOUR ROOM MAKE OVERS LOOK AWESEOME. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME CLUTTER TIMES IN OUR HOME. DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT OUR GARAGE, IS THAT A DEPRESSED MAN OR IS HE JUST LAZY??? SINCE WE PUT OUR NEW WOOD FLOORS IN WE HAVE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF PURGING AND DE-CLUTTERING...I AM DEFINITELY PUTTING YOU ON MY FAVORITES LIST!!

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  9. Well Courtney...I am here because Hooked on Houses sent me. Boy am I glad. You have hit the nail on the head...My house makes me happy...generally...but if you could look into some of the kids rooms...arghhhhh!I'll be looking for a psychiatrist to keep on staff. Not really....but kinda.

    Great blog...See why Julia loves ya!

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  10. I could not agree more! Love all the rooms! :) What MASS improvements! :)

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  11. oh yes, decluttering can do amazing things. As can a little color!

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  12. great post and great makeovers! i just hope the fact i'm constantly changing things doesn't mean i'm depressed and don't know it! hah
    x
    www.renovateanddecorate.blogspot.com
    www.minimeez.blogspot.com

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  13. Oh Honey can you come out to Atlanta and redo things for me?!?!? I definitely agree with your post from my own experience. Every change I've made since the hubby moved out has helped me feel better...right now my bedroom REALLY needs help but I'm almost at a loss on what to do. Really, the more I think about it, I think I haven't been able to change it because that would be like admitting that things really aren't going to get better...

    Anyway, that's for the thought provoking post!

    xoxo - Shauntelle

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  14. All of these spaces would be a sure boost to a sagging spirit... well done, indeed!

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  15. Hi there!
    I've recently become a big fan of yours...and I just wanted to tell you how much this post rings true!! My husband, boys and I just bought a house that we are having to remodel, top to bottom. I've been in and out of the doldrums lately, and it's absolutely, positively because I'm spending my days and nights in an unfinished construction zone. The boys are at grandma's today, though...so I'm going to turn on some music and paint until I drop! And clean like a mad woman! Get this place in order so I can be a happy woman again. :) Thanks for your inspiration!

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  16. wow, wow, wow! since I cannot have you come to my home.. I really need to figure out how to do what you do.

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thank you for commenting, dahling! I can't wait to hear what you have to say. :-)