It's a proven fact that our home plays a significant part in how we feel emotionally. Although if not kept up it can make us physically sick, it can also make you a little down in the dumps. Having a healthy space is key and aside from participating in the Apartment Therapy Home Cure, you can check out these ideas on lightening the mood at home!
Before we start, although your home can cause a certain level of depression and there's things you can do inside of it to help the blues be gone, that doesn't mean there could be other contributing factors. Furniture placement can only take you so far, so make sure to see a doctor if or when the time is right (and don't forget to ask for a sticker or a lollipop, that's the best part). Medical disclaimer aside, on with the tips!
1. Let There Be Light Even if your space doesn't get the best light, there's a few things you can do to make the most of it. Add mirrors, open blinds, use lighter material for curtains and most of all — wash those windows!
2. Flow of Furniture Examine how traffic comes in and out of your space. Is there a natural flow? Try mixing up your furniture, putting it on an angle, adding a new conversation nook — something, anything to bring new life into stagnant furniture groupings. Just remember, furniture loves to live on walls, but that doesn't mean it always has to!
3. Do Some DIY Not only do endorphins make you happier, but getting something done for your space gives you a little pride and responsibility for your home. It doesn't have to be anything large, just bust out your tool kit and get to work.
4. Deep Clean Sometimes what's getting you down is literally the grime and gunk. When you feel your house is so cluttered you don't know where to start, pick one space and go from there. Clean the top of one table, clean the top of one bookshelf and so forth. Once you get to them, clean carpets, linens, blinds and the tops of ceiling fans that might be forgotten.
5. Thin It Out For most of us, clutter doesn't always feel overwhelming or like actual clutter. It feels like we're surrounded by stuff we own, but until you have lived without it, it doesn't seem like something to get rid of. If you don't love it, it goes. Plain and simple, once you start to shed actual weight from your space, you'll be amazed at how quickly it lightens up.
Do all of these tips and tricks sound familiar? They should if you're a long time Apartment Therapy reader. Individually they're all great things to do around the house and if you're already doing them, then awesome! But stop to think if you ceased to do one item on the list above, or how about two or three. Can you feel the walls closing in yet?
It's a great reminder that our participation in our own home is mandatory for our own health and sanity as well as the physical appearance of our space when company comes over. Be a part of your home and allow it to breathe and you'll be greatly rewarded.
Image: Flickr member juliejigsaw licensed for use by Creative Commons
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Useful post, especially during the holidays.
Thank-you! Great article...things we know we should do, but need to be reminded!
Adopt a dog! Adopt a cat! Have a party!
Another good one is adding life to the room. Let's face it, not all of us have time for pets (even if it's just a fish tank!) But simply adding a plant to each room can make a huge difference.
Pillows and blankets soften edges, offering (and even just suggesting) warmth and comfort. In the Pacific NW, where the rain and gloom stretch on for months, I make these easily available in every room!
I definitely can say that my dogs have added a lot of laughter to my home.
It's a viscous cycle, my apartment is depressing, so I get depressed, then my apartment just gets worse. Clutter is the pits!
I always feel better when I declutter - even little things like getting rid of a stack of old catalogs helps me feel better about my home.
How can you feel depressed with that lovely doggie?
I'd take out that person who looks like a junkie, no good for the decor at all.
Clean, add flowers, have a dance...
Great article, but my apartment is so far gone I could use more than 5 tips! But I've found scented candles to be a good short-term remedy - the light makes me feel cozy and the smell makes me happy.
Going through the apartment at least once a week and picking up stuff that gets left behind and little bits of trash (receipts love my floor), cleaning my shower, cleaning my entire kitchen... well, ALL cleaning really perks me up. Then taking a nice long shower after everything is done.
The power of flowers or an orchid, candles can go a long way.
Dec.through Feb are the dark, dampest months in my house and can be the most depressing.
This time of year I switch my energy saving light bulbs out to full spectrum light bulbs which really help combat the lack of sun. I keep a kettle of essential oil (eucalyptus) with water simmering on my stove it makes my place smell like a spa and easy to breathe. I put a Java log in my fireplace at night. Good flannel sheets go on the bed.
However, nothing works best in keeping me happy as doing a good purge and deep clean as long as my house is uncluttered and super clean I am happy. December is a good month to throw out, go through paper work because its getting close to doing taxes and a good way to start the new year.
I too cannot get depressed with my pooch around.
I live with my two small kids, 2 large dogs, and 3 elderly cats. My husband lives/works overseas the majority of the year. It is a small house (about 930 sq ft). It is definately cozy, and it does usually make me smile. The pets, I think, have a lot to do with that... so nice to have a happy maniac at the door when you come home. We do need more lights in here though... its pitch black out by like 4:30 nowadays. I also agree- if it smells good, is warm, and you have pets and kiddos around... hard to be depressed. Now if only hubby was here, it would be perfect!
MissHeliotrope, a junkie? Really? That's an ordinary girl. You must not know any real junkies.
Those are all great suggestions. Even a quick clean (filing papers or sweeping the floor) always gives me a great pick me up!
Plants always instantly make a space more personal.
And please don't think I'm cheesy, but I got these from my mom: Flameless candles are wax candles that flicker like real candles. They're on a timer and absolutely real. It's so nice to come home from work and see a nicely lit room when I arrive. Ahhhh...
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.H10462.desc.Candle-Impressions-6-Flameless-Vanilla-ScentedCandle-wTimer
I just did most of these today! deep cleaned my room, got a huge pile of things to give to goodwill, and sewed a handful of pillows & dog toys together. It feels much brighter already on this super snow filled day!
If things start getting dusty and I'm feeling too uninspired to want to clean, I try to go out and get a small bunch of flowers. For some reason, just having that little bunch in there inspires me to clean the space around it. And it's the getting started part that's the hardest. Once I get the cleaning ball rolling, no dust bunny is safe.
My late beagle could make any space happy. I wish i could have another dog, but can't right now.
Plants, definitely. Cleaning and purging still tops the list. Good smells (the stovetop cinnamon and citrus trick) and nice pillows and a throw on the couch also does it for me in the wintertime.
@laurainblack, I think I might just try those flameless candles! They are available everywhere. BBB and Amazon, also.
Yes, it's the PETS! If you don't have time or inclination to be responsible for a pet, chances are you aren't the kind of person that derives a sense of depression or happiness from your home environment. You're getting your strokes elsewhere. If you are honestly hung up on your home, but don't have time to attend to things around your home, then your housepride takes on a strong tinge of narcissism.
Loads of great advice. If a whole house cleaning seems to exhausting for one in the grip of SAD, a clean bathroom and kitchen can work wonders. Definitely go for the full spectrum bulbs and candles. Also try a bit of spring in forcing some flower bulbs; seeing those grow and bloom in dark days make warm weather feel a little closer.
We just had someone come in and do our windows (we do them once or twice a year but clearly (no pun intended) not all the well). The difference us amazing. For the first week or so, it was like have a brand new eyeglass prescription--amazingly clear (and they gave use tips on cleaning old leaded glass). It was worth every penny.
Check
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ythp1PmYF8
Today I replaced a screw in my storm door fixture, and it felt like I'd climbed Mount Everest. The tiniest achievements can do so much for the spirit.
Good post! And the note about clutter inspired me to recycle a stack of old magazines I've had lying around forever! It's the little things, right? :) So true how we don't even think about clutter until it builds up to a point where it becomes toxic... I think this is a great topic and would love to see more posts on it - the way that our homes affect the way we feel and what to do to create a good energy about them.
What I find most depressing in other people's homes is lack of art and color. I like seeing art on the walls, and I like seeing colorful things... not necessarily bright colors, but just something other than greige. When people bring their personalities to their spaces, that seems cheery to me... And I agree that plants are always great. Adequate lighting in the form of plenty of lamps if there isn't natural light. Clean surfaces and a sense of organization... You know, the basics, I guess... And I agree that a clean kitchen and bathroom go a long way. I think there are some messes that are excusable (shoes and dog toys strewn about, piles of books, clothes on top of the dresser) but if I only have a couple minutes to tidy I try to make sure that my kitchen and bathroom have been recently swept, have clean sinks, etc... And a made bed is one of the easiest and quickest things, and has such a big impact... I just feel better if I come home and find my bed made, the dishes done, and everything relatively orderly.
Agree with all the plant comments and letting in natural light. Colours, add colour to your home and also, cross ventilation: get some fresh air into the home. Sometimes music is perfect but whenever possible I try to reduce noise levels.... turn the tv off: turn everything off & give the kids some crafts to do... It may only last ten minutes but that little bit of peace can work wonders. :)
Thanks for acknowledging that some people may need to see a health professional to help them distinguish between the "blues" and real depression.
Intro observation that "there could be other contributing factors" is of course true; however, with the preceding clause, it would have to read "that there couldn't be other ...".
And, that said, I really do enjoy this kind of community sharing about what goes on with us and our homes. "Getting started is the hardest part" really hit home with me. When I suddenly find that I am finally doing something consructive, I always wonder: why don't I do this more often???
Wish I knew the answer -but there's some good food for thought in the comments about what does get us going!
Thanks, friends, for being so real and really helpful:> jude
my apartment is in a compound which is surrounded by many trees and although its beautiful and quiet, the trees do combat light getting in. i love cleaning everywhere, then i love to sprinkle a little essential oils onto the radiators as the heat allows the scent to evapourate into the room. lastly once everywhere is clean and tidy, i light a few candles, pour a glass of wine and enjoy my clean smelly (in a good way) house.
When I feel blue, I throw things away. Am I normal ? I doubt it... but everytime something is bugging me, I feel like I can't let go of the problem to solve it calmly. So, usually, I end up cleaning and organizing. While organizing, I throw away old and broken stuff; surprisingly, in a few hours, I get rid of both the house-related and emotional clutter. I've been doing that for a long time, since I was a kid actually.
(When I feel good, like these days, I'm even worse. I'm giving away something like 40% of my books...)
Loora-
You are not alone! I go on major de-cluttering binges when I'm down in the dumps.
I too have wondered if it's related to some weird psychological hang-up of some sort, but in the end, if my space feels good and I've freed myself of clutter- it can't be all that bad...at least, that's what I tell myself anyway ;)
The recommendation to "get the best" light is perhaps misleading.
Natural light isn't always the best light.
The windows in my living room are ugly and awkwardly placed. The room would never be right if I were to follow the recommendation.
Instead, I hid the windows behind large movable panels, and brought in electric lamps.
The intensity of the light is now very low, but I like it like that.
Tone down my Christmas decoration to candles, some greenery,white light, and couple of shiny baubles and leave it until March 1.
What?
I thought the girl was the resident surly teenager, wearing everyone down. Eventually they go away to collage or somewhere.
Maybe playing fetch or walking the dog in a pretty park would perk up everyone.
For those of you who are reading this and are also cat owners, be very careful about using essential oils in your house. They are toxic to cats!
@laurainblack, I can attest to the greatness and convenience of flameless candles. Those same vanilla scented flameless candles can be purchased at Walgreens at 1/3 the price of QVC.
Unfortunately vanilla scent makes me nauseous even though vanilla ice cream and vanilla cake are my favorite food. So I have to shell out extra $$$ for unscented ones at Target, but it's still cheaper than QVC.
Several times a day I open all windows wide for some minutes to get rid of stale air, even when it's real cold. This way, fresh air fills the rooms quickly without cooling down the house.
For me, having a clutter-free and clean house always makes me happiest. Decorating with bright, fresh colors is also important.
@laurainblack My sister got me a vanilla scented flameless candle once for Christmas. I love them!! SO convenient and they look real.
It's never been easier to have a comedy movie night at home. Laughing out loud uncontrollably shakes off the blues like nothing else.
In a nutshell, find something that makes you happy, that makes you smile. Implement it into your life, continuously or at regular intervals. For me it might be my cats, chocolate, pralines, my cats, chocolate, de-cluttering, chocolate, good books, my cats...
You get the idea!
Music, flowers, bright throw pillows in nature designs,opaque sheers to let in the light in every room...or no sheers if you have a nice view, candles on rock beds, sunny yellow, green, blue and yellow accents where ever your home can stand a little color and cheeriness, gingham, stain glass or colored bottles in windows, old prisms from lighting fixtures to hang in windows and around the house....board games of any kind, bake cookies and make hot chocolate, or make some great rye toast and serve tea, DO NOT BE DOWN!!!!
....and movies, impromptu potluck dinners with friends, go out driving and see the holiday lights, go ice skating, go to the best book store in town and browse to your hearts content, volunteer at the homeless shelter, offer to cook the evening meal at the local shelter home for older kids living in temporary residence there...these kids have no place to live and can not go home...they really appreciate a good meal.
Make cookies and take a dozen or so to six neighbors on your street...or just two, but SHARE something...it always makes you feel better and light of heart!
Beautiful. I'm saving this.
Another alternative is to get out of the house. Go skating, pick up a yoga class, go to the library and read curled up for a while. Return when you are so pleasantly exhausted that it's all you can do to fall on the couch before sleep creeps upon you. You are sure to wake up in a better mood and maybe even feel like tackling some of the tasks or making some of the improvements listed above. Cleaning is great, but everyone is not going to get the same warm fuzzy feeling from mopping and vacuuming on cue. It can become just another thing that "must be done". Same goes for pets. They are very enjoyable- after they've been fed, walked at the crack of dawn whether you want to be outside or not, and depending on whether you feel like having someone nip at your heels and lay in your lap after a day that makes you crave just your own quiet company. And I do have a dog, so I do know those days exist. Some days pushing everything from one room to another and taking the dog for a play date at the kennel might do more for your mood immediately.
While dogs and cats can help folks and add some happy, you can't prescribe one to a clinically depressed person- so please don't try to cure someone you love with one. The added pressure of feeding, cleaning, walking - all the ton of things that comes with caring for a living creature might just send someone over the edge. (I can't get Miami's Elaine YouTube suggestion to play past the Logo/Header, so I am not responding to anything in that- FYI.)
The disclaimer at the start up there was nice, especially since the suicide rates skyrocket on certain times of the year & "The Holidays" are a big one. If you think someone in your life that you care about is depressed, please don't get them a kitten for the holidays... drop in (invited) and bring some pre-made cookies or whatever is cheery/finished and fits their personality, then see if you can get them to go for a walk, maybe out to a movie if they aren't out of work/broke.
Or maybe you know someone who seems blue, and you know they love your pooch- ring them up and ask if you two can stop by for a visit. Having a doggy come around for an hour to sit on their lap can be great, maybe while you watch a DVD or what have you.
If you're more than acquaintances and your friend/sister/cousin/brother whatever is sitting in place that looks like a tornado hit it- just start picking up newspapers and see if you can't get them to get up off the couch and join in - it does help depressed folks to participate, but sometimes they need help getting the inertia turned into forward motion as opposed to the kind of inertia that 'tends to stay still.'
Lastly... it's good to remember that you just never know what could be going on in someone's life. Maybe they just lost someone to something like a heroin overdose- lots of folks don't know how to talk about a range of issues, 'Oh yeah, my favorite cousin got mixed up in/just got a call they died...' and ironically, lots of times depressed folks don't want to drag you down or bum you out, so they won't talk- or they stop calling...
So thanks to Cashew for tapping the 'Heliotrope on the head. Besides being flat wrong, talking about folks who have any disease like they are 'trash to take out' is cruel and never funny or okay (though it sure is all over the anonymous internet, isn't it?)- so if you are depressed and have a person in your life, who makes thoughtless or mean comments and drags you down? You can say "No thanks..." if they want to come around. Or if you know your sister is going to sit there for 30 minutes and be passive-aggressive about your clutter when she has the perfect house, already decorated for the holidays? You're allowed to Just Say No to people that make it worse. You have to try to give yourself permission to take care of yourself when it comes to other people.
-thanks
You might consider painting the place, especially if you haven't done it in a couple of years.
Obviously, a new color can brighten things up, and paint covers walls that have become dingy over time.
Less obviously, painting also forces a lot of the above suggestions--you usually have to move furniture around anyway to paint, so there's the traffic flow/furniture rearrangement thing; there's a ton of cleaning involved; you run across possessions you haven't seen in a while and realize you can dump, etc.
Of course, it's a lot of work and the place looks like hell for a couple of days. But afterward: nice and cheery.
@Knifemouth, I don't know why the link won't work--it works here. The Youtube suggestion is a lovely video entitled "The Divinity of Dogs," in which Ben Stein talks about the benefits of adopting a pet dog in hard times. Absolutely I wouldn't give any one any pet unilaterally. I was without a dog for decades by choice. Thanks.
There´s nothing so depressing as a badly keept aquarium! That is really bad feng shui!
I have a huge one, with two poor Pacus...and finally! ....i got myself together and gave up the ambition. Found them a new home, their new keeper is gonna come pick them up in a few days. And i feel such a relief, all the space im gonna win, and time!
Also, im playing with the idea of selling or giving away almost everything i have except the most personal things, some clothes and my books. Would be such a bliss to live in a decluttered, almost empty home!
A lot of people don't get enough sleep during the holidays. Do what you can not to be one of them.
I've been feeling so overwhelmed with our home.. (6 people 1200sqft) Nothing had a home anymore so it seemed pointless to try to put anything away..then we put up our tree and bam more crap to deal with....Last night I spent four hours clearing out clutter from all of our main living spaces and our room..Just walked in grabbed something and tossed it in either the trash, attic, or belongs to another room...We now have enough crap in our attic for a really good yard sale...but I feel better because I feel free of that junk (even if it is just for now!) I feel so much better about our room I'm painting a mural before work today above our bed...So yeah purging definately lifts the spirits!
Love all of the comments! If I'm having a really hard time getting started, sometimes I revisit a favorite organizing book for inspiration: "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" by Karen Kingston. I also remember the voice of the Grandfather of modern design: William Morris: "Have nothing in your home that you not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."
Also, for anyone living in a home that has housed many people over the years, consider the residual energies that might be lingering. If you feel something negative and you feel it's not related to anything you're doing, trust your intuition. You many need to conduct a space-clearing. (Also described in Karen's book, and many places on the Internet.)
Unfortunately, the solution to my depressing apt is "buy more stuff." We have been traveling for the past 5 years and haven't had time/ability to accumulate anything. In some ways this is liberating, but makes for a pretty stark space. We are back at school and the student/family housing is odd- great natural light, horrid electric light. I think DIY will be my best bet.
The man that owned the house before me was clearly depressed. It was a short-sale so I'm sure financial issues might have been a cause. But the house was dark, closed off, 2 of the windows were boarded up (even though the glass appeared to be fine), the kitchen was painted dark colors, and there was a lovely sunroom/diningroom off the kitchen that was filled with junk (so much so it covered the windows), and he had a sliding door cutting off all natural light from flowing into the kitchen.Wherever there was white paint in the other parts of the house, it was very dirty and dingy. He had dark brown shag carpet lining the walls in the bedroom-yes, WALLS-and thick, velvet curtains and dark, heavy furniture.
The first thing I did when I got the keys was:
-opened ALL of the windows (there were 13 in just an 850 sqft house) to aerate the house. Really got rid of a whole bunch of depressing energy within minutes.
-cleaned both sides of windows and blinds (ok, this took a week because of the amount of windows and the thickness of grime build-up on both the blinds and the glass)
-Ripped the carpet off the walls
-Painted everything, and I mean everything white. Later I added accent color, but I seriously could not wait until settling on a color, I had to put fresh paint up.
- I karate kicked the sliding door down between the kitchen and sunroom, and cleaned out the room so now there is TONS of light flowing through the whole house.
I used to not be able to spend more than a couple hours there without wanting to leave and that's not a way to feel about your home. Now I love it and everyone that steps in says it looks so cheerful and just has all around positive vibes. And this was when it was empty! No furniture, art, or really any color. All I did was clean, aired it out, and painted.
I did a sage cleansing as well and placed several mirrors and plants around.
Our interior was painted varying shades of greens throughout- mainly shades in the sage family. It depressed me to NO END. The trim was oak and it was very very ugly. The "whites" were actually slightly yellow. It disgusted me in every direction. The day I was finally able to paint was the day I began to rest...Ahhhhh. :)
@LittleMissSunshine, Good job--nothing beats getting rid of the dirt and letting in fresh air and sunlight! Also, I've run into a number of people who use sage, including a cardiologist. I'm not a fan of sage or of cleansings, perhaps because I wasn't raised with them, but it seems a lot of people do get something positive from the rituals.
The right kind of music can make your home less depressing. TV's Pandora has a nice selection.
I stick to a rule that is helping me de clutter...If I go to the swap meet and buy three things then when I get home six things must go. It can be little stuff or big. I always seem to find someone who needs the stuff I am tripping over and choking my creativity with. I have really pared down my possessions to the point I own them rather than them owning me!
I know one way to make your house a LOT less depressing! Do you know Boca do Lobo (www.bocadolobo.com)? Their pieces are an experience for itself!
How can you possibly be depressed with the best kind of dog in the world inside your home: long haired German Shephard!! OMG - beautiful!!!
I know lots of people say that pets help liven up a home. Some people don't have time OR have apartments that don't allow pets. I totally agree that pets can make your mood better, so why not volunteer? I know this doesn't make your living space less depressing, but I know hanging out with dogs and cats always puts me in a better mood. There are a lot of rescue places that let people walk dogs and play with animals.
Yes, my niece away at college volunteers to walk the local shelter's dogs, and all involved benefit.
All fundamental feng shui tips---bravo!
All great tips and it's so liberating to declutter our spaces. I took the advice to work on one area and go from there. No more CD's on the floor and got rid of that side table I wasn't loving by my couch.