Winter is weighing heavy upon us here in New England — literally, another foot of snow in Boston just this weekend with more on the way. Although freshly fallen snow is lovely, all the white and gray has us desperate for color. So on this inspirational day, we're offering up a few easy, natural accents to boost your spirit and color palette...
Green: Under a blanket of white you can fully appreciate the beauty of pure green. Flowers may be difficult to grow indoors during the winter but green plants can do just fine with enough sunlight and water. Our succulents love their window seat, so does our snake plant, seen in the picture above the jump, on the left. For a wonderful dose of indoor greenery inspiration, visit the S and S House Tour from November. More on apartment-friendly plants here.
Orange: Clementines are our favorite part of winter. Not only are they easy to peel and delicious, the large quantity from a single box creates a big, bright centerpiece. You could do the same with lemons, pears or your favorite fruit but we like the pop of orange on our table. More on decorating with produce here.
Red: Flowers are an indulgence for us any time of year but especially so in winter. When we do have them, we gravitate to reds. This flowering Amaryllis provided a bold shot of color in our old living room for over 2 months last winter. Our last two house tours have also included a lovely dose of red.
What do you like to use for color when winter starts to get you down?
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I love fruit as a centerpiece. Navel Oranges are $5 this weekend for a big bag of beautiful, extra-large fruits. I also love green pears. Trader Joes will have $5 bunches of tulips soon, ditto $1.50 bunches of daffodils. Don't forget to get out for a walk on a sunny day (just bundle up, the cold won't--usually-- kill you!), to fight off those seasonal blues (grays).
view outonalimb_2008's profile
Create a warm, cozy, inviting space...
- punches of red here & there (a Vern Yip must)
- lots of houseplants
- use lamps for ambience, including twinkle lights on my balcony (all year round!)
- have fresh fruit and raw shelled nuts on hand
(I love cracking nuts as I read the newspaper -- a healthy snack for those winter blues!)
view ilovebc's profile
yes, plants are essential-- all year, for me. cut flowers are expensive and don't last long, so I'm much more in favor of buying potted flowering plants like cyclamen, bromeliads, tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, hyacinth, etc. trader joe's offers great deals on blooming bulbs, and it's a thrill to watch them grow (at least for me). non-flowering begonias also have beautiful, often vibrantly colored foliage.
just make sure you don't overwater and don't keep them too close to the heater. also, don't assume that beacuse the sun is weaker you have to put your plants right in the window, or you will end up with burnt foliage.
I also think that glass accessories, (vases, bell jars, etc.), do wonders to brighten a space by reflecting the light and create a sense of airiness.
view foodefafa's profile
sun lamps, a necessity here in the northwest. that'll help anyone's blue mood
view formosagirl's profile
Yes, buying cut flowers can be pricey, but a few mums floating in a large clear glass bowl is a money stretching sparkler.
Don't forget African Violets as part of your indoor foliage choices. With fairly little care or light, they bloom prolifically.
Preserve fall leaves by drying or pressing. The colors will provide delightful color later.
Fruit, fruit, fruit. Keep plenty around for color and nutrition.
And don't forget vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, tomatoes, squash, kale are edible ways to provide colorful arrangements; even in the living room.
White is a color too, so remember to keep those pearly whites in full view. A smile does more than any colorful accessory to brighten a room and lift your spirits.
view quiltmaster's profile