It’s hard to be excited by 2022.
Many of us were hoping that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror by now and we’d go back to some kind of normal life. But with the omicron variant popping up across the country, holiday parties canceled, and back to school and office delayed, we seem stuck in an endless loop with no end to the pandemic in sight.
If you’re feeling sluggish and aimless, you’re not alone. People all over the world suffer from what psychologists describe as vulnerability. This is particularly stark at the start of a new year, which we like to see as an opportunity for a fresh start. This year, many of us have no motivation to think about self-improvement.
Justina Blakeney—an interior designer and bestselling author known for her colorful bohemian beauty—believes that good design can help us feel less “dull” in our lives. By adding a dash of color to our homes or moving furniture around, we can help ourselves see the world a little differently, which has the cascading effect of instilling some optimism and joy into our lives. “Our homes affect our general mental state,” Blakeney says. “It is so important to create an environment in which you invite that kind of energy into the home you want—whether vibrant or peaceful—so that your home can support you in your health, happiness, creativity, and connection with family.”
Over the past two years, we’ve all spent more time at home than ever before. Even if we’ve already redecorated our spaces, Blakeney says it’s not a good idea to make a few extra tweaks as the new year begins. Try one – or all – of these three simple tips.
Color can change everything
While simplicity and white walls persist in the world of interior design, Blakeney loves to saturate her interiors with color. She often changes the colors of her walls, repaints floors and furniture, and isn’t afraid to use bold, vibrant colors like bright orange or teal. “In just a few hours and a few hundred dollars, you can change the whole atmosphere,” she says.
Blakeney points out that different people respond differently to colour. Before you choose a new color palette for your home, she recommends taking some time to think about colors that make you feel alive. The best way to do this, she says, is to get outside in nature. “Think about the environment that makes you feel at home,” she says. “We are all built differently. Do you feel alive when you see the changing colors of the ocean? Do you like trees and forest-like environments? Are you drawn to the colors of the desert?”
This exercise might prompt you to paint your room a bright orange or your bathroom blue. It may seem like a bold move, but Blakeney says color isn’t permanent; You can always change it. “I like to think of the house as a living organism that breathes and changes over time, not something that is static,” she says. “And in the midst of a pandemic, when we spend a lot of time at home, we should feel free to change our homes regularly, to keep things fresh.”
Move all your furniture
One of the most effective – and completely free – way to change the atmosphere of your home is to rearrange your furniture. Some people feel afraid to move their furniture because they are not sure of the best location. But here’s a secret: Even experts like Blakeney don’t immediately know where everything needs to go. “The best thing to do is just move the furniture from one place to another,” she says. “You’ll feel almost instantly when he’s in the right place, even if you can’t always explain why he’s working there.”
She recommends enlisting a friend or family member, and then spending one weekend moving the furniture methodically around the room. This will allow you to see how the pieces feel across the space – and will also give you a chance to do a deep clean under the furniture. “Even if you decide that the furniture looks its best the way it does, the whole ambiance of the room can still be different from yours,” she says. “But you may also find that you like the feeling of the room with a different configuration.”
Experienced with it, many people feel more comfortable placing their furniture on the walls. But letting a desk, chair, or sofa float in the middle of a room can actually be great, changing the flow of the space or how you interact with it. She also recommends paying attention to how the furniture interacts with the light in the room. You move the bed and love the feeling of light in your bedroom first thing in the morning. Or you might like the afternoon shades that appear on the wall when you move the sofa through the window.
Remember that you are part of nature
At the height of the winter months, many of us spend a lot of time trapped indoors, without much sunlight. It’s frustrating, Blakeney says, and can affect our health. She believes it is worth remembering that we, too, are part of the natural world, and we should bring as much of nature as possible inside.
Blakeney is a staunch supporter of indoor plants, often designing her clients’ homes with lush greenery. Nurturing and watching life thrive is good for your mental health, so even if you don’t consider yourself a vegetarian, it’s worth trying to bring some greenery into your home. If you’re a beginner, she recommends trying something low-maintenance, like a ZZ plant or pothos.
While researching her latest book, Jungle: wild decoratingBlakeney discovered that not only do people respond positively to real plants. They also feel happy when they see pictures of nature. Keep this in mind as you decorate, and consider purchasing a larger version of a landscape such as a woodland or prairie. Or you might invest in textiles, wallpaper, or pillows filled with natural images.