“A good home must be made,
not bought.” ~ Joyce Maynard
Good
morning!
When I started
touring and traveling to many different cities
and hotels, I was amazed at how dramatically my mood might change
depending on
the room. Some
hotels were so warm and
inviting that I was ready to move in.
Other rooms were dark and uninviting, and if I
wasn’t careful, my mood
would shift downward quickly. After
noticing this, I realized how large a part our physical surroundings
play in
supporting or hindering our attitude on a daily basis.
Fortunately, it
doesn’t take a million-dollar makeover budget
or the help of a designer to beautify our surroundings.
Simple steps can dramatically shift the mood
of any room.
COLOR: Do the walls
represent the room? If
your house has
all-white walls, consider toying with color.
Painting a room is the quickest way to give it
a fresh look. Stenciling
is another option for those who
don’t want to brave a full paint job.
If
you want to keep your white walls, are there prints or paintings that
could be
added to give the room a new tone?
Color
can also be changed in more subtle ways – adding throw pillows, for
example.
DECORATIONS: What
elements could be added to change the tone of the room?
How about a small water fountain in a room
where you like to relax? These
can now
be found inexpensively at discount stores like Target, or Wal-Mart. Would an arrangement of
candles or dried
flowers add to the room’s tranquility?
FOLIAGE: What about
plants? Plants
brighten and bring
relaxation to any room. If
you have a
bad history with plants, don’t despair.
Go to your local garden center and explain
that you want a very durable
plant for someone without a “green thumb.”
Knowledgeable garden center employees can help
you pick a plant that
will work for you.
WORDS: Add words to a
room for a quick theme. Print
off some
of your favorite quotes and frame them or place them in colorful
picture
frames.
Keep an eye out
for ideas in magazines. Often,
one simple change can set a new tone.
Your Turn: Today,
choose one room to focus on and select a beautifying strategy from
above (or
choose one of your own).
Today’s Affirmation:
I
enhance my surroundings through care and beauty.
And as always, don't forget
to
start your day with a heartfelt: "Something great is
going to
happen today... I can't wait to see what it is!"
And when ending
your day ask yourself: "What is one more thing I can do
to
make today matter?
