It happens every year. The leaves have fallen, the holidays are fast approaching, and it isn’t even officially winter yet, but I’ve been caught in the winter doldrums. Feeling a bit down during the cold, low-light months is certainly not uncommon. Whether you chalk up being blue to vitamin D deficiency or anxiety about the coming year, there are a few ways to brighten up your home in order to improve your mood.

Keep Things Clean
I hate to sound like your mother, but I must suggest you keep things tidy. She and I are just looking out for you. Dirty, unkempt, and unorganized surroundings negatively effect your mood and make it hard to concentrate. It’s not always fun to do the dishes and laundry, but the end result is always worth it.

Nothing can make cleaning preferable to kicking back with a book, but there are lots of ways to make it easier. If you find yourself stalling on your domestic duties,  chances are you could use an organization overhaul. Defining a place for everything and making supplies easy to find can streamline dirty tasks. Ease into revamping your chores by identifying a very small area (like the shower, that catch-all kitchen drawer, your lighthouse decor collection, or the guest room closet) that needs to be cleaned out and organized. Once you have it under control, take a break. Plan to repeat the process everyday or every weekend until you have a handle on the whole house.

Create Your Ideal Surroundings
There’s a reason we all love to be home for the holidays. Home is personal, and it can reflect your personality in a way that instantly makes you comfortable. This is why the very best home design incorporates the tastes and passions of the homeowners.

Try bringing yourself some holiday cheer by turning something you love into inspiration for your home. One of the easiest ways to reflect your interests in a room is to choose a theme. There are lots of ways to base a room around an idea without making things too gimmicky. Framed album covers can showcase your musical tastes, and lighthouse home decor can be a good way to capture your love of New England. Just make sure your lighthouse wall decor is part of a larger, more subtle design scheme.

Of course, there are simpler ways to personalize your space. Curling up with a cup of cocoa is made ten times better with your favorite family portraits on the mantel. Repainting the walls with your favorite color can also help brighten your mood. You can even put on some Christmas music while you work.

Looking to spruce up your space? Never forget that there is no design without a plan. Comfortable and beautiful rooms don’t just happen. Lots of strategy is required to create even the most effortless-looking and functional living environments. If the thought of fabric samples and color wheels makes you shutter, don’t fret. Here are my top ten tips for painless planning:

10. Do your research. Let yourself absorb good ideas and learn what works without your own trial and error. Read magazines, browse blogs, and visit spaces created by professionals (or talented friends).

9. Listen to the experts. Your research is all for naught if you aren’t going to quality sources and learning from others. Designing an office is much different than revamping a kitchen, so find people who have experience in the right area.

8. Create a budget. Your research should give you a good idea about how much things will cost. Put all of that information to good use and fill out a project budget. Once every dollar is accounted for, you can seek out places where you can save or splurge. Don’t forget to figure in supplies (like paint brushes and drop clothes) and any labor costs.

7. Take stock of what you have. Incorporating your own possessions into your room should be a top priority. It helps make the room more unique, keeps things personal, and saves money.

6. Sketch and collage. Drawing a layout and comparing paint chips gives you the opportunity to anticipate problems and play around with your design. Drawings and scale representations may seem more like a craft project than a proper proposal, but they are essential. Do not neglect to get all of your ideas down on paper; it will provide you with a concrete plan going forward.

5. Look into design software. Sketch and 3D rendering programs are used by many interior designers these days. With some practice, you can render the room of your dreams virtually.

4. Generate a supply list. As you accumulate what you need, you can check it off the list. This way you’ll be sure not to forget anything.

3. Shop around. Finding the perfect piece take patience and determination. Comparison shopping will benefit your plan and your budget.

2. Be flexible. No matter how thorough and organized you’ve been, things are not  going to go perfectly. Be prepared to make changes and substitutions. The ability to recognize when changes need to be made is vital for a good decorator.

1. Have fun. There is no need to stress out about lists and layouts. The creative process should be enjoyable.