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.

Furniture placement is essential and accessories really tie things together, but it’s impossible to design the perfect room without thinking about the walls. Austere white walls are one of the reasons that it is almost impossible to make a dorm room or apartment look truly put together. Any thorough design has to tie the drywall into the rest of the look in order to make things cohesive. There are many different ways to dress things up; wall mirrors and art are simple solutions for blank spaces. However, more permanent solutions can make a dramatic statement.

Paint, Paint, and More Paint
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Painting a room is the quickest and cheapest route to a big transformation. Vibrant walls pack a visual punch and tie individual pieces into a bigger design plan. If you are having a hard time picking a color from your palette or deciding what kind of paint to purchase, check out my post on using picking paint.

Adding color to your walls does require some sweat equity (unless you hire painters), but a little elbow grease worth it for a cheery space.

Installations, Moldings, and More
You don’t have to flip through many interior design magazines in order to see that the professionals love to attach things to bare walls. From far-out panels to molding to large collages, it just doesn’t seem to be a showroom without a permanent instillation. Believe it or not, it is easy to incorporate these ideas into your home.

One of the simplest ways to add interest to a wall is through the use of molding and chair rails. Those who wish to make use of their carpentry skills (or their friend’s carpentry skills) can install traditional wood details or create complex wood panel headboards and displays. Though they can be misused, mirror wall decorations can also be mixed into a creative installations.

Art, Decorative Mirrors, and Other Wall Hangings
Last and certainly not least in a decorator’s wall covering arsenal are wall hangings. It is nearly impossible to go wrong with the right wall mirror. Finding great art and frames may be a bit more challenging. When choosing a piece for your space, consider the color and mood. For instance, black and white photography is beautiful, but it may not be right for a traditional room.

Once you find your hammer and nails and choose your pieces, put some thought into just where you’re hanging things. The wrong placement can affect the perceived scale of the space. Hang you decorative wall mirrors and other accessories at eye height to increase visibility and reflect more light.

Anyone who has ever decorated and furnished a room will know just how important it is to have the right kind of lighting. Every room is different and therefore requires lighting that will complement the home decor and furnishings of that particular room. – this is even more important when you are looking for just the right kind of lighting.

These tiffany style desk lamps can be a beautiful addition to any home; they also provide very flexible lighting systems in a living room that is often used for many different purposes. Decorative table lamps can be used to create a specific mood in a room. If you want to sit back and relax while listening to some music then the soft light of a corner chandeliers will enhance that mood. In order to show how distinctive the right table lamp can be you should take into account the size of your room and the size of the lamp. You should also ensure that the materials in the lamp compliment the rest of the decor in your room.

Many people will choose table lamps that fit the decor of a particular room. If, for example, your living room is ultra modern, then a tiffany lamp, no matter how unique or beautiful it is just would not fit the style of such a room. You may decide to settle for a unique table lamp that is fashioned from nickel in a spare, modern style. If on the other hand, your tastes run to the more traditional type of d?cor then a tiffany lamp would be ideal. There are many different designs and colors to be had in this style and it is well worth searching the internet where there are some great sites offering exquisite table lamps.

If you use several different table lamps, strategically placed, to light up your living room then you will be able to create a variety of different moods. They can be both distinctive and versatile; providing not only background lighting but a useful resource for undertaking different tasks. Sewing tasks require a more direct light than you might want if you were watching the television for example.

A table lamp is quite different from a desk lamp. A desk lamp is often an angle poise lamp which enables the user to shed direct light onto a task, and on the other hand is more than just a functional object; it is both functional and ornamental. For example it is possible to get some exquisite table lamps like the Cameo Dragonfly table lamp with lighted base. Lamps like this are an asset to any room, not only because of its unique style, but because it can provide a light that is soft enough to suit most moods.

They come in many different sizes with the average lamp being about 20″ tall. It is possible to have lamps of different heights in different parts of a room. A unique table lamp should reflect some of your personality and therefore an integral part of your decor. There are items to suit many different tastes and budgets and it is possible to make up your own unique display to add a touch more style to your already stylish home.

Wrought Iron Decor

The decor of a person’s home is something that is useful in determining what kind of human being they are, which is why we shamelessly notice the decorating style of most people when we visit their home. The manner in which we design our rooms can and does often indicate the things we like and dislike, and also gives a certain indication of our general character. For example, a practical person might show this part of their personality through the storage solutions found in the kitchen. Warm, natural tones in a room of a home – such as the lounge room, for example – likewise indicate that a hard worker resides there and wants to relax after a hard day.

Wrought Iron

In terms of a bedroom, if you decorate the place in wild reds and luxurious satin, this is a good indication of another type of personality entirely, though perhaps not one that that everyone will see. That is a very important tip to keep in mind – always plan a different type of decor for the private areas than you would areas that the public will see frequently. A family throwing a party, in all likelihood, will attempt to keep certain areas of the house off limits due to their private nature.

As bedrooms are seen only by a select few people, many people choose to go ahead and splurge on the decoration. Flooring is a popular part of any decor, and the type you choose will depend on how highly trafficked the area is. Floors, however, are not exempt from showing what type of personality an individual has, as the color and substance of the materials you choose can be excellent clues in what kind of personality you have. Busy traffic areas like the hallway or kitchen are great for hard wearing laminates, whereas a soft carpet material such as wool is better for the bedrooms.

Wrought Iron Decorating

Accessories are a very important part of decor, and they are wonderful ways to express your true personality. The right – or wrong- lighting in a home can make a huge difference in how the home is viewed by other people. Whether you are looking for more light that you actually need, or simply looking to light areas for aesthetic reasons, a spotlight is a great way to give your home the extra light it needs. You can use this in the decorating of the rest of your home as well.

To draw your guests’ attention to certain areas of the room, you can use spotlights and single light fittings. On the other hand, a more minimalist look would go for simplistic mood lighting. In short, how you use decor to improve, style and highlight your home reveals a lot more about your character than you might previously have thought possible.

Even though I love reading, writing, and thinking about interior decorating, I also love to come up with excuses to put off new projects. It’s easy to dismiss home improvements as too expensive, time-consuming or hard to complete, but the benefits outweigh any real problems. Think about how your talents can help you transform your home. Here are some of my reasons I know you can do it:

Because You’re an Artist
Home design is a great way to tap into your creative side. Finding and combining the right colors, patterns, shapes, and lighting can be just as challenging as painting a fresco or writing a song. Unlike painting or other kinds of expression, design can add value to one of your biggest investments–your property.

Of course, the real reason to strike out on your own artistic journey is because it will allow you to tap your imagination and create something you can be proud of. Think of the project as recreation rather than as a chore. A beautifully-appointed room is a even masterpiece that you and your friends can enjoy for years to come.

Because You’re You
Your home shouldn’t just be the place where you sleep. Every nook should tell your guests a little bit about you. Have a strong sense of national pride? Hang up some patriotic wall decor. Want to share your love of your cats? Take some snapshots and make a tasteful collage the centerpiece of the sitting room.

The more you inject yourself into your space, the more comfortable and relax you will feel at home. So you may not have any interests as cut and dry as patriotic home decor or feline photographs, but you can show off your DVD collection or deck out your bedroom in you favorite color. Decorating your space is one of the few times in life when things are all about you. Enjoy it.

Because You’re Crafty
I find that the frugal, the eccentric and the resourceful are often drawn to interior design, because they can do amazing things on a small budget. If you love to hot glue, paint or sew, then chances are you already have your creations all around you. Try challening all of homemade know-how into a cohesive space. You’ll be amazed what you can do with relatively little. (It’s even possible to turn some styrofoam and buttons into patriotic decor or beer cans into modern art.)

You have a busy schedule, but like to make time for your various hobbies. One of our newest interests is interior design ideas, and you would love to be able to use interior design techniques to transform your home. However, you do not know much about interior design, and would benefit from taking a class about it. Thus, you might consider online interior design school.

About Online Interior Design School

Online interior design school is certainly something that would not have been available as an option a mere decade ago. However, with more and more people turning towards the internet for their work and entertainment, and with people having increasingly busy schedules, online interior design school became an efficient option.

So, what exactly is online interior design school? There is not just one answer to that question, since online interior design schools will vary. However, what they generally are is a self-guided exploration into various aspects of the interior design industry. You usually have several assignments to complete for a grade.

Is online interior design school really for you? To answer that question, you will first need to consider what your learning methods are. For example, if you benefit more from class discussions and hands-on learning, you probably should take a real-life interior design class. However, if you would prefer to learn at your own pace and just by yourself, then you would probably benefit from the online interior design school experience.

Some online interior design schools for basement workshop are more interactive than others. For example, the more basic ones are just about reading various PDFs of interior design aspects and taking exams on them. Others might require you to purchase headsets so that you can interact with others in the class in an online forum setting.

However, keep in mind that you do not necessarily need to take an online class for you to learn what you will need to know for various home interior design projects. Rather, you can subscribe to a home improvement magazine, or get a book that shows you how to do step-by-step interior design projects.

Of course, the internet is a popular resource as well. Not only can it be used to take online classes, but it can also be a great resource for how-to articles. These articles often are in the form of instructions, complete with visuals. Thus, you can figure out how to do a particular interior design project on sewing center without having spent any money!

It may involve drafting and a lot of manual labor, but good decorating is nothing if not creative. To create something beautiful and livable is an art that requires imagination and inspiration. Unfortunately, the artistry of the whole endeavor can be lost in the budget and planning stages. Below are a few simple ideas on how to clear your mind and unleash your inner designer:

- Find one wonderful piece. Every room should contain at least one item that you have fallen in love with. Once you’ve found it, make it the centerpiece of your plan.

- Look for inspiration in unlikely places. Magazines, TV, and blogs are great for tips and tricks, but be careful they don’t keep you from making your own decisions. Take a walk or go to a museum. You can find your muse anywhere.

- Don’t copy! Every room is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all design. If you find an example you love, identify the elements that attracted you to it. Now expand upon them and add your own flair. The result will be purely you.

- Be yourself. My husband and I decided to turn our passion for video games into a design statement. Our console collection is proudly displayed. We even bought some retro advertisements for art and stenciled the walls with our favorite characters. You won’t see many living rooms like ours, but it makes us happy. (I even get compliments from people who aren’t into gaming.)

- Buy one-offs, vintage collectibles, and artisan furniture . There are some great mass-produced pieces, but there is something about a unique find that really sparks the imagination. You can even help the environment and humanity by purchasing wares from impoverished craftsmen in other countries .

- Take a break. Many bad design choices are made during weekend overhauls and in the rush to fill up a newly purchased house. Avoid making spur of the moment decisions. It is practically impossible for a home decorator to throw a space together in only a few days. Get comfortable. Figure out the flow of the area. Take note of the strengths and weaknesses in architecture and layout before spending time and money decorating. Done all that? Spend another week relaxing. Your subconscious will do a lot of the hard work for you.

- Have fun. This is, of course, the first commandment of designing for yourself. If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t enjoy the room.

There is much more to furniture design than matching color, pattern, and form. The size and placement of large pieces is likely to affect the feel of the room more than any accessory. Think of their layout as the foundation on which all of the flashy finishing elements will be laid. Without a good foundation, your whole room can turn into a disaster, so pay close attention to what you are doing with furniture.

Start with a Plan
It may be tempting to run off the the furniture store, but hasty decisions can often lead to buyer’s remorse. Consider the function of the space and make mental notes about seating, table space, and traffic. Before you start moving furniture in, it helps to plot things out on paper. A detailed sketch will help you visualize the room and allow you to play around with the footprint of each space without doing any heavy lifting. There are even many types of design software available for those of us who are not gifted with artistic talent.

The most important part of your planning should be making sure that the space is usable. You may have the most beautiful furnishings in the world, but they are useless if they are all crammed into a small area. It’s always a good idea to look at magazines and home design programs to find arrangements that keep things livable .

Balance it Out
Keep in mind that each piece placed in a room creates a visual weight. A good decorator should position things so that the room is balanced. For instance, large couches in living rooms are often placed opposite armoires or fireplaces. This assures that every section of the rooms feels filled. (Don’t confuse balance for focal points. Both are essential for good design.)

Finding a balance also involves selecting furnishings that are the correct size and similar in style. You should be able to calculate the ideal dimensions for each piece of furniture from your finished plan. When picking out your new appointments, make sure that each of them holds a similar visual weight.

Make it Work
So you’ve sketched your sketches, furnished your furnishings, and arranged your appointments, but it doesn’t work. Last minute changes are commonplace for even the most experienced designer, so don’t fret. Keep your receipts and get ready to change your mind.

Many of the most distressing furniture setbacks have simple solutions. Too crowded? Get rid of something. Too sparse? Go shopping. Tricky layouts? Rearrange until you find the perfect fit. Sooner or later, you’ll be ready to move on to the easy stuff.

Furniture is a tricky thing. It can fade into the background, create an exciting focal point or absolutely ruin an otherwise acceptable layout. As much as I love home decor, I hate picking out furniture. Finding something with charm that also fits and complements a room is a difficult task. Oftentimes, those of us without the means to redesign spaces from top to bottom have to make concessions as far as furnishings are concerned.

Having to make old furniture work or picking out an new suite both present their own challenges. Check out these tips for making things work no matter which end of the spectrum you find yourself on:

- Pay attention to style. All good design concerns itself with style. If a large piece doesn’t mesh with the rest of the area, it can be distracting and unattractive. For instance, it would be unwise to try to cram a chinese bed into a room full of country or patriotic decor. Some discordant features, such as over-embellished legs, can be hidden with slipcovers and creative placement, but you should try to avoid using such tactics by choosing elements with a congruent style.

- Think about scale. One of the most common mistakes a home decorators and seasoned professionals make is picking things that are not to scale within the room. This problem usually begins with a fantastic find (“Who thought I would happen upon the perfect coat rack for my front hall?”) or five (“Well I can’t pass up this Bald Head Light replica! It goes with my lighthouse decor.”) and ends with you trying to convince your family members that it’s okay you’ve blocked the front door. Good design should not make a room cluttered or impossible to navigate, but encourage the flow of traffic though the home. Consider the footprint available for the piece you are looking for before you head off to the home furnishings store and bring a tape measure. In some tricky situations, it is even possible to choose something that is too small for the room, so visualize and measure before making a decision.

- Refinish and reupholster. Don’t be intimidated by these projects. Once you learn how to use a sewing machine and a can of stain, you can cut your project budget in half by rehabbing dumpster and antique store finds. Start by gathering inspiration from online success stories . You’ll find that basic carpentry is possible even for the most inept among us. You might even become skilled enough to start crafting your own wildlife furniture .

Of course, these pointers are only the beginning of good furniture design. If you’re looking for more tips on smart home decor choices, check out my painting and DIY ideas.