I love the holidays, but the short days, cold weather and plentiful snow of winter can dampen my spirits. With cold weather just around the corner, I’ve been thinking of ways to keep my spirits up this winter, and I’ve discovered that surrounding myself with the beauty of flowers and plants in the winter months definitely helps me to be more joyful.
It turns out that the science backs me up.
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The science of beauty
A 2014 study by smartphone maker HTC discovered that “well-designed objects that are both beautiful and functional trigger positive emotions like calmness and contentment, reducing negative feelings like anger and annoyance by almost a third.”
According to Dr. Simon Moore, chartered psychologist and management director of behavioral research agency Innovationbubble, beauty has positive effects on mood for more than just a split second. “Beauty induces stable long-term positive emotions and has a cathartic effect on negative emotions.”
I’m not alone in feeling the winter blues. According to , a doctor and professor at Georgetown University Medical School, about 6% of people in the United States suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a form of depression brought about by the onset of the winter months, and another 14% suffer from a milder form of the winter blues.
Tips for beautifying your space
Since beauty can help get rid of the winter doldrums, it’s a good idea to start thinking now about how to spruce up your home or workplace to add even more beauty to the place where you spend most of your time.
Faux flowers and plants are an important piece of beautifying your home without creating more work for yourself. The great thing about fake plants and flowers is that they require little care.
Dust them every now and then and rotate them every few months if they’re in the sun. No worries about watering them or worrying about them dying if you travel for the holidays or just to get away from the cold.
If you want to add some color and beauty to your space to beat back the winter blues, try these three tips:
Tip #1 – Choose what you love.
It has long been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so choose artificial plants and flowers that you find beautiful. Pick items that make your eyes light up and make you smile.
They don’t have to coordinate perfectly or fit a seasonal theme. For example, if you love sunflowers, don’t limit them to just the summer months. Artificial Sunflowers are a great plant to display around the house any time of the year.
Display them all through the winter to give your spirits a lift.
Tip #2 – Match your personality.
Some people love to make a big entrance while others prefer to stand on the sidelines before jumping in. Faux plants and flowers can be the same way.
Pick flowers and plants that suit the mood of your home and your own personality. If you like to make a statement, then choose a bold arrangement that shouts, “I’m here!”
If you’re more likely to let others have the spotlight, you might prefer a more calming set of plants that you’ll only notice if you’re looking.
Tip #3 – Choose plants you can rotate.
Pick plants and flowers that will work in more than one room of your house. As the winter drags on, rotate those plants from room to room to create variety and a new dose of beauty in each room.
As winter closes in, set aside some time and budget to beautify your space. Science proves that beauty can drive those winter blues away.
Give us your best tips for cheering yourself up on a cold, winter day in the comments.
And, as always, don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
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