Seven Ways to Brighten Your Home on a Cloudy Day!

Fall is officially here in Southern California. Brisk mornings, overcast days, chilly evenings, the leaves are beginning to turn colors…well, ok.  Palm trees don’t change colors, but you get the idea.  The following are a few ideas to brighten your home on a cold, cloudy day.

1. Mirrors, mirrors on the walls...

Mirrors are a great way to expand a space as well as reflect light.  Instead of a piece of artwork which otherwise might absorb light such as above a sofa or buffet table, replace it with a beautifully framed mirror.  However, make sure that the mirror is reflecting something beautiful or of interest such as the view to the outdoors or a beautiful chandelier: not just reflecting yet another blank wall.

2. Embrace Fall and the colors of the changing leaves or fall fruits and vegetables.

Bring the outdoors in by adding potted plants or clipping some branches from your yard and placing them in a vase as a centerpiece or on a side table. Plants will soften hard edges, add depth and color to a space as well as texture and interest.

3. Have you seen your kitchen counter lately? 

Are you even sure you know what color your kitchen counter is anymore?  How about the top of your desk? De-Clutter and purge items that are sucking the life and the light out of your rooms. Yes, that might mean putting away half of your rooster collection, or at least some of your countertop appliances  (Do you really use ALL of them EVERY day? Really?)  Simple steps like this will make a huge difference in how bright a room feels.

4. Clean those windows!

Hard water spots, Santa Ana dust, fire smoke, cob webs, wet doggie nose streaks all lead to the same conclusion..."Clean Those Windows!"  You’d be amazed how bright your home will seem by doing this simple task.

5. Scents make sense!

Warm apple cinnamon, vanilla cookie dough, pumpkin spice, cranberry & clove; don’t these just bring warm thoughts to mind just by thinking of them?  Scents make sense.  Not only will they warm your senses, they will brighten your mood.

6. Let there be light!

While for some this might be what I call a, “well, duh” moment, for others allow me to shed a little light on the subject. (Pardon the pun.)  Not just by buying MORE lights or lamps but by simply replacing all those burnt out light bulbs in your house.  During the bright summer months, we tend to be able to “put off” changing those bulbs because, well, it’s bright outside until 8:30 at night.  However, your eye gets used to what it sees everyday.

Case in point: I am a firm believer in practicing what I preach, as I wrote this very blog I counted 8 light bulbs that were out in my home: 1 in each bathroom, 1 in the entry, 1 in the living room, 2 in the bedrooms…you get the point.  Taking a few minutes to change these bulbs did wonders for these spaces.

7. Paint!

Lastly, a bit more labor intensive but will make a drastic difference in any room is: paint.  Paint can change the entire feel of a room and an entire home with a simple stroke of the brush.  Feeling a little “color shy” when it comes to something that seems so permanent? Try choosing a color that already works with your home’s décor or color scheme, such as a favorite painting or throw pillows, then only paint one focal wall and see how it feels.  Warm glowing honey, a lighter shade of blue or green can do just the trick.

Following these simple steps will ensure that your home will still feel bright and cheery, even on the most overcast or cloudy day!

-  Connie Tebyani, Platinum Home Staging, Inc.

Note from Conejo Joe: Connie Tebyani is a Professional Home Stager, Interior Design Consultant and Owner of Platinum Home Staging, Inc. She is also the Preferred Interior Designer for Pottery Barn and a member of the Real Estate Staging Association.  Connie has lived in the Conejo Valley for 20 years with her husband and 2 boys.  Visit her website at www.PlatinumHomeStaging.com or 805.553.9952.