Cheery lighting and accent pieces to fight the winter doldrums.
If the winter gloom is getting to you, use your living spaces to brighten your mood.
There’s no time like the gray, gray present to add some bright, cheery décor to your home. It may not provide you with vitamin D, but adding sunny accents and bold pops of color can certainly boost your spirits.
Here are some picks for lighting and accent pieces to fight the winter doldrums.
Lighting
Lamps work overtime during the dark winter months, so it’s a great time to invest in some new lighting.
You can (literally) brighten up any room in the house with Caravan Pacific’s Sullivan Table Lamp ($185 at caravan-pacific.com), handcrafted in Portland. Turquoise is the brightest option, but the ceramic base is also available in beautiful hues such as juniper green, peony and manzanita blue.
Light up the room and add some drama with the unique, eye-catching Kate Spade Keaton Wire Floral Sconce ($315 at circalighting.com). Or cluster the 3-Piece LED Hurricane Set with Built-In Micro Lights ($40 at Bed Bath & Beyond) for a sleek, modern look.
Equal parts elegant and bohemian, the Cupcakes and Cashmere Tassel Table Lamp ($150 at Nordstrom) adds faux-leather tassels to a cheery pink base.
Decorative accents
To add instant color, swap out black or brown picture frames for something vibrant, such as the Argento SC Tahla Mosaic Stained Glass Picture Frame ($20 at Nordstrom).
Bring some sun into the room with the Crate & Barrel Sunflower Round Wall Mirror ($199 at Crate and Barrel), which features intricate iron petals with an on-trend antique brass finish.
For a small but eye-catching accent piece, pick up one (or four) of the Zetamari Mosaic Votive Candle Holders ($22 each at Venue, Ballard). Handmade in Seattle, they’re available in green, red, yellow and blue, and each comes with a tea light.
Or opt for the elegant Tiffany Noel Glass Votive Holders ($30 each at Venue), also made in Seattle, and available in green or blue with an included tea light.
Don’t forget the kitchen when you’re brightening up your living spaces. The Kate Spade Pretty Pantry Tall Canister ($35 at katespade.com) is both practical and fun, with a whimsical, multi-hued pattern.
Vases & flora
Even if you have a brown thumb, you can add plants to your home — just pick up the ever-improving faux variety.
Place the Pottery Barn Coral Peony Bundle (on sale for $20) or the CB2 Faux Phoenix Palm Leaf ($11 at cb2.com) into ceramic West Elm Colorblock Vases ($24–$34). The ceramic vases come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with edgy, unique color schemes and an artisan feel.
Reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s, the West Elm Mid-Century Turned Leg Tabletop Planters with Reactive Glaze ($24–$49) are another bright, striking vessel for your favorite plants.
Throw pillows
Fresh throw pillows are an easy, fun and affordable way to add color to your living space.
The Thro by Marlo Lorenz Pineapple Cotton Pillow (on sale for $32 at allmodern.com) evokes tasty summer vibes, and the decorative sequins are the perfect finishing touch.
The flamingo, that kitschy retro staple, is the theme of the Lilly Pulitzer Flamingo Pillow ($45 at Nordstrom), in the on-trend color combo of pink and lime green.
The Brayden Studio Nolting Lost In Botanica Indoor/Outdoor Pillow ($39–$69 at allmodern.com) features a modern floral print in four sizes. And, when sunny days return to Seattle, it can be used outdoors as well.