I’m a very visual person and I firmly believe that what we surround ourselves with in our environment has incredible power over us. I love color (especially the color red), and since I’m a cheerful person, I enjoy having “splashes of happy” throughout our home.
Yes, I realize things can’t make us happy and they shouldn’t determine our self-worth. What I’m referring to is not so much the furniture and artifacts inside our houses and various rooms, but instead, what we incorporate into our lives on a daily basis such as: creative use of color, wall art selections, border choices, and perhaps, even window treatments. Other elements might include various themed rooms, the personal contents (photos, etc.) of a favorite space, or maybe some “comfort scents” from potpourri and candles.
All of the things I just mentioned can greatly affect our moods, not to mention our writing! And we don’t have to break the bank to add a little “happy” to our lives. One of the happiest rooms in our home is our kitchen, and some of the treasures there came from flea markets, auctions, or garage sales. It’s simply (but brightly) decorated and done in a country/apple theme. Tomato reds, butter yellows, and various shades of blues grace the room that I spend a good portion of my time in.
The other area I spend a lot of hours in is my home office, of course. It’s still a work-in-progress, which is fitting I suppose. I currently just don’t have the time to finish decorating. Writing and the business of writing demand so much of my attention, and then, too, I still have a family to care for.
I do manage to have “splashes of happy” in my creative space though. I adore the beach so the borders there are of surf, sand, and sea grass. On my desk to inspire me I have a few cherished photographs of family, some favorite scriptures, a single die that was from a board game of my beloved Nana’s, and several writerly things. One day when time isn’t so scarce, I’ll add a few more splashes of happy.
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A question for you to think about…What splashes of happy paint your favorite space?
Comments 6
I’m with you on lack of time to decorate. I really like touches of Asian or “Zen-like” influence in my home, so I’ve got lots of bamboo. And now that my son is obsessed with animals, I hear a lot about pandas eating bamboo. 🙂
Author
Oh, I remember those days! With our children, each month or so it was something new! Our middle schooler’s bedroom is now a light mint with one accent wall of “berry pink.” (I about cried when we took the old borders down to repaint. I still miss the little victorian teddy bears sitting down to afternoon tea!)
Light mint and berry pink sound good enough to eat! It sounds very (berry?) pretty to me.
Author
I needed a giggle this morning, Patti!
A $25 glider rocker that I made new cushions for using a dogwood print on a minty green background graces my sewing room, along with an antique side-by-side that has antique family quilts folded on the shelves behind the glass door. Sea shells and other beach themed items grace most of the other rooms.
Author
Somehow, your creativity doesn’t surprise me! And I love beach themed things, too, Patti!