Choosing Your Furniture To Minimise Seasonal Blues
The summer months are usually a time of fun and happiness. You spend more time outside in the sun and you just feel like you have more energy. The outlook is not always so good in winter however. 3% of people suffer from a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, which normally strikes every year, and a further 12% have reported mild cases. These include depression, sleeping problems and lethargy to name a few. It is caused by a lack of sunlight in the winter months having an effect on the chemical balance in the brain. At night the receptors in the eyes report to the pineal gland that there is less light, which in turn releases a chemical called melatonin into the body, which causes us to feel sleepy and slow down.
Believe it or not we can reduce the effect of Seasonal Affective Disorder by being careful about what we surround ourselves with in our homes. Living room and additionally bedroom furniture are often the most important to get right as these are the rooms that we spend most of our time in. Buying white furniture like white wardrobes, tables and chairs will increase the amount of light that is reflected around the room and will have a large impact on mood.
A minimal approach to furniture is also a good idea as this helps open up rooms and reduces the feeling of being cluttered.Not only does less furniture been you wont bump into stuff as much when you move around, but additionally the light that enters the room bumps into less things and this makes the room brighter. Light reflection is also enhanced by covering your walls in light and bright paint or wall paper.
Some ideas for reducing the amount of furniture you have include only having your table large enough for everyday use and taking away or adding chairs if and when you need them, only have a single bedside table rather than one each side, and getting rid of small pieces that only have aesthetic value.
Birmingham – Blue and White