Griya Anda

Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and then the light slowly starts returning to the northern hemisphere. But that still means we have many months of the year when our bedrooms get very little or no light in the mornings, when we get up, and are dark long before we go to sleep. If you’re someone who gets blue without enough light in your life, try brightening up your bedroom by making it feel like summer!

Think summer. Light colors, light fabrics. Take down the dark, heavy drapes and let the windows bring in as much light as possible during the day. When evening approaches, pull down the blinds and close the sheer curtains, which will look delightful in the glow of your warm bedroom lighting. Use soft white or pink-tinted bulbs in your lamps, or the full spectrum bulbs that replicate natural sunlight. They can make a huge difference in how you feel!

One way to optimize the light that comes in during the day is to position a large mirror on a wall across from or corner to a window. The mirrors will reflect sunlight and bounce it around the room. Hanging crystals in your windows is another way to bounce light around the room at certain times of day — except this will be like having rainbows all around you!

Make your bedroom feel lighter simply by eliminating or moving around your furniture to have more open space available. Use colors for your bedding that complement the summer scheme, such as celadon, aquamarine, a hint of orange and yellow, or nautical navy blue and white stripes. A floral-pattern or green rug on the floor will evoke summertime thoughts, as will adding some flowering plants, greenery, or vases of flowers. A large tropical plant with palm leaves gives an instant feeling of warmth!

If you have a fireplace in the bedroom, try decorating the mantle with shells or framed photos taken in the summer. A painting or photo above the mantle of the beach, a boat on water, or lush foliage can add to the effect.

Try a few of these suggestions to brighten your bedroom and give you a taste of summertime — even during the dark days of winter!

It seems that once again, the virtual world has outperformed the real world. Online furniture retailers are offering canvas transfers and prints from respected artists alongside their furniture.

I have to confess, I am an avid online shopper. Being a New Yorker, there are two elements to the online shopping experience that make it so much better than going to a local retailer. The first, unquestionably, is convenience. Trying to get any item of substance around this town is nearly impossible. Delivery fees charged by New York retailers are notoriously murderous, so that usually removes most items out of the competitive range of what is offered online. Additionally, I often have to travel far to find what I’m looking for, and traveling here can be a nightmare. Many singular online retailers have an exceptional selection of goods that might take several trips to several different merchants here to purchase.

The second element that makes online shopping more feasible is price. Delivery fees aside, most online retailers are not paying for expensive Manhattan real estate. The products they offer are no different in many cases to what is being sold online, and yet I am expected to pay a premium for having it right now. Sorry, but I can wait for a few days to have the exact same (or often a better) item delivered. In fact, Ii can probably pay for the most expensive and fastest delivery method offered and still save money over buying locally.

I recently had a good experience that solidified my position on online shopping. I was recently shopping online for furniture when I noticed that a few of the online retailers were offering prints and canvas transfers alongside their furnishings. These were high quality, framed or un-framed artistic works by recognized artist and the prices were well below what I would be paying here. The selection of artist was incredible, from impressionist masters such as Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh to abstracts from Maitland and Li-Leger. I ended up ordering two prints and one canvas transfer, all framed, in addition to the furniture piece I was originally looking for.

I would have a hard time finding an art selection as nice as the one this online furniture retailer had anywhere in the city, and especially not at a furniture store. They even had a section with the works of new artists.

The bottom line is that as long as online retailers continue to offer superior convenience, pricing and selection, the number of people who shop online will continue to grow. The art I found at my favorite online furniture dealer is just one example of how online shopping is really starting to surpass the local buying experience.

Whatever your circumstances, if you like the idea of getting back to nature, why not think about creating a rustic home? You don’t need to relocate or live in the country to achieve the rustic home look; you just need to get inspired.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a loft apartment, or a larger property; you can still create a charming rustic home.

Let’s start by looking at flooring. You can give your home an immediate rustic feel by taking up the carpet and going natural. Bring some early American history into your home and use reclaimed solid wood plank flooring. It will bring warmth and atmosphere to your home and become a talking point, as much reclaimed wood comes from buildings that are well over a century old. If you don’t want to use reclaimed wood there are many companies offering flooring that comes with the assurance that the wood is taken from a certified well-managed forest. You need have no worries that your new rustic home won’t be ecologically friendly.

One of the most important choices to make when choosing a rustic decorative theme is lighting. There are many unique designs to choose from. Consider a wagon wheel chandelier to give an authentic western feel to your home, or reproduction antlers to add a feeling of the wild and the natural. Advantages of bringing in reproductive lighting, particularly in the case of antlers, are that they are practical and affordable. Rustic tin lamps can also bring a rustic feel to your home.

You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting furniture for your rustic home. The rustic look is full of texture and for this reason it is important not to overdo it. Choose only a few select items, and if you want to avoid using too much wooden furniture, consider mixing in some wrought iron. Wrought iron can often incorporate wildlife or nature images that blend beautifully with the rustic natural feel. Decorative coat racks, wood and newspaper bins can add country charm. Add a bit of style and warmth with fabrics and accessories, from country-style cushion covers to duvets and throws.

You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune to create a rustic home. Think about adding thoughtful little touches that cost little or nothing at all - except some imagination. Press some flowers or leaves, collect some shells or acorns, and arrange them into an attractive display that can be mounted on a wall. Make use of an existing hobby - or start a new one - and create some artwork. From needlework, cross-stitch to photography and drawing - all of these can add to the lovely feel of your rustic home.

A rustic home can be for everyone. If you want to live in the country but are unable to do so, bring the country feel into your home by making it rustic. If you live in the country, make yours a rustic home to blend in with your surroundings. Whoever and wherever you are, you can create a rustic home.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.