Winter gets a bad wrap sometimes….doesn’t it? The cold wintery days are often associated with dull, gloomy colors. Winter also seems to be deemed as the most depressing season for many. But WHY?
WE get to decide what to make of each and every season, as well as each and every day. Whether it’s 90 degrees or 9, we can create a space that makes us feel peaceful. Since I’ve been spending so much time inside with my 6 month old during these cold days, I’ve been extra invested in my home.
And who created the term “spring cleaning,” anyways? We can purge, declutter and reorganize in the winter too, right?
Overall, I’ve been working hard to create a warm, yet happy space (I only wish it looked something like the above photo). I have a long way to go, but I’m determined. Whenever I find myself at a loss of how to achieve my residential goals…..I know Dawn D. Totty of Dawn D. Totty Designs is the one to call.
Dawn is in complete agreement that an uplifting space is entirely possible every single season….including winter.
So…where do we start?
“There has been so much research on the study of the psychology of color. We are told of color’s effect on our mood and even well-being – which supports the tremendous importance of creating a comfortable yet uplifting living and working environment,” shares Totty
“During the winter months, natural sunlight is significantly reduced at times, creating a shadowed effect on our interior spaces. Our home’s interior will speak loudest to us in the winter months when we are more confined to our homes and less likely to spend as much time outdoors. Setting the stage to a fresh and pleasant living environment will make a tremendous positive impact on our state of mind. For example, imagine an all black room from the ceiling to floor. It may look cool for a day or two, but in time, will have a negative emotional response,” she adds.
As always, Totty is never one to just simply tell us what to do. She is always glad to tell us how to do it.
Here are a few of Dawn’s tips to create a warm and pleasant home during the winter months:
- Lighting is key: Whenever possible use LED bulbs: they give off the cleanest and brightest light and are very energy efficient and can literally be left on 24/7. What’s more? They also cost pennies a day! Introduce a floor lamp or two, or perhaps a table lamp on a side table, or on a kitchen counter.
- Colorful textiles: Pillows, area rugs and window treatments (just remember to keep them pulled back during the day to allow natural sunlight into the space) are a quick and inexpensive way to make a big update to your décor, without a ton of effort or expense, and can really transform a bedroom or living room.
- Trending color choices – Home interior Design and Fashion are one in the same: Whatever is trending in the fashion world = ditto for home décor!
- Recreate your furniture layout by re-positioning your sofa, chairs, cocktail tables and side tables.
- Colorful potted plants such as orchids and palms bring color and life to a room when most outside plant life is appearing pretty grim.
- A Room Diffuser filled with an essential oil of your choice (lavender is one of the most calming) will purify the home during the winter months when the doors and windows are shut.
- Introduce a large colorful piece of art to compliment your new pillows or bedding!
So there you have it. When it’s cold outside…..you too, can have the month of May.
Would you like to keep up with Dawn’s design tips and projects? Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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About Dawn D. Totty Designs
Dawn D. Totty is an innovative Interior Designer focused on service, customization, enhancing property value and affordably designing spaces to reach their full potential. Whether a home or business renovation, she has been successfully meeting individual needs and bringing personal visions to life, everywhere she goes. As a self-described “problem solver,” Totty consistently saves her clients time and money, while reflecting their personal styles at affordable rates. With a background which began in the New York Fashion industry, Totty has been designing people, places and spaces for 23 years.
In addition to her aesthetic talents and undeniable creativity, lies the mind of an entrepreneur. She’s a real estate investor with a highly favorable track record. She has been known to consistently make sizeable profits off of her investments as she has a trained eye for what potential buyers look for. From homes, to business environments, Totty’s designs have been positively impacting lives both personally and professionally.
In the past year, Dawn’s designs have been featured in over 50 publications, including House Beautiful, Realtor.com, Reader’s Digest, City Scope, Chatter (Times Free Press), Stir Magazine (Sherwin Williams) Vie Magazine, American Farmhouse, and Contemporary Stone + Tile DESIGN. Most recently, Dawn was named the “Best Interior Designer” in Chattanooga’s 2019 “Best of the best” awards.