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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) - Even the most dedicated snow-lovers can find themselves suffering winter blues when the sun disappears for days, and that long gap between New Year’s and spring stretches out before them.
If you’re an avid gardener, or just a nature lover, you can find yourself missing the sights, sounds and scents of your backyard garden. One of the best ways to shake those cold-weather doldrums is by bringing a bit of the garden into your home. Fortunately, there are numerous resources available to help you do just that.
Here are some ideas for brightening your home this winter by bringing the outdoors inside:
* Grow an Herb Garden in Your Kitchen
Windowsill herb gardens bring the outdoors in and add a splash of natural color and earthy fragrance to your home. Plus, they’re a great source of fresh seasonings for your cooking. A variety of easy-to-grow pre-planted herb garden kits are available from a number of sources, from your local home and garden center, to online retail giants like Target.com and specialty Web sites such as www.herbkits.com.
* Go Grand with Your Garden Theme
For year-round inspiration, consider creating a garden room with a wall mural that brings the outdoors in. Few of us are up to hand painting our own murals, but fortunately there are alternatives.
From professional masterpieces to images of simple backyard gardens, you will find install-it-yourself wallpaper murals at www.muralsyourway.com. The company’s selection of more than 140 garden-themed murals includes a blissfully peaceful Japanese garden highlighted by a waterfall, a sun-splashed Mediterranean terrace, and a Monet-inspired water garden dappled with water lilies. Murals to fit an average-size wall, can cost from $150 to $500, with some select images and special sizes ranging higher.
* Brighten with Floral and Garden Accents
Floral wreaths, flower arrangements and fabrics are a simple, familiar way to add a garden touch to your home. But for those who think outside the box, there are endless opportunities to create a garden effect. Your favorite patio chair, subtly tucked into a corner of your family room, serves as extra seating and a gentle reminder of outdoor socializing.
Floral and garden designs have influenced home furnishings from coat racks to wall switch plates. Choose items that you are likely to love year-round, or that are easy to swap out as the seasons (and your tastes) change. For floral arrangement ideas, visit your favorite neighborhood florist or craft store, such as Michaels. Home décor items with garden or floral themes can be found through catalogs and Web sites from a multitude of home furnishings companies.
* Sounds of the Outdoors
Our sense of hearing has a profound influence on our emotions. Whatever feelings your garden evokes – soothing, stimulating, relaxed or energized – you can recreate that mood with sound. Recordings of nature sounds, from birdsong to wind moving through tall grass, are available from a variety of sources, including Amazon.com, or the Web sites of your favorite music store.
* Let There be Natural Light
Experts tell us lower levels of sunlight are the source of our “Winter Blues.” Improvements in home insulation no longer make it necessary to block out the winter with heavy drapes, so consider making the most of the available sunlight by lightening windows with breezy, bright window treatments. You can supplement nature’s light with lamps and bulbs that mimic sunlight. Prices can range from less than $20 for bulbs to more than $100 for a floor lamp. Check out your local home improvement store, or a specialty Web site like www.fullspectrumsolutions.com.
* Smell the Roses and the Lavender
Scent is one of the easiest ways to bring the garden inside your home this winter. Simply visit your favorite supermarket and choose from a wide array of air fresheners for a quick fix. For longer-lasting aromatherapy, consider a tabletop automatic scent dispenser. Choose scents that will remind you of the outdoors without being overpowering, such as lavender or strawberry. Bringing a garden smell to your winter home can cost as little as $2 or $3 for a basic air freshener, to more than $100 for a tabletop scent dispenser. Courtesy of ARA Content
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