It happens every year in the northwest corner of the U.S. The fall season hits. The leaves change. Then the clouds roll in and one day they just stay. Don’t let the winter blues get you down, though! Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be tough, but your home can become a place where you feel reinvigorated and refreshed each and every day!
Here’s how to make your apartment feel lighter and brighter in the long, dark, PNW winter.
7 ways to make an apartment brighter in winter
Use a mix of white and yellow light
One of the first things you can do to make your apartment feel lighter and brighter is to use a mix of cool and warm light during the day. Switching from a warm, cozy yellow light to a brighter, whiter light in the mornings can move your brain into “it’s daytime now” mode, rather hitting the snooze button and curling up with a pillow.
Light has a big effect on your brain and your level of alertness, so the type of light that you have around the house can really impact your mood and energy levels. Your circadian rhythm — as in, the 24-hour cycle of physical patterns your body goes through every day — is affected by the kind of light around you and, as a result, will change the amount of melatonin your brain produces to help you sleep. The wavelengths in cool, white light signals your brain to stay awake, while the wavelengths of warm light or a lack of light signals your brain to start getting ready for bed.
Use cool, white light to get your brain and body alert in the morning when the sun is still inching its way over the mountains, then use it strategically in the afternoons when the sun sets early but you still need to stay awake and productive. Finally, use yellow lights in the evening as you’re getting ready to wind down.
Don’t let the early sunsets get your circadian rhythm all out of whack! Use lights strategically to not only keep your apartment light and bright, but to help you regulate your brain and energy levels!
Get some plants & grow lights
Introducing plants into your space can add a touch of fresh greenery and life to a dark apartment, and a grow light or two will do wonders for brightening up your space.
Setting your plants’ grow lights on a timer can accomplish several things. First, it will make sure that your plants are getting the amount of light that they need to stay healthy and grow, despite the short days and long nights. Second, you can set the lights to turn on before you wake up — by the time you roll out of bed, your apartment is already full of bright light to get you ready for the day! You can also set them to turn off in the evening when you’re ready to start winding down.
Keep the windows clean
Make the most of the natural light in your apartment by keeping your windows clean and clear. After all, you only have a short window of time (literally and figuratively!) to enjoy the sunshine, so don’t let grime, dust and soot block any of it from coming into your space. A clean window makes a world of difference — not just for the light levels but the overall tidiness and cleanliness of your space.
Use lighter curtains or blinds
Another way to maximize the amount of light you’re getting is to use curtains or blinds that are light in color and are easy to move away from windows.
The goal here is to maximize the amount of daylight you’re getting during the day, and reflect as much light as possible in the evening when your lights are on. White curtains or blinds that are lit up by artificial light can still add lightness to your space, even if they’re closed and it’s dark outside. They’ll certainly reflect more light than black curtains or heavy drapes will!
Utilize reflected light
Speaking of reflected light, it’s amazing what a bit of glass can do to lighten up a room!
Take advantage of a natural light source by placing large mirrors on the walls next to or opposite any large windows. This will not only reflect the sunlight light around the room, but it can create an illusion of having another window or two where there was once just a plain wall!
Glass objects of all kinds can reflect light to different extents. A mirror works best, of course, but even a simple collection of glass vases or bowls on the counter can help the light scatter and sprinkle around your apartment. Picture frames with glass panels and small hanging mirrors are easy ways to add some reflected light to a dark wall or corner, too, while cabinets with glass windows or doors add an extra touch of elegance to your brighter, lighter apartment!
Declutter & clean
If you’re wondering why your space doesn’t feel as bright as it normally does, it may be that your light is being blocked by, well, stuff.
Decluttering or tidying up your apartment will make your space feel lighter and more airy without needing to add any extra light at all! Dust your countertops and bookshelves, tidy up the dining room table, pare down your bookshelf’s collection of knick-knacks or give the floor a good mop — none of these things alone will make a giant difference, but all of them together will leave your surfaces clear and bright, allowing the light to stream in and reflect around your apartment unhindered.
Use bright, colorful décor
Finally, if you’re still feeling like the winter blues are getting you down, incorporate some fun, colorful décor into your space that makes you feel happy. Bonus points if this décor is light, bright and breezy, too, as it will make your apartment feel both figuratively and literally lighter!
This can be anything from white bedsheets and pillowcases to a vase of fresh flowers to a bright rug, flowy curtains, a linen tablecloth, cool string lights, an eclectic painting or whatever you personally feel makes your space feel brighter. Seasonal décor really does help with the transition between seasons, and it’s a good chance to refresh your space and try new decoration ideas!
Winter in the Pacific Northwest can be rough, and the lack of sunlight makes it difficult to get our daily dose of Vitamin D and dopamine. With these handy tips and tricks, however, your home can become a place where you feel reinvigorated and refreshed each and every day this long, long winter.
If you live in our luxury Seattle apartments, then keep these tips in mind as we head into another gray, PNW winter. Even small changes can make a big difference!
Good luck!
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Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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