The mornings are getting lighter earlier and there is a breath of Spring in the air. More people are sitting outside the cafes and a feeling of optimism is appearing. Spring doesn’t officially start until March but shades of lemon and blue are appearing in shop winters and after the Vermeer winter tones, they are very welcome. The natural sunlight is so important for wellbeing and a dose of Vitamin D is known to lower anxiety and depression. When we lived in Berlin and experienced our first winter, we were amazed to see the pharmacies full of vitamin D boxes for sale. After weeks of grey, we realised why. Having gone through our second Southern French winter, we really appreciate the blue skies even if the sun struggles to heat up. This led to thoughts of renewal and what do we want to do differently?
Feng Shui First
Other posts highlight the need to declutter, clear away and clean to open up new energy and a sense of lightness. By clearing out a cluttered space, you are giving your living space room to breathe and to bring in better energy and inner harmony. By now, you will know the main entrance to your space is really important. How often do you walk in to a place and almost tumble over shoes, coats and bags? The Chi energy is already stumbling instead of flowing. If you really need to put shoes there, only put one pair, and neatly. Otherwise, put them away. Clear out closets and drawers – pull everything out and put back only the essentials.
Light Up the Room
It doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Look at the darker areas in your living space or rooms. Consider brightening them up with colour, a lamp or lighter textures. We had a dark corner and, unexpectedly, we found a reproduction Art Deco light in a cheap and cheerful shop. It instantly adds a warmth to the stone wall and brightens up the room. Pale lemon cushions were added to a new white and grey bed cover adding a crisp, fresh look. So, open the windows, spruce up the furniture and let the light in!
