Below are some DIY ideas to shake the winter blues.
Bye-bye Blue Monday, Hello Creativity
January can often feel like a long, monotonous month. The cold and gloomy weather is starting to become a downer for a lot of us, but there are countless ways to bring life, color, and warmth into our lives this winter!
1. Paint a room or rearrange furniture
A great way to change things up and give a space new life is a fresh coat of paint or simply rearranging the furniture in a room. Some psychology experts argue that rearranging furniture can elevate mood and creativity. My husband would argue that it hurts his back. I love watching design shows for color and inspiration. My favorite is Restored by the Fords on HGTV. Leanne and her brother Steve give Pittsburgh homes the prettiest home makeovers, and Leanne will give you the confidence you need to start your DIY journey.
2. Go scavenging outdoors for design materials
One of my favorite Instagram accounts for this is @florentinemacaron. She takes materials such as pine cones, moss, and branches and shows you how to turn them into stunning art pieces!
3. Decorate for Valentine's Day by creating paper hearts
Paper hearts will be making their debut in our love, Pittsburgh shop this week. It has been a fun and easy creative activity for our dream team.
Here is a step-by-step guide with pictures to create your own: https://www.artbarblog.com/folded-paper-hearts/
4. Make a simmer pot to bring warmth and good smells
Often called stovetop potpourri, this is a blend of citrus, spices, and herbs that you simmer on the stove or a crockpot to make your house smell wonderful. There are countless recipes, but here is a classic winter mix:
- 1 small or medium navel orange
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 Tablespoons whole cloves
- 3 bay leaves or a pine or rosemary sprig
- 1 whole star anise (optional)
Bring to a boil and then simmer for as long as you'd like!
Photo Source: Souffle Bombay
5. Make a skin scrub to refresh dry, tired skin
When my skin is feeling dry and tight, I will make a small bowl of just sugar and coconut oil and bring it in the shower with me. About a 2:1 ratio of sugar to coconut oil. Your skin will feel SO soft and smooth afterwards, I promise :)