Paint your way out of the seasonal blues

Revelstoke’s location in an interior rainforest surrounded by mountains means sunlight can be lacking during winter days. For some a cosy home offers an escape from the short days and reduced sunlight. But can interior decor help keep away the seasonal funk? While the colour of the walls isn’t a substitute for a lack of vitamin D, it can help boost the mood during the long, cold nights of winter.

“With how dark Revelstoke gets, sticking with lighter colours can help the rooms feel brighter,” Kelsey Ferguson, Expressive Interiors owner told Revelstoke Mountaineer.

Even bright shades of blues and greens can liven up a space if paired right with other elements in a room, Ferguson said. Take a walk during sunny days and see what colours pop in the sun, then come back during overcast weather and see if those same shades still catch your eye. If so, grab some swatches that closely match those colours for a light-saving boost.

While white might seem like an obvious choice to help brighten a room, the undertone is what makes all the difference. According to Ferguson, whites with an orange or red undertone can create a brighter feeling while still keeping the space neutral. While blues and greens can help give a mood boost, white shades with a blue or green undertones will dampen things a bit. Explore cream colours for a wider range of shades that still keep yellow and orange tones.

Don’t think greys are off the table. There’s a difference between the greys of clouds delivering nearly 1,300 millimeters of rain and a softer grey like pewter that can help reflect light into the space. Again, look for greys with yellow, red or even brown undertones in them to stay in the warmer range.

“Colours have the power to evoke emotions, spark memories and shape our moods,” Ferguson said. “Paint your home with hues that bring you joy, serenity and happiness.”

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