It is hard to not feel happy when the summer roles around. You spend more time outside in the sun and you just feel like you have more energy. When the shorter colder days of winter approach however, a lot of peoples mood shifts. 3% of people suffer from a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, which normally strikes every year, and a further 12% have reported mild cases. These include feelings of unhappiness, tiredness and feeling unwell…although there are many more.In basic terms its cause comes from the reduced light levels that we get in the winter months, causing chemical imbalances in the brain. The eyes are very sensitive to light levels and if there is not enough of it around, they will trigger the body to release melatonin in to the blood stream, making us feel lethargic and tired.

Amazingly by carefully selecting the interior design items of our homes, we can have a real impact on the negative effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder and feel much better for it. Living room and also bedroom furniture are often the most important to get right as these are the rooms that we spend most of our time in. Getting white furniture such as white wardrobes, tables and chairs will increase the amount of light that is reflected around the room and will have a large impact on mood. Another tip is to place reflective ornaments around the room such as crystal glass and mirrored objects, that further scatter light into darker areas.

Keeping furniture down to a minimum is another great tip and stops rooms from feeling restricting and claustrophobic.If you have fewer pieces of furniture in a room, the light has a better opportunity to reflect around it and you will also be able to navigate it easier. You can also add to the efficiency of light circulation around a room by painting the walls in a light colour.

Some ideas for reducing the amount of furniture you have include only having your dining table large enough for everyday use and taking away or adding chairs if and when you need them. In the kitchen you can reduce clutter to open up the space by storing away things like glass vases and pans when they are not in use.