Did you know that January is named after Janus, the god of gateways and that Janus could look in both directions, back at the old year and forward towards the new year at the same time?
Hindsight and foresight both 20/20 for this guy, right?
However, as far as we’re concerned, December is as cold as January, and just as grey. The days are as short, and the nights just as long and just as dark.
People generally associate summer with bright colours, but I tend to think it’s December and January that need a bit of cheer injected into.
Here are 6 ways to inject some June into those January greys.
Unless you live in the Southern Hemisphere, in which case you want to inject January into your June greys.
1. Cushions
Scatter a selection of cushions on to a couch or bed. They’ll be a soft cloud to sink into and will be a cheerful pop of colour, pattern and texture.
One Nine Eight Five, Zip Velvet Cushion Ochre, £99.
Denys & Fielding, Blue & Orange Leaf Floor Cushion, £85.
2. Lighting
It’s amazing how much lighting can lift spirits during a dark evening. Add a lamp or two, and then add some colour to those lamps with a bright lampshade! Mood lighting, anyone?
Angus Ross, Y Light Table, POA.
Copper Dust, Teshie Blue Star Lampshade, £120
Colour and Form, Bliss Large Lamp Shade, £120
3. Stoves
A warm house is the most inviting thing in a cold spell. You could go modern, or traditional with a stove to heat things up, and you could even cook your dinner in the Hungry Penguin!
Future Fires, Bollente, From £1,360
Chilli Penguin, The Hungry Penguin, £1489
4. Rugs
Add a splash of colour to floors with a bright rug. Your feet won’t have to touch the cold floor again! Also, they add texture to the room. Win, Win!
Fleetwood Fox, Readymade Rugs, POA
5. Throws
Toss a throw on the couch. Then wrap up in it like a cosy cocoon. Do not emerge till spring.
By Lisa Watson, Harris Tweed Quilt, £355
Loopy Ewes, Turquoise Herringbone throw, £125
6. Wall
If you don’t want to add paint to a wall, a bright print or painting is an easy way of adding some life to a space. Still life, botanical, abstract, photograph… whatever is to your taste.
Julia Langley, Elliptic Yellow Print, From £75
Janet Tod, Orchid and Moonlight, POA
Finally, there’s always the option to stop in at the nearest florist and pick up a bunch of fresh flowers!
Go on, you know you want to add some June to your Jan.
What are your top tips for adding June to Jan? Let us know in a tweet!
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Preeti is the Marketing Manager at Blue Patch. Born and raised in India, she spent some time in the US, completing a degree in Psychology and Biology, after which she moved to the UK in 2010 to study an MSc in Finance and Management. She can often be found obsessing over her plants, trying to clamp down on an ever-increasing collection of nail polish or exploring and taking photos of random corners of London. She loves pops of colours amidst all the neutral.
