| It turns out your mother was right after all -- | | | | had a color called "Dad's blue shirt". Look at the colors |
| Happiness really does begin at home, with the things | | | | around you. If paint is not an option check your |
| and the people you are surrounded by. Your vision is | | | | accessories. Glue some inexpensive colorful beads or |
| one of the first messengers to send signals to your | | | | buttons to terra cotta pots to use as bright catch-alls |
| brain as to how it feels. Therefore, it follows that | | | | for the bathroom, the desk, the kitchen table. Buy |
| keeping your home happier will have a direct impact | | | | colorful frames for pictures. Wear a colorful top. |
| on how you feel. | | | | When I wear red, I smile all day. |
| What do you see in your home --Clutter? Chaos? | | | | 3. Don't forget the smile factor |
| Angry faces? What do you hear -- Loud voices; bad | | | | The smile factor is truly personal. I have a |
| music? | | | | screensaver of my 2 puppies in a funny position. I |
| What do you feel when you look around your home? | | | | grin every time I see it, no matter how stressed, no |
| Stress? Unhappiness? Frustration? UGGGGG! | | | | matter how irritated I am at my internet cable |
| What if instead you could feel and "see" opportunity | | | | provider. Take inventory of your space, one piece at |
| and optimism? Energy and enthusiasm? Ok, maybe | | | | a time. Ask yourself, is it useful? Is it beautiful to |
| that's going a little too far, after all it IS just the living | | | | me? Does it make me smile? Or does it make me |
| room. | | | | remember how much my mother-in-law criticizes me? |
| Try these ways to let your environment help make | | | | 4. Function is always a factor! |
| you happier. | | | | Check the function of your space. Take a look |
| 1. Subtract the Ugg factor | | | | around -- is your home functioning in a way that |
| Chances are if you're like most people these days, | | | | supports what you want and how you want to feel? |
| you are fighting tooth and nail just trying to keep up | | | | If the room is for working and reading, low lights will |
| with your life. Getting organized will help you win the | | | | make you uncomfortable and unhappy. Functionality is |
| fight. Look for the ugg factors in each of your | | | | increased when a multi-purpose -- or multi person -- |
| spaces (desk, office, living room, bedroom, garage). | | | | room is divided into zones so that more than one |
| Start with the White Elephant, the first thing that | | | | purpose or person can use it effectively. Use your |
| makes you go UGG when you walk into the space. | | | | creativity. Even the ubiquitous storage must-haves |
| Fix it, clean it, organize it, get rid of it. Whatever. | | | | can be more than merely functional. With a little |
| 2. Up the color factor | | | | planning and thought, they can add visual interest and |
| Color is the accessory to our lives. Without it, while | | | | style to a room. |
| functional, it can be pretty plain. And scientists have | | | | The steps to happiness begin with what you are |
| long knows the effects that color can have on | | | | surrounded by most of the time. Use positive |
| moods. Red and Yellows and Oranges inspire and | | | | psychology, positive messages, and positive images |
| stimulate. Blues and Greens are calming and | | | | to feed your brain positive feelings. If you put these |
| restorative. Colors can also elicit memories, like | | | | ideas to work, your home really can help keep you |
| "hospital green", or "college purple". In my family, we | | | | happy. |