Only eight more weeks till the first day of Spring (technically)

Got the January blahs? Worried that they might hang on  through February, March and April? You could tick off the weekends till Spring by spending them on the couch, with a box of chocs in one hand and the TV remote in the other (of course TCM would be in heavy rotation). Or you could give yourself a few weekend projects to brighten things up around the house. Home Depot has some suggestions:

Change up your lighting, especially in living or bedrooms. Add a dimmer for mood lighting (better than Botox, and safer, too), or treat yourself to an affordable splurge with a lamp from the Martha Stewart Living collection (see pic at left).

A cozy rug will keep you warm (inside at least). Choose a solid neutral or a bold geometrics and oversized pattern to add drama. If you’ve got the money/nerve, go for something from the wonderful Maude design in Vancouver or  Vivienne Westwood, whose is about to launch her own TV show,  in a trendy plaid. (both shown below)

 

 

 Add a sunny shine to drawers pulls in the kitchen or bathroom with Rust-Oleum universal  
 metallic spray paint, which works on most surfaces — including wood, metal, plastic, concrete and vinyl.  

Give your stairs a fresh coat of paint. Go traditional and paint them to blend with the walls or get adventurous by painting a “runner” pattern. If you need extra storage, consider building an under-the-stair feature like the one shown below. You’ll find instructions  on the Home Depot website.

 

Speaking of Home Depot, has anyone else wondered if there's any connection between the departure of long-time prez Annette Verschuren and talk of the arrival of Target in Canada (O Happy Day!). Hhhm. Far-fetched? Perhaps.