Beat Blue Monday with interior design & décor

What is Blue Monday?

Blue Monday is considered to be the most depressing day of the year. It's a day of poor weather, the celebrations have ended, bills are impending and many of us may be struggling with our New Years' resolutions. 

It doesn't have to be all doom and gloom though; you might prefer to think of January as an exciting time for new beginnings and opportunities for the year ahead. 

When is Blue Monday?

Blue Monday takes place on the third Monday of January every year. This year Blue Monday takes place on 15^th January 2024.  

Prepare for Blue Monday by making your spaces greener and learn about the mental health benefits of plants – whether they are real or artificial! 

Our tips for defeating Blue Monday 

To help get you into a more positive state of mind, we've come up with relaxing and uplifting interior design tips to help you create a safe space all in time for Blue Monday. 

Follow the ways of feng shui

Following the ways of feng shui will help to create a sense of harmony within your space, allowing positive energy to flow. 

Houseplants are an excellent way to start practising feng shui. Many of indoor plants have strong connotations with wealth and positive energy -  such as the pilea and begonia respectively. 

Additionally, changing the layout of your furniture, so that your sofa or bed isn’t directly facing a window or doorway, and introducing plenty of natural light will help positive energy flow through your space.  

Choose the right houseplants

Using houseplants that are easy to care for is a win-win. Opting for artificial houseplants means you can gain all the mental health benefits of a greener space with none of the hassle or maintenance associated with real plants.  

From tall botanical beauties to small tabletop arrangements, mixing up the plants in your space can create a steady flow from room to room . The fun part is that you can make your space as #jungalow as you want, either by using a whole plethora of plants in your living room and really filling your space or pairing it back with a few leafy friends. Still unsure of what plants ae best for you? Here are a few of our top plant picks: 

Bamboo

Of course, bamboo is top of our list! It’s well known for exuding calming vibes and it looks great in most interior styles. We think our faux bamboo looks best potted in a decorative planter or a large seagrass basket. 

Our hassle-free top picks include the artificial oriental bamboo for both indoor and outdoor use and for indoor use, the natural bamboo and the Japanese bamboo. 

Fiddle leaf fig

The fiddle leaf fig has become an increasingly popular houseplant in recent years. With its large fiddle-shaped leaves, the fiddle leaf fig promotes a sense of gentle calm and effortlessly refreshes your space.  

Despite its popularity, the natural tree needs a lot of TLC and can be deemed as too challenging to look after. Thankfully, our faux fiddle figs looks just like the real thing but there’s no maintenance involved! 

Ivy

Give your walls some leafy love by styling up your shelves with ivy and introduce hanging or trailing plants to draw the eye upwards. Ivy is a staple for just about any high-up space, whether that’s a shelf, windowsill or trailing down tall furniture. Its inviting greenery excels at softening harsh, cold corners and it matches any colour scheme. 

Monstera

From leafy floor plants to trailing garlands, monsteras are surprisingly versatile. Create a jungle Zen in your home using our popular faux cheese plant or use our trailing monkey monstera garland for a more subtle jungle approach.

Boston fern

With bushy, apple-green leaves, the Boston fern can bring an empty corner or table-top to life in an instant. Its timeless style can work with any interior design, making it one of our top picks. Opting for the artificial alternative means there is no risk of pests (something this plant is sadly susceptible to) and no maintenance!

Calathea

We love the calatheas unique foliage, with spectacularly patterned tops and purple undersides that can add exciting colour to your space. Sadly, real calatheas are susceptible to disease and prefer filtered water, but their beauty is worth it! Alternatively, we’ve got a few faux options that are completely hassle-free, including our pinstripe, rattlesnake and artificial medallion calathea. 

Pot styling

The pot you choose to pair with your plant can totally change the feeling of your room. Brightly coloured pots dotted around will give your space a fun, exciting look, whereas earthy tones or natural textures, including rust and warm neutrals, will give your space a calming effect. 

Choose a mood-boosting colour palette

If you prefer the sound of a calming sanctuary this Blue Monday, try neutrals, earthy and natural colours. Blues and greens create a refreshed, tranquil atmosphere and have been shown to soothe anxiety. 

On the other hand, if you want your space to be fun, lively and to lift your spirits, look inwards to the colours that make you happiest. In most people, they tend to be bright and warm colours like yellow, orange and pink. 

One of the easiest ways to add new colours to your space is to introduce a pop of colour, whether it be a through a painted accent wall, scatter cushions or general small décor items – it really can be that simple! Don’t be afraid to play with colour, if you want to start off small, you could look to introduce colour into your space through florals.  

Colours can have a significant impact on our happiness and mental wellbeing; to find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of certain colours, read our ‘The meaning and psychology of flower colours’ blog post! 

Take your lighting seriously

It’s surprising how much of an impact lighting can have on your space and your mood. Bright artificial lighting can not only cause strain on your eyes but also throw off your circadian rhythm, which tells our bodies when it’s time to go to sleep. 

Throwing back your curtains or blinds in exchange for natural light during the day will help to give your space a warm sunny glow which in turn will help to boost your mood. In the evening, consider using table and floor lamps to gently cast a warm light instead of using harsh overhead lighting and we guarantee you’ll see a difference in the cosiness of your room. 

Add calming accessories

Using the right accessories is key to giving your space a homely feel, whether it’s a soft rug underfoot or a candle to scent your space and help you unwind after a long day. 

Pile on the cosiness by layering soft textures like cable knits, suede and velvet and give your space a closer link to nature by using natural materials like jute, wood and stone, similar to Japandi styling. 

Try to choose accessories that have meaning to you like family photos to give your room character and a personal touch. Don’t worry too much about your accessories being perfect, in fact, you can embrace the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi by finding beauty in imperfections from chipped or unglazed pottery to a stack of worn books. 

Introduce a comfy seating space

Whether you’re creating a relaxing bedroom, office or just a quiet corner to get away from it all, having a comfy space to sit and relax is a must-have space in your home. 

One of the best things you can do is choose a soft fabric like velvet or chenille, or in your bedroom, choose bedding with a high thread count for the softest feel. 

Although they may look good, rattan, wooden stools and thin plastic chairs won’t bring you much comfort. Instead, ensure your seat is nicely cushioned so you can sink into it with a glass of wine and keep Blue Monday at bay. 

Try to incorporate your chair or sofa into your interior décor, either by using a more subtle colour to offset your boldly coloured walls or by choosing a maximalist fabric and making a statement with it. 

There’s no need to go out and buy something new if you already have a comfy chair. Try changing the look of your existing seating with a cover, which could even be switched out throughout the year to match the changing seasons. 

Lastly, finish it off with a suitable side table for your cup of tea, a lamp for the evening, and perhaps section it off from the rest of your home using a folding screen or bamboo screening to avoid distractions and unwanted intrusions. 

Tidy away clutter

When designing a space where you can be happiest, make sure to include storage for any mess and objects you don’t want on display. A clean space is a clean mind! Baskets can hold lots of things and if you use a seagrass or wicker basket, it will double up as décor and its natural look will add to the cosiness of your space. 

Don't forget the garden!

It's easy to spruce up your interior, but want to look out your window and see a bland garden staring back at you. This year, you can beat Blue Monday by creating a beautiful outdoor space that you can admire from indoors. 

There's no need to have a large grassy garden, even if it's just a small balcony or window ledge you can transform your outdoor space by using colourful blooms or flowering shrubs like winter honeysuckle, pansies, daphne or cyclamen. Either add them to a flower bed, install a window box or use a range of small potted plants dotted around to make your space a little happier. 

As with your houseplants, you can make this step even easier for yourself by choosing faux flowers which will keep their colour all throughout the year and require zero maintenance. Style up your outdoor space with our artificial window boxes, or perhaps a hanging basket or two; or you could even go all out and create a botanical feature using our green living wall – the options are truly endless! 

Seek advice

Our final tip is a little different from the rest. If you're finding it a particularly tough time of year, make sure not to bottle things up. Talk to friends, family or a professional if it's all feeling a bit too much this Blue Monday. 💙