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Last updated: 2 February 2024
9 ideas to banish Blue Monday in your home
This year, Blue Monday falls on the 15th of January. However, fear not! We’re sharing a selection of Blue Monday ideas and costs for transforming your home into a blue-banishing, happy sanctuary.
Blue Monday is the name given to a day in January (typically the third Monday of the month), which is claimed to be the most depressing day of the year. However, fear not! We've got the best tips and tricks to help maximise your home's positive potential and turn that frown upside-down.
Here are our top nine Blue Monday ideas (with costs) for things you can do in your home to banish the Monday Blues and start the year on a high.
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1. Install mood lighting
An easy way to combat SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is to 'light up your beautiful life' with mood lighting. Think low-hanging pendant lights above your dining table, string lights draped across your bookshelf, a soft glow from strip lights installed in your kitchen cupboards or LED wall lamps that are proven to improve your mood and decrease stress.
Make sure to layer your lighting so that you can go from bright and functional to moody and hygge at the flick of a switch.
£350-£500 = the averagecost to install downlights
£50 - £60 per hour = the averagecost to hire an electrician
2. Introduce fragrance
Banish the blues by bringing some calm and relaxation to your home through the power of scent.
An aromatherapy diffuser or plug-in is an easy way to invigorate your home. A more natural way is to fill some vases with nature's perfume. For example, take cuttings of wildflowers like lavender or gardenia and arrange them in pots around your house.
If you don't have access to these sweet-smelling flowers, plant your own! You can never go wrong with potted perennials to clean the air and keep your home feeling fresh.
£35per hour = the average cost of a gardener
3. Add a lick of paint
It's been proven that colour affects our mood. So, painting your home in uplifting, energising tones is the perfect way to banish your Monday blues.
Warm colours like red, yellow and orange are great for creating lively and energetic spaces - although if these colours feel too bold for your liking, you could always opt for warm neutrals on the walls and keep the bolder colours to accessories and artwork. Meanwhile, cool colours like blue, green and purple are effective at creating a calm and relaxing mood.
Just watch out because darker blues can trigger feelings of sadness (it's called 'blue' Monday for a reason!). So, lean towards lighter blues to evoke tranquil scenes of lakes and rivers - or shades of green to reflect nature and feelings of growth and renewal.
£325 per day = the average cost to hire a painter/decorator
4. Let the sunshine in
Invite the sunshine to brighten your day and warm your mood.
There are lots of clever tricks that can help you to increase natural light in a room. For example, you can accessorise with mirrors, opt for furniture that has reflective qualities, or choose window dressings that allow plenty of light into the space. Plus, if your windows are dirty, make sure to hire a window cleaner to make them shine.
If your budget stretches to making a long-term change to your home, why not invest in a sun tunnel? That way, you'll be able to let those happy rays of Vitamin D wash over you every morning, helping you start your day off right.
£100 per hour = the average interior designer cost
£35= the startingcost to hire a window cleaner for one to two hours of labour
£1,335= the averagecost of a sun tunnel + installation
5. Display what makes you happy
Your home is your castle. So, it should represent your unique personality and everything you love. Looking fondly upon our belongings is a surefire way to feel good.
For that reason, consider adding photo frames to your walls, hanging shelves to display sentimental objects, and putting up art that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. Why not hire a professional handyperson near you to help?
£30per hour = the average cost to hire a handyperson
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6. Find your inner child
Enjoy a well-earned break from reality by immersing yourself in the world of play and unlocking the joy of your inner child.
Turn your spare room into an emporium of wonders by filling it with everything that makes you happy. Home cinema? Games room? Casino?
In fact, why not live out your wildest fantasy by turning into James Bond for the day and recreating the Casino Royale poker room at home?
£6,230= the average cost to install ahigh-spec games room
£2,432= the average cost to build ahigh-spec poker room
7. Add a water feature
There's nothing more calm and tranquil than the sound of trickling water. In fact, the sound of water is so therapeutic that it can reduce anxiety, lower the heart rate and produce pleasure. What better time of the year to try this unique form of therapy than in January, when your mood is likely to be at an all-time low?
Whether you install a water feature in your lounge or opt for a garden makeover, consider an aquatic mood-buster for increased peace and joy.
£300-£1,250+ = the average cost of a small rock drilled water feature
8. Get that 'on cloud nine' feeling
Do you remember how it felt when you first fell in love? Dopamine – the feel-good brain chemical associated with reward – is so overstimulated it makes you giddy.
It's a mood intensifier that makes people feel extremely positive and appreciated. So, it's the perfect weapon to battle that January blues feeling.
With that in mind, why not recreate that mood by harnessing the power of Love Island and transforming your garden into that famed outdoor space? We're talking gorgeous garden lighting, swing seats, and of course, a hot tub and fire pit so you can make the most of your new outdoor space all winter long.
£9,000 = the averagecost to build a Love Island garden
9. Bash out your happy song and get bopping
Studies show that music lowers anxiety, blood pressure and pain while improving mood, sleep and memory. So, it's definitely time to turn up the radio or bash out your favourite tunes through your sound system.
Top up your endorphins and banish those negative vibes by dancing along. Transforming a room of your house into a dedicated home dance studio could be the perfect outlet to reap the benefits of exercise and improved mental health.
Alternatively, if you're musically minded, why not set up your own recording studio? Harnessing your creativity is sure to improve your Monday Blues.
£525 = the averagecost of home dance studio
£1,440-£8,409 = the average cost to build a recording studio
Want someone where to put your studio? Learn how to build your own garden man cave in our dedicated guide.
Ready to banish the blues?
Find the perfect professionals to help you turn your home into a mood-boosting sanctuary on Checkatrade. Why not start by finding a reliable handyperson near you? Simply type your postcode into the box below to start the ball rolling.
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Like what you see? There’s more where this came from. Check out Checkatrade’s blog for more tips, ideas, how-tos, and inspiration.
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