Find out how to use the concept of lemonading in your home to embrace positivity and improve happiness.
Looking on the bright side can be a helpful tool when dealing with life’s everyday struggles. But have you ever applied that notion to home decor? By tackling design challenges and trying your best to create a cozy home, you can make lemonade out of lemons! Because as we know, your environment has a big effect on your stress level, productivity and overall wellbeing. Here’s how to use the concept of “lemonading” to improve your mood with home decor.
What is Lemonading?
Lemonading is a way to face adversity with a positive mindset. According to a 2024 study published by Frontiers in Psychology, “Lemonading lies at the heart of playful reframing, wherein playful individuals creatively imagine and pursue positive possibilities to cultivate enjoyment, resilience, and growth, without denying or distorting realistic assessments of threats and challenges.”
As applied to home decor, lemonading allows you to maximize your home’s potential through creativity to help cultivate a more optimistic outlook and better equip yourself to take on whatever life throws your way. Interior therapist, Suzanne Roynon says, “Feeling good in your home begins with feeling good about your home, so love and make the best of the space you live in wherever you are.”
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Lemonading Tips for Home Decor
Remove Clutter
Imagine yourself in a messy room full of clutter. Doesn’t feel good right? By removing unused or unwanted items from your home, you’ll have a clearer mind and improved outlook. Try to keep clutter to a minimum and donate anything you no longer use or don’t find appealing, even if it was a gift!
Why We Love It: “These things are just going to deplete positivity rather than bring pleasure, and by removing anything with negative connotations throughout the home, you immediately start to feel better in yourself,” says Roynon.
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Bring Nature Inside
Being out in nature has many positive effects on your mood and mental health. Bring nature indoors with house plants, scenic artwork, or even nature-inspired wallpaper.
Why We Love It: “Living plants, preferably with soft rounded leaves, in the home lift the sense of serenity. Keep them healthy and don’t overdo it,” says Roynon. “Fresh flowers and fruit can add to the feelings of satisfaction and a healthy home too.”
A big part of lemonading is adopting a playful mindset. The study says, “Playful individuals generally function better, maintain better health, and experience greater happiness.” Cultivate your inner child with playful artwork. A gallery wall full of colorful and whimsical pieces, like this one from @kittymccall, is sure to make you smile every time you walk by.
Why We Love It: “Assess your art and mementos, then select the pieces which delight rather than detract from your enjoyment of life. If everything on display brings genuine happiness, you’re on the right track,” says Roynon.
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Light Up Your Life
It’s no secret that sunlight improves your mood. Use airy window coverings to let in natural light. When it’s dark out, create a cozy glow with indirect lighting in the form of lamps and wall fixtures. Choose an LED bulb of about 2,700 to 3,000 Kelvin (K) to achieve the perfect warm, relaxing color temperature.
Why We Love It: “Light, bright homes tend to feel more friendly and welcoming than very dark ones,” says Roynon, “Use table lamps in shadowed corners and make the most of natural light wherever possible.”
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COURTESY @HENNA.KOTONA/INSTAGRAM
Embrace Neutral Paint Colors
There’s nothing wrong with colorful walls, but if you want to create a relaxing atmosphere, go for neutrals — as seen here in this cozy bedroom from @henna.kotona. Creamy whites, soft taupes, and even subtle tones of green will bring calmness instead of over-stimulation, making your home a sanctuary when life gets difficult.
Why We Love It: “It’s often more relaxing and enjoyable to have a fairly neutral base for the walls, floors and ceilings and activate your passion for color with soft furnishings, art and décor items,” says Roynon.
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Brittany Joyner for Family Handyman
Refinish and Rearrange
Another facet of lemonading is making the most of what you already own (similar to the underconsumption trend). Refinishing old furniture, scrubbing grime away from dirty windows, or rearranging items to freshen a space are all lemonading ideas that will improve your home and mood.
Why We Love It: “Upcycling furniture is a great way to change the energy of a home, especially with solid, traditionally crafted pieces that are beautifully made,” says Roynon. “Use paint, trompe l’oeil, decoupage, slatting and other repurposing techniques to lemonade the heavy furniture beloved by grandparents and second-hand markets into something uniquely precious to you.”
Similar to decluttering, living in an organized space will dramatically improve your mood and wellbeing. Organizing through the concept of lemonading means you don’t even need to spend a fortune. Repurpose baskets, clean up shelves, purchase matching hangers, and install wall hooks at your entry (like this space from @thehylandhomestead) are all simple and affordable ways to effectively organize your home.
Why We Love It: “A chaotic space will lead to a chaotic and stressful lifestyle, so make time and space for fabulous organization and be sure to use it – you’ll thank me!” says Roynon.
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