Can a " space " be depressing?

No-one can decide that from a post but if you feel really in despair about everything then do go to see your GP.

What is it that is getting you down about the house?
Does it need a good clear up, decorating or real renovation?

Do you have the energy to start with just one room?
Sometimes, when Spring comes it can show up all the faults that we tended not to notice throughout the winter.

It depends on your budget but if you could just make one room bright and welcoming, probably the sitting room, that would be a start.

I would find a dark, gloomy home to be depressing. Also, one full of clutter.

As much as the dark, elegant rooms look wonderful in the magazines, I could never have one. The current trend for colour drenching (were the ceiling is painted the same colour as the walls) is also all a bit too much for me- unless it is white or a shade of white.

My ideal home would have large windows and sun coming in as much as possible.

I think lighting also makes a difference to a room. Lamps rather than the 'big light' make a space look less bleak. I can't understand why anyone would want a fluorescent light in their living room. Mind you, some of the new LED lights are equally bright

Possibly both. Can you make one room, that you spend a lot of time in, brighter, put pictures up on the wall, even paint just one wall
Good luck

Thanks folks, interesting ideas. I'm back and forth to the GP. Amazingly enough, I can actually get to talk to them reasonably easily.

Not against medication but I tend to feel worse before I feel better.

The house is very tired and needs money spent on it plus no interest from partner ( in house that is !)Just got to chip away at it I suppose. I agree Chardy any action is better than nothing.

Are you feeling depressed most of the time ? If so please visit your GP .
If you think you are just fed up then following the advice already given may boost your mood . I hope you begin t feel much better very soon .💐

I think a house can be depressing .....I absolutely love my home....we have restored it room by room and to me its now perfect ....I have lived in a house where I didnt feel this.... it felt miserable tired, dated

New bedding, new cushions and throws and curtains are not too pricey at the budget stores such as Home Bargains/The Range.
Donate old table lamps and buy new. Give the windows a thorough cleaning inside and out.

A selection of modern vases -you can combine fresh flowers with the “modern” fake ones they are pretty good.

Fling the window open whenever you can bear it and only watch the minimum of news output on tv.

Try and get your hallway decorated if possible too with some cheerful new doormats outside and in.
Clear clutter/paperwork one bag or box at a time.

This can be very hard but afterwards satisfying, and gives a sense of achievement, and a feeling that you are in control of some aspects of your life.
Happy spring time!🤗

I love my home but I think a house feels even more welcoming with fresh flowers and plants. Daffs are so cheap and cheery at the moment too.

If you can decorate yourself then a tin of light paint can do wonders. Finding a decorator is nigh impossible, our hall, stairs and landing need doing (beyond our capabilities now) but they're all booked up months ahead.

If you bought the paint, would your OH help?

Yes, declutter, fresh paint, new cushions, and clean windows wouldn't cost a fortune and would brighten up one room at least.

LOUISA1523

I think a house can be depressing .....I absolutely love my home....we have restored it room by room and to me its now perfect ....I have lived in a house where I didnt feel this.... it felt miserable tired, dated

Agree with that. Though my last house was in the West Country - therefore made of brick okay - it had been painted/various nearby houses had been painted over the years. So what I did there was, when it obviously needed redoing, I changed the colour from cold white to warm glowy white. When the front door needed changing - I changed it from original Victorian painted in dark blue to modern upvc one with a sun type "cut-in" on it.

Since moving to Wales (where the light is colder and harsher - various artistic type people here have confirmed that to me) and many houses here have to be painted (because they arent brick - darn it!). So it was painted in a dirty colour, with dirty unmatching windowcills - and I've had it re-done to being warm glowy white again, with the windowcills in a subtle "mediterranean" colour. That and changing the garden from "tarmac/concrete" to a more normal garden (ie trees and raised beds on the tarmac and the concrete replaced with stone). Also done what I can to hide neighbour eyesore things from my view (concrete block walls/concrete garages).

Inside the house - warm glowy white again, a focal point sofa in soft glowy colour in the sitting room, etc.

Makes garden and house feel noticeably better to me...

I agree with Granmarderby10. I was just about to say, clean windows can make a huge difference.

Could you tackle one room at a time. Assuming you are in the UK, Asda, B&M, The Range, all have cheap items such as bedding, lamps etc.

Depending on what is on your walls at the moment, would you be up to giving them a coat of paint. You can watch YouTube videos for advice on how best to do this.

If you decide to concentrate on the living room, a few new cushions and a throw can change the look of a room. My living room has neutral coloured walls (Dulux Timeless) but I change my cushions colours quite regularly. I have made my own cushions and bought some. I use the same cushion insides and just change the covers.

I also agree with kittylester - you can get a bunch of daffodils for £1 at Asda at the moment. I have picked up loads of lovely vases from charity shops for next to nothing. And yes, open the windows and let some fresh air in.

Sorry, cross posted with other comments

My living room has neutral coloured walls (Dulux Timeless)

Good choice! We had a new kitchen recently and the walls are painted in Timeless.

Unless your kitchen desperately needs a refit, just scrub, declutter, paint and perhaps a new blind. Having a new kitchen is great when it's all done, but the process is exhausting.
If it's dark, consider having the doors painted.

It sounds to me as if you are in an uncaring relationship and that might be the root cause of how you are feeling.. The most important thing is to prioritise your own well being. If your partner isn't willing to help.. can you make a room in your house your own private sanctuary? Paint it a lovely light vanilla colour, buy some bright throws and cushion covers, use essential oils, fresh flowers, your special books, a radio, some candles, a comfy chair or bed, and use it spend quality time on your own. Also make sure you get out for regular walks..

I also agree with the good ideas given here for the rest of the house but it might be too much effort at the moment with an unco-operative partner..

Some houses are like this. When you go house hunting you just feel it. Quite inexplicable but it’s there. I would say if you can, move.

Spaces can definitely have an impact on your mood but equally I think we bring our mood with us wherever we go.

I shop in a slightly more expensive supermarket in my town. I has huge windows, a high ceiling and feels uplifting compared to the depressing, badly lit cheaper supermarket with a low ceiling that feels as though it weighs me down. I'd rather pay a little bit more than suffer the lowering experience of the cheap one.

My house always feels much more uplifting to me when I've pushed the vacuum round, washed and opened some windows and put some daffs in a vase. It makes me feel lighter and on the up rather than dusty with a list of jobs to do.

plus no interest from partner ( in house that is !)

That must be frustrating.

It's very frustrating when you can't do your own decorating any longer but if you feel able to wield a paintbrush, do.
Perhaps it might motivate your partner and lift your mood too.

Few tins of cream paint, perhaps new lamp shades.

We've many lamps in spaces - all matching white lampshades.

My home looks a lot happier after painting the front door. Much more "alive" and welcoming.
Just that!

Thinking of you.

I'm looking at cushions.

Our suite came with cushions a few years ago but they match the plain suite (same fabric) and really are rather dull.

Could you find a print (look online perhaps) of a place where you have felt happy, frame it and put it near where you usually sit.

Alternatively, if you have photos of a favourite place, you can get canvas prints done online quite cheaply, so they actually look like paintings.

Good luck. I hope at least some of the suggestions given by me and other GNetters help. x

Perhaps list on here what you find depressing about the house?

Are there memories in the house that make you feel sad?

A house can be depressing if it is very dated, very tired and very dark. My suggestion is to choose one room, declutter, paint it in a warm, neutral colour and make it your own sanctuary – somewhere you can go to and get away from the stresses of life.

Our hallway and landing are so dark, I am going to get a decorator to paint it in antique white.

If your partner is not interested in the state of your house, you may have to be the one who update the house bit by bit.