Can a " space " be depressing?

Progess....a friend's partner may do some decorating.

pascal30

Just paint over the brown.. a nice light colour.. you can even paint tiles.. look on You Tube..

If you paint the kitchen cabinets I would recommend a small roller for the flat surfaces, you get much smoother results..

I haven't really anything much to add to this discussion, because I love my home and when I return to it it seems to wrap its arms around me.
I love lots of light, and light painted walls, and yet my kitchen doesn't have a window and opens off the garden room! All the units are shiny white and the work surfaces are black. Unless I'm actually doing something in there, I leave it lit by the under-unit lights and I have a view through the glass door into the garden room and from there to an expansive view.
The garden room itself is mostly windows and french doors, but the back wall is navy blue. So I rely on what I call pops of colour from cushions, rug and pictures. And flowers! At night I never use the ceiling lights but rely on the cosy light from lamps. The furniture is old stuff I had already which has been painted white.
I am alone now and this little area is my cocoon and it makes me feel happy. It has evolved over the past 8 years and I love it - and nothing in it is expensive.
It's a case of finding/knowing the colours that make you feel good and then just gently and gradually going with the flow. But first the brown theme of your kitchen just has to disappear!! Good luck.

It's amazing what a coat of paint can do on kitchen cabinets. If you do them a light colour the room will be transformed. A pale sage green, or a rich cream, perhaps?

Elsewhere, I agree about lamps making a big difference. You can get rechargeable ones (try Pooky.com) which means that you aren't restricted by the position of sockets. They even do wall lights that don't need an electrician to fit, and you can put table lamps on shelves or mantels without having cords trailing and looking messy. Just be sure that all the bulbs are the same colour - having a mix of 'warm' and 'cool' light can look wrong.

If redecorating a whole room is out of the question, look at touching up any chips or scuff marks on paintwork, as they can make a place look neglected. You can buy little bottles of gloss paint that are designed for touch-ups. They are like liquid Tipp-ex, with a tiny brush in the lid.

Every now and then I do a refresh by moving things like pictures and ornaments from room to room, just ringing the changes. Even changing the position of plants can make a difference, as you are looking at something 'new'. Far less drastic than decorating, but it helps. I think it's known as shopping your own home, and it means you don't end up with far too many 'things' when you fancy a change.

There are videos on YouTube about interior design that might give you ideas, too.

My cushions are all different colours and totally unmatched! - hooray!

My house is south facing and very light and there is no way on earth I could survive in a dark gloomy house.

My DDs have strict instructions that wherever they find for me when I crock right it up, it must be LIGHT!

Yep...I've often seen adverts for the "before" and "after" of kitchens being repainted. On the other hand it may be something you can manage yourself.

I know it was a 1980's thing (as I recall) but I still like a colourwashing paint effect personally. I'm pretty much as useless as they come at DIY - but even I managed to colourwash a bedroom in my last house one time and felt reasonably pleased with the result.

Just paint over the brown.. a nice light colour.. you can even paint tiles.. look on You Tube..

fancythat

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

Some very kind and thoughtful suggestions here. The layout is typical Victorian terrace. It's light with high ceilings.

The kitchen is grim, brown and sucks the life out of me. I feel like any of the great ideas re decorating are just tinkering about. However there is no budget for new kitchen ( unpleasant back story here)
So it's a case of sprucing up the existing " facilities"

Partner is not unpleasant in any way... well no more than any of us are! Just not a DIY person.

Food for thought folks, Thanks

Allira

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.

Same here. This sofa is big and comfy but the cushions need a bit of a lift.
All the material and stuffing came from a charity shop.
I had to pay top whack for the cording though.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Thinking of you.

Few tins of cream paint, perhaps new lamp shades.

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

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

Sorry, cross posted with other comments

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.

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...

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.