Inviting the Light

I don't mind the change of the seasons so much.  They come; they go.  There's something to enjoy about each of them.

What's tough for me, though, is the prolonged darkness as we creep toward winter.

The days are so short.  I miss the hours and hours of leisurely evening sunshine.  And this weekend marks the end of Daylight Savings Time.  While I certainly won't mind the "extra hour" of sleep on Sunday morning, I mourn the shift to even less daylight in the evening.

It could be worse, though.  I could live in Scandinavia!

When my sister and I visited Sweden last summer, it was just after the summer solstice, and we enjoyed daylight until almost midnight.  During our stay in Scandinavia, the sun set at about 11:30 pm each evening -- and rose again at 2:00 am!  (I must admit to never actually SEEing the sun rise at 2:00 am, but that was the schedule.)  It was lovely.  Balancing the equation, though, is the very short daylight time in Scandinavia as the winter passes.  By the winter solstice, the sun won't rise until 11:30 in the morning -- and will set again at 2:00 in the afternoon!

Swedish style -- in home décor -- well-known for clean, simple lines; pale, soft colors.  Light wood.  Light walls.  Blues.  Yellow.  Lovely.  All . . . intentional and influenced by light and weather.  When the winters are especially long, dark, and dreary, it's all the more important to bring lightness inside.

I was especially struck by the Swedish windows.

Open.

Light.

Welcoming.

We noticed the charm of the Swedish windows right away.  Most windows are open -- no heavy curtains or drapes or even screens.  Almost every window had some combination of plants, lamps, collections of objects, or candles arranged on the window sills

One of our tour guides explained that Swedes prefer unobtrusive window treatments like sheer panels or lace - or no window coverings at all - to make the most of the natural light; to invite light.

She explained that people decorate the window sills in their homes with care, to bring their attention to the window; to the light.

I was inspired by the windows I saw in Sweden.  They were charming, no doubt. 

But, more than that, I am inspired to use my own windows . . . to invite the light . . . into my life during the cold, dreary, dark days of winter.

"Live in rooms full of light."

                                       -- Cornelius Celsus

Comments

[Vicki]

Beautiful! I love the lovely light and bright colors of the buildings, too. The light probably bounces around and reflects beautifully off of those colors. Maximize the light!

[margene]

So perfectly said, Kym. Inviting the light in the rooms is such a lovely idea. A light at the window would block anyone on the outside from seeing in, but would bring extra light into a room.

[Patty]

Beautiful! I'm not a big curtain person, I always say I want to see you if you're coming! I'm not looking forward to next week. At. All. We'll get through it though won't we! TGIF

[Diana Troldahl]

We are in process of painting our currently wet-sand brown walls (shudder) with a color that is sunshine yellow, diluted with bright white. It reads as white, with sunshine in the corners. Even the small patches we have done cheer the place up! I can hardly wait until the front room is finished. We have south-western facing windows in our new place. SO Much better.

[Marilyn]

I guess I came up with my love of sheer curtains by heritage (scandinavian). :D
I really am not looking forward to the dark of winter either. I wonder how a person goes about getting a light box...

[Carole]

I'd love to not have curtains (must be in my genes!) but I don't think my neighbors would approve. Ha! My kitchen windows only have valances and my living room windows have valances with sheers. I love to let in all that light!

[Cookie]

Isn't that a wonderful way to live? So open, clean and uncluttered. Not for me, but lovely all the same. ;^)