Tips On Decorating A Gloomy Basement

No matter how well designed your home may be, there are always certain areas, some nooks and crannies which do not seem to get as much natural daylight as others. Washrooms and basements are the perfect examples. So what is the best way to brighten up a room in our home that doesn't have any windows, to get rid of the feeling of confinement?

You may be surprised to learn that it is actually easier than you think. The following tips are perfect for those areas where there is little or no natural daylight, such as the basement or indeed any other place in the home that is dark and spartan. The first - and perhaps most obvious - idea is to decorate the area in question using bright colours.

Hang brightly coloured wallpaper or paint walls and other surfaces in vibrant, light colours to create a brighter ambiance and to create an impression of airiness, of a larger space. The walls, for example, could be painted white - other colours such as shades of yellow, light red or orange also work well, though in this case you need to exercise a little self-restraint, just in case the overall appearance is a little gaudy. Also make sure that you paint the ceiling in a similar light colour. If you paint the ceiling in a dark shade it will have the effect of drawing in the space, making things feel more compact and restricted.

The same applies to any furniture that you choose for these areas: warm colours would be appropriate for sofas and chairs. Brightly coloured cushions and throws will help open up even the most confined of spaces. By all means, pick one or two darker coloured pieces in you are looking to generate contrast. The idea is that they contrast with the warm colours that dominate most of the room. Try to avoid too much clutter when it comes to furnishing a basement, as you are looking to create a feeling of spaciousness. A few well-chosen larger pieces of furniture are all that is required. You can always add a decorative flourish with careful selected accessories.

In any confined space your choice of lighting is also very important. Get this right and it can make a huge difference to the appearance of your room. The opposite is also true, so it is worth devoting some time and attention to. Choose the correct form of lighting. Most basements have low ceilings, and therefore it is not a good idea to use hanging lamps, as there is simply not enough headroom for them to work to the best effect. You will be left with pools of light reflected low against the walls, which will create a claustrophobic effect, exactly what you are trying to avoid. A suitable alternative would be to use wall fittings, table lamps or even floorlamps or uplighters.

Alternatively, why not include some scented candles to give that extra cosy and fresh touch? Luxury scented candles from companies like True Grace candles or Yankee candles are stylish enough to blend in with any decorative effect you wish to achieve. Not only will they give your basement a subtle diffused light but they will also make it smell fresh and fragrant which can also be a problem in basement areas. Do not be tempted to treat the basement any differently from other parts of your home, taking the same care and attention to its decor as you would do with the other parts of your home. After all, with a bit of imagination you can transform a plain, functional basement used previously for little more than storage, into an attractive additional room in your home.

Ratan Tata: No need to be gloomy, India's economic fundamentals good

 NEW DELHI: Differing with some of the leading corporate voices against perceived policy paralysis in the government, industrialist Ratan Tata on Thursday said there is no need to be pessimistic because of the global uncertainties as India's economic fundamentals are strong.

"We must stop pessimism...India's (economic) fundamentals are correct and we should be striving for retaining growth rate," Tata told reporters here.

His comments come within days of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hitting out at industry leaders for their "negative comments" on the government policies. Singh had said that such remarks had added to the uncertainty.

Amidst the talk of policy paralysis in the government, the Prime Minister had asserted that the government was committed to creating a growth-oriented economic environment.
"I must confess that it is a little disappointing to sometimes hear negative comments emanating from our business leadership or be told that government's policies are causing slowdown and pessimism in the industrial sector.
"Such comments have added to uncertainty and have emboldened those who have no stake in our economic growth," Singh had said at the meeting of the PM Council of Trade and Industry.
When asked what steps the government should take to improve sentiments, Tata suggested that it (government) must look at accelerating expenditure and create jobs which was slowing down partly due to the fiscal policy and late decision taken by various ministries.
"...If we focus on infrastructure it will be good not only for today but in the future as well," he said.

How to Be Happy on a Gloomy Day

When it's nasty out, the clouds that hang over in the sky seem to be hanging over your head causing your sense of "happy" to fade away. From not feeling up to doing anything to not wanting to be bothered by anyone, gloomy days can definitely put a damper on things. To pep up and snap out of your funk, find your inner happy by creating a plan to reignite yourself without worrying about the doom and gloom of the day. 

Instructions

1.  Get up and on your feet. Get out of the bed or off the couch if you feel like lazying about. Take a shower to get a fresh start and begin to feel renewed. Put on clean clothes and begin to create some structure in your day.

2. Start your to-do list by getting a little exercise. Even if it's cloudy out, go for a walk, visit your local gym or commit to doing some household chores to burn some calories and get your blood flowing. According to a Mayo Clinic article on depression and exercise, research shows that getting in a little exercise reduces anxiety and improves your mood.

3. Do something fun. Forget flying a kite or going to the beach on your dark and gloomy day, fill your time with activities that will not only provide you with entertainment but keep you dry. Go shopping, work on a side project you've been putting off or visit a friend.

4. Fill your day with positive distractions. Listen to upbeat music, watch old reruns of your favorite comedy television show or call a friend to catch up. Give yourself a break from cleaning or working on a project by vegging out doing something that will make you happy and laugh.

 

 

 

How to Be Gloomy

Hate it when people say "Aww... she's so cute and looks so sweet!"?
Well here are some ideas to help you become your own individual and be happy about it.

Steps

1. First, wear make-up that is either black or gray. You can easily make your own by mixing together different colored makeup.
2. Be mean to your enemies and mysterious toward your friends.
3. Frown a lot, and smile when something funny comes up. Don't burst out laughing; just smile.
4. Don't show your emotions too much.
   
   

Tips

• Don't wear revealing clothes.
• Wear darker colored clothes (Black, grey, navy blue, plum, etc)

Warnings

• You can argue but do it mysteriously.If someone in gym class says something like "Could you walk any slower?" Say "Yes, I most certainly could."And continue to walk.
• Pink is generally considered to be a ridiculously flamboyant colour. It flaunts that you are feminine and bubbly.
• Don't be too negative. Gloomy is not synonymous to melancholic.
• You may be called an Emo.
• In fifteen years, when you look back at your high school yearbook, you may decide that the black lipstick was a terrible choice.

 

If you live in, or have visited Japan, or any stateside Anime Convention in the last few years, you’re probably familiar with Gloomy Bear. At first glance Gloomy Bear looks just like any other stuffed bear, until you see the blood.
My first encounter with Gloomy came a few years ago while wandering the aisles of the Gee Store in Akihabara. A friend pointed him out and said “Check this out, this is Gloomy Bear, he’s really mean to this kid, but the kid just keeps on loving him.” The kid’s name is Pity, and he does love Gloomy Bear and, I have to be honest, so do I.
The story goes that Gloomy Bear was abandoned as a cub and is found and taken in by a boy named Pity. Pity loves him and cares for him, raising him from this point forward. At first Gloomy is cute and cuddly but as he grows his more instinctual side takes over and he does what any adult bear might do to a human, he mauls the freaking crap out of him. And so it goes, Pity loves, Gloomy attacks, over and over again.
So you may be asking yourself, “What sick mind created Gloomy, and Why?!”  Well, Gloomy Bear was created by Mori Chack a graphic designer born in Osaka, Japan. He created Gloomy as the antithesis of the fluffy cuddly characters that are pumped out by companies like Disney and Sanrio. Chack believes that animals are wild by nature and would not mix well with humans the way they are portrayed to in many cartoons and movies, and frankly, he’s right.

 

But beyond the logic and shock value of Gloomy Bear there’s just something really cool about him. Even if he’s not covered in blood, just the sight of his claws lets you know who’s boss and that has certainly resonated with people. Sales of Gloomy merchandise have been strong in, and out, of Japan for years and continue to be boosted with new types of bears, including robo-gloomy and camouflage-gloomy, and with notebooks, mugs, giant fluffy wearable arms, etc it just keeps going.
Have you got a Gloomy Bear of your own? What are some of the reactions you get when people “meet Gloomy”?
I keep an original pink Gloomy Bear on my desk at work, complete with blood, because he’s cool and because I love the reactions from co-workers when they realize what’s dripping from him. “Hey cute bear you’ve got the…HOLY CRAP! Oh man that’s awesome!” Yeah, it is awesome, and if you don’t think so, well, you can take it up with the bear.