Page 22 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • August 27, 2014 Paint-free ways to brighten a home this autumn Autumn is a beautiful time of year marked by pleasant temperatures and colorful fall foliage. However, as vibrant as nature can be in the weeks after summer has ended, homeowners know that the shorter days mean less light inside their homes, which can become dreary even in the weeks before the arrival of winter. Many homeowners pick up their paintbrushes in an effort to make their homes more colorful, but homeowners need not embrace their inner Picasso to brighten their sur- roundings. The following are a handful of paint-free ways to add some splashes of color this fall. Bring nature inside. Flowers and plants can make color- ful additions to a home’s interior. Flowers tend to be aro- matic, which can make a stuffy house in which windows need to be kept closed a lot more pleasant. Plants and flow- ers also can improve indoor air quality. Several studies, including one published in the Journal for the American Society for Horticultural Science, have shown that house- plants improve indoor air quality by filtering out volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that can be harmful to human health. That is especially important come late fall and winter, when homeowners typically shut their win- dows and keep them shut until spring, making it difficult for fresh air to enter a home. Invest in some colorful throw pillows. Natural sunlight brightens a room come spring and summer, but sunlight is increasingly scarce as fall turns into winter, and rooms that do not boast too many colorful accents can quickly grow drab as summertime sunlight dwindles. Instead of buying new furniture, invest in some colorful throw pillows to give a room a more vibrant look. Patterns can be mixed and matched to provide some contrast and transform a room from somewhere to spend time into a sight to behold. Paper the walls. While many of today’s homeowners prefer paint to wallpaper, those who want a less permanent solution to brighten up their homes may want to consider removable wallpaper. Such paper is less expensive than tra- ditional wallpaper, and many do-it-yourselfers find remov- able wallpaper is easy to both install and remove. Choose a colorful pattern that can turn an otherwise plain wall into a potent palette that adds some life to a home’s interior. Because removable wallpaper does not require a significant financial investment, it is easy to experiment with various colors or change things up each month. Add some artwork. Another way to add color to the walls is to hang some colorful artwork. Paintings that feature bold colors tend to draw attention, and that can make one forget the room is not benefitting from natural light. Those who want to go the extra mile may try to find a painting that fea- tures colors that match throw pillows or other accessories in the room. This way, the walls and accessories are work- ing in concert to make the room more colorful. Rug it out. A patterned throw rug is another accessory that can effectively brighten a room without much effort or financial investment on the part of homeowners. When choosing a throw rug, find one that is colorful and coordi- nates with existing furnishings. Those who are furnishing an empty room can choose the rug first and choose the fur- nishings based on that rug. Homes tend to darken as late fall turns into winter, but homeowners can brighten their homes in various ways, even if they prefer not to paint.