DoggyStyle: How We Changed Things Inside to Forget How Terrible it was Outside

Back when I was running marathons, I used to have a trick to get me through it all: I would lie to myself.
I would use terrible math during a 20 mile training run to tell myself I just had to get to this destination, this destination, then I only had to go home (yes, a mere 10 miles home).
I've since used this type of deception to help get me through other terrible things: like this winter.
These are some of the things we've been doing inside to keep us from the misery outside:

Pretend we Live in a Beach House:

 For the longest time our home had the khaki walls and red paint around the fireplace that came with the place. Remember this?

During the winter I always lamented the dark days made it look olive-green and made me feel closed in. E spent the summer painting our entire home (I had a foot injury so I just did the lower parts) with a variety of sea-like blues. When it's dark--which is all the time during the winter--it reflects the light so much better and we don't feel as enclosed.
And we pretend a little bit with our white couch and bright pillows.

Finding Light:

During the winter I always feel like a vampire because when I leave in the morning and come back at night it's always dark.
We are always trying to take advantage of all of the light we can, but at the same time, living in the city it can be a bad idea if people can easily see into your home.
We bought some top-down/bottom up shades so we have the option of lowering the part where people can see in when it gets dark, but keeping the top open so we can still get that last bit of sunlight and even when it's dark we can leave the top open so we can see the city lights and not feel as closed in.
The blinds were hard to photograph full-on, but you can see them in the background.

Bring in Living Things:

 With everything dead and snow-covered outside, it makes things that much nicer to have something colorful and alive inside. We try to pick up fresh flowers at the supermarket when we can, though these cacti have been bright and holding up well this winter.

Bundle Up:

And to keep it extra cozy inside, the pups love getting bundled up and watching some Netflix. Though usually here.
Has anyone else been using deception to get through this winter?

Also:
Scented!
Watching.
What Miss M picks out
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