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HOME DECEMBER 2021 4 By Avery Newmark Atlanta Journal-Constitution (TNS) If you haven't already started decorating for Christ- mas, get to it. People who decorate for the holidays are happier and appear friendlier to their neighbors, according to research listed in the Journal of Environ- mental Psychology. The study is based on previous and present research where participants were asked to rate the friendliness of strangers based on pictures of their houses. The homeowners self-reported their sociability by rating their social contact with neighbors as low or high. Homes that were decorated with twinkling lights and bows, even if the people who lived there were not social, were rated high because the houses appeared more "lived in" and "open." Undecorated homes were given low sociability scores. "As expected, a main effect for the decorated factor indicated that raters used Christmas decorations as a cue that the residents were friendly and cohesive. Dec- oration interacted with sociability in a complex but interpretable way," researchers wrote. The results highlighted the social impact of Christ- mas decorations and how they're used to communicate with neighbors. Researchers also suggested that deco- rating your home's exterior for the holidays could be a way to participate in social activities and gatherings in the neighborhood. Study: People who decorate for holidays seem friendlier By Cathy Hobbs Tribune News Service How do you incorporate white into your home? Can you mix different shades of white in the same space? While to some the color white may seem boring or bland, white can be used creatively and purposefully in a number of ways to make a big impact. From allowing the eye to visually rest to being used to help cre- ate a sense of contrast, here are some do's and don'ts of using the color white. Do's 1. Do consider using a monochro- matic color scheme using tints, tones and shades of white. 2. Do incorporate pops of white through accessories and accents. 3. Do consider white for anchoring elements such as rugs, sofas and art- work. 4. Do consider white for architec- tural features such as cabinetry and countertops. 5. Do pair white with darker colors to add a sense of contrast. Don't's 1. Don't pair bright white and warm white in the same space. Bright whites tend to have bluer tones while warm whites have yellower ones. 2. Don't place white elements in sit- uations in which they may get overly soiled. 3. Don't blend too many different shades of white in the same space. 4. Don't be afraid to pair white with deep bold colors such as black, brown and indigo for a sense of contrast. 5. Don't overlook opportunities to use white as an opportunity to bring negative space into a room, which can allow the eye to visually breathe. (Cathy Hobbs, based in New York City, is an Emmy Award-winning tele- vision host and a nationally known interior design and home staging expert with offices in New York City, Boston and Washington, D.C. Contact her at infocathyhobbs.com or visit her website at cathyhobbs.com.) Creative ways to use the color white Are you stuck with the same shade of white and how do you blend in other colors in the decor? DESIGN RECIPES