It’s that time of year when we all start feeling a bit restless. We miss the beautiful colors of summer. Our winter wardrobe (what still fits) needs a little za-za zoom. And we find ourselves plopping down in front of the television, just not feeling that spring energy.

Did you ever think that maybe the colors around your home are feeding into your dreary mood? We can’t do anything about snow or gray days, but there are some easy solutions to freshen up the atmosphere of your home while the weather isn’t giving you much reason to go outside.

Start by selecting the room that you spend the most time in. What kind of feeling do you want to get from that room? Comfort, energy or even romance can all be achieved with simple little tweaks. Let’s first start with colors. The hot new colors for 2012 are going to be emerald, ruby (nothing says “romance” more than ruby) and sapphire, all which will accent the “in” colors of neutral and soft grays. 

But what’s really going to set the mood of the room is when you bring your color of choice together with the appropriate fabric. Martin Lawrence Bullard’s collection for Schumacher is insane with rich velvets, silks and chintz with bold patterns and incredible contrasts. Don’t think you need to purchase a new sapphire velvet sofa to change the dynamics of a room. Not at all. It’s as easy as switching out a beautiful down throw pillow to replace the stodgy one that came with the couch.

Accessories are the key to revitalizing any room at any time of the year. Candles by Voluspa have arrived in scents that will turn your home into an aromatic paradise. If you feel that the elements of a room just aren’t melding together, think about a new rug. Arzu Studio of Hope offers a wide range of rugs that are hand-woven by Afghan women. This company not only makes beautiful rugs, but their social initiative is something you can feel good about. When you buy an Arzu rug, the revenue goes back to the Afghan women and their families; providing them a steady income breaks the cycle of poverty and also provides access to education and health care. 

You’re happy with what you’re sitting and walking on, but something just seems to be missing on the walls? There is a hidden secret in the design world to move artwork from room to room. You bought the piece because you liked it and its amazing when you move it to a different room — it’s like a whole new painting. If you are in the mood for something new, you can’t go wrong by paying a visit to the Tory Folliard Gallery in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Tory is a great supporter of local artists and many of her selections are also shown exclusively at Peabody’s Interiors.

The bottom line for 2012 is to focus on the basics as well as a few accessories that will give the room the “wow” factor you are looking for. Really, it’s that easy.

The Haggerty Museum of Art on the campus of Marquette University continues its rich tradition of art education by simultaneously presenting two very different exhibitions, “The Europeans,” photographs by Tina Barney, and “Inevitable Finality,” the Gemini G.E.L. Prints of Philip Guston. On exhibit through May 20, the shows contrast sharply in style and character and illustrate an artist’s singular vision.

Painter, Phillip Guston (1913-1980), began his career as an Abstract Expressionist in New York in the 1940s. During the turmoil of the 1960s he abandoned abstraction for a cartoon style of realism that characterized his work for the rest of his career. Guston is a hero to many contemporary artists for his original, off-beat style.

The Gemini G.E.L. prints completed in 1980 were Guston’s first endeavor with lithography. Working with a master printer, Guston drew directly onto the printing element and used blunt cartoon shapes to express his personal iconography. Common items such as shoes are fraught with intense movement and the prints are strong and expressive, capturing the essence of his drawings. Twenty-five lithographs with photographs documenting the process are included in the exhibit.

Tina Barney (b. 1945), an American photographer known for her large-scale portraits, offers a sharp contrast to the Guston prints. Her rich and intricate photographs of Europeans are studies in pattern and color, but cool and distanced. Barney’s 2005 book, “The Europeans,” documents her trips to Austria, England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany during an eight-year period. Invited into the homes of the rich and privileged, her portraits are arranged meetings between strangers. Using a large format, she captures her European subjects in intricate backgrounds comprised of tapestries, architectural elements and priceless objets d’art. Although we are seeing an exclusive, private world, we are no closer to knowing the dwellers of these historic interiors.

The Haggerty of Museum of Art is a hidden treasure on the Marquette University campus. Frequent exhibitions highlight artists of a national and international importance, and wonderful lectures and programs accompany these exhibits. Admission and programs are free. Located on 13th and Clybourn streets, the museum offers free parking in the lot behind Eckelstein Hall (entrance at 12th Street, south of Wisconsin Avenue). For more details, visit Haggerty Museum of Art.

Valentine’s Day isn’t the only time to sport your red apparel. True red is the “it” color for 2012 and, better yet, is proven to boost energy levels and adrenaline — keeping you motivated and fashion-forward as you transition into spring. This BB Dakota blazer is the perfect way to add a punch of rosy color to your wardrobe. Pair it with J. Brand skinny jeans, a striped 3 Dot T and Tory Burch flats for a shopping day with the girls, or dress it up with a classic pencil skirt or DVF wrap dress for date night.

Find this one at Faye’s, Brookfield and Mequon.

I will admit this, whether I am in a relationship or not: Valentine’s Day is kind of a silly holiday. Nevertheless, it’s a nice distraction in the middle of February when all you can think about is that elusive little season called spring. (Or, if you are Jordan, you are thinking about how much fun you will be having at the upcoming Fashion Week. Some girls have all the luck.)

More good news: You can still score some great sales on remaining winter merchandise, while you plan your spring wish list and shop for your sweetie.

If you are in need of some inspiration, head to Blush Beauty (Third Ward and Mequon) for a rejuvenating facial and some fun, punchy makeup colors that scream spring, like the new Laura Mercier lipstick colors — so pretty in pink! Blush also has a great selection of fragrances for that special someone (1).

Men take note: Allure (Mequon and Brookfield) has both enticing and elegant selections for the boudoir (2). Ahhh, Cosabella ... And women, it never hurts to have an extra something special to throw on. You never know when you might need it.

If you are buying for (or are) the choc-o-holic, why not kick it up a notch? Here, I bestow to you my best-kept Milwaukee secret: Atomic Chocolate Co., inside Time Square Pizza, nestled between a liquor store and a gas station in Walker’s Point (3). I know what you are thinking — it couldn’t possibly be gourmet — but it is! And the handmade chocolates are made from the best cacao imported from South America.

For a nontraditional gift, share a musical experience by getting tickets to one of the many great shows at The Pabst, Turner Hall Ballroom or The Riverside Theater (4). Or, get dressed up for romance, and listen to Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet as the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents the masterpiece Feb. 10-12.

And, don’t forget to check out the grand opening of the renovated Lululemon store (322 N. Water St.) in the Third Ward this weekend (5). They’ve made plenty of room to stock all the latest yoga and running gear. Music provided by Milwaukee Airwaves all weekend long.

Every Wisconsinite knows scarves are a necessary covering this time of year. And — luckily!­ — they have become trendy fashion must-haves over the years, with an array of colors, styles and fabrications available for men and women. They can add a pop of color, texture or pattern to your everyday winterwear (who doesn’t want to dress up a basic black coat?). My new fav? The newly born Silkworm scarves, created by Milwaukee fashionistas (and mother and daughter duo) Janie Esposito and Alicia Miklavicic-Franz. Each scarf is handmade and unique, created from repurposed fabrics, so they are not only a fashionable but “green” accessory, too. Each scarf is based off a drawstring, making it easy to dress them up for date night or down for a chilly trek to Alterra. Some of the scarves have buttons and zippers, and all are reversible. The best part? Silkworm will customize a scarf for you with your own selection of materials (zippers and Houndstooth, anyone?). Find the best sellers at Luci, 532 N. Water St., Milwaukee, or check out Etsy.