Winterizing Your Home Decor
New Year, Same House
There’s a lot of pressure on a new year! There are tons of voices telling us to organize, get fit, start new routines, beautify our lives and generally “be better”. But what if the beginning of the year is supposed to be a “soft open” of sorts? What if we lean into the wintry weather that begs for more rest, more coziness, and less running around? What if we start the year with a nice long season of hibernation that gives us the true renewal we need to live well? What if we allow our homes to reflect that perspective? Without starting over, buying a bunch of new things, or making a fuss, we let our things comfort us in new ways this year and we start to enjoy the bleak mid-winter months more than we ever thought we could.
Embrace the Cozy
Time to pull out the blankets! January and February offers some of the coldest weather we get all year. Keep your cozy gear close and handy the next couple of months. Drape blankets (I love an electric one!) over chairs and over the back of the sofa for easy access for you and guests.
Keep tea bags stocked! Nothing can warm you without the jolt of caffeine like herbal teas…you can keep a mug hot to sip on all day. Buy your favorite varieties and place them in a pretty jar on your kitchen counter. Bonus points if you pair that with a jar of local honey.
Pull out family photo albums. Remember those? Long winter nights are the perfect time to remember yesteryear with people you love. If you miss the days of printed photographs and scrapbooks, look into a service like Chatbooks. We love our subscription and our kids love pulling out the monthly albums to pour over pictures of family, friends, and special events.
Order seed catalogs. Now’s the time to do your spring garden dreaming! Order seed catalogs from websites like Burpee, Gurney’s, or Rare Seeds and enjoy paging through hundreds of options for your upcoming plantings. I love reminding myself that spring is just around the corner and this is the perfect way to escape for a few minutes, do something productive, and still sip my tea as I do it.
Catch up on your correspondence. How long has it been since you wrote someone a hand written letter? Leave some pretty stationary out on your counter or coffee table with a good pen nearby. Try writing two letters a week to someone you love while you’re curled up beneath a blanket.
Enjoy your books! Winter is the perfect time to enjoy reading your books…as well as reorganizing them. Rethink how you store your books and consider redesigning a bookshelf or two in your home. I’ve found that rainbow ordering books gives me a lot of life…and I actually remember what color a book’s binding is sometimes faster than I recollect it’s title! Add trinkets, small houseplants, or old photographs to your bookshelves. Hang a large picture from them. Tidy them up and let them be an artistic expression in your home.
Wreath well. Just because the outdoor Christmas lights came down, doesn't mean your home can’t stay festive. A simple boxwood wreath can be dressed up for Valentine’s, Mardi Gras, and Easter quickly with pretty ribbons. Keep something simple, green, and welcoming on your exterior door.
Consider curtain tiebacks. If your main living areas are well curtained, think about investing in tie backs so you can easily pull the curtains aside and look out. We’re lacking our normal supply of Vitamin D in the winter and giving ourselves access to outdoor views and bits of sunshine can give us the energy we need mentally and physically.
Let yourself rest well at home this season. It’s a beautiful way to start.