Keeping Your Space Bright & Happy After the Holidays
As the festive decorations come down and winter settles in, it’s natural for everything to feel a bit dimmer after the holidays. After all, holiday décor uses abundant greens and warm, golden lights to counteract the shorter days and gloomy gray landscape outdoors. However, with a few thoughtful design strategies, you can keep your space bright, cheerful, and fresh through the winter months.
ADD LIGHT BACK IN
First, replace the illumination you removed along with your decorations- those thousands of little lights on your tree or garlands were more than just pretty. They provided a soft source of light, generally at eye level, with little to no shadows.
Use small accent fixtures on buffets, bookshelves, side tables, and even kitchen counters. These small lights make a big impact, warming up the space and counteracting the harsh shadows cast by overhead or recessed lighting.
They’re usually affordable too, and with LED technology, can run off rechargeable batteries for those dark spots away from outlets. Ikea is a great source for inexpensive options of both, and on the higher end, we love Tala, Visual Comfort, and Hudson Valley Lighting.
From a décor standpoint, the strategy is similar; use small accessories like pillows and throws to inject golden and green colors back into your space. Warm whites, light taupes, and soft sage tones, along with textures that imply coziness like sweater knits, bouclés, and velvets will work beautifully. The use of easily swappable seasonal accessories is always a great idea, and helps to keep things feeling fresh and interesting without major investments.
If you have the space for it, we find that even swapping out artwork at key locations in your home can warm things up and keep them from feeling stale. Whether it’s a couple of elements of a gallery wall or a large piece at your entryway, the visual reminder of change in the new year is always welcome.
KEEP IT GREEN
Finally, the use of greenery shouldn’t end in January. Forcing bulbs like paperwhites or amaryllis are a traditional winter option, but you can also get creative with what’s right outside your window.
Bunches of freshly cut cedar boughs, pine branches, boxwoods, and small pots planted with moss provide freshness and a sense of growth for the new year.
Mixing textures and colors will give a more professional, curated look, and since evergreens in your yard can shift colors based on exposure to sun or wind, you’ll have a wide selection of tones available to mix and match, from deep greens to bright emeralds and coppery bronzes.
Since these are free, don’t skimp on placing them everywhere, particularly in spaces where you linger or work. Desks, vanities, and even powder rooms are great spots for small bunches of green.
We’ve also found that many big-box home improvement stores place “seasonal” potted evergreens on sale after the holidays. Since they’re the same species as regular landscaping plants, just with the liability of an (often tacky) ornament or bow, you can get a great deal for something indoors that, once the weather warms, can be moved outside as a permanent planting.
Looking for more design advice for your home? Arrange a complimentary consultation with us today.
