Ahh, isn’t the start of a new year refreshing?
My daughter looked a bit forlorn as we dismantled all the Christmas decorations. She would miss how “warm and cozy” they made the house feel. I, on the other hand, was relieved. Cozy turns into cluttered for me around January 1st, and we were well past that. I was eager for all things clean, fresh, and new.
Returning your home to it’s normal state after the holidays can be refreshing and therapeutic or just depressing. To tip the scales toward the positive, inject some
warmth and whimsy.
Showcase white with flowers, dishes, candles, and linens to mirror the freshness a new year offers.
The reflective quality of silver will also infuse needed light in this oft-dreary season. Add some cozy blankets to the couch or your favorite chair and increase the chances of snuggling up with a good book or loved one.
Starting a new year usually inspires clarifying of one’s goals and priorities. Why no
t include some inspiration toward that purpose in your decor? Funny, profound, or encouraging–our most familiar surroundings have extraordinary influence on our emotions. Fairy lights and sparkly snowflakes inspire lightheartedness and are fitting of the wonder we should embrace as we 
step into this year of new
possibilities! 
I love to travel. So did my grandmother, whose vintage suitcases I inherited. In our family room, they keep cards, games, and puzzles accessible. They’re practical and meaningful.
This planter, stolen from outside, displays a decade of beach treasures because I have such happy memories by the ocean.
This metal sconce preserves love letters from a long-distance relationship that turned into 22+years of marriage. (“Why didn’t you just text or email?” the young things ask us. Ha! It wasn’t invented yet!) It strategically hangs by my side of the bed: a gentle reminder of the love we fought for.
And a shout-out to my friend Amy S. who taught me to love Fall. Her front patio is always covered in pumpkins–more sizes and colors than I used to know existed. Happy chrysanthemums shout, “Welcome!” and inside, yummy smelling candles flicker all around. Add some other seasonal staples: a pumpkin latte, a refreshing breeze, and a cozy blanket and . . .