Ways to liven up your home after Christmas

Hands up if you’re feeling the January blues? This time of year is always hard – after the sparkle of Christmas, the start of the new year is very drab and grey. Especially once you’ve taken the Christmas decorations down!

Sprucing up your winter home décor after Christmas is a tricky one – we’re not really feeling celebratory now party season is over, but without the twinkly lights and decorated tree as focal points, your interiors can feel very bare and cold. That’s why we’ve put together a few handy tips for brightening up your home in the first few weeks of the year… take a look below for inspiration!

One of the best things about festive décor is the abundance of fresh foliage brought indoors – not only the Christmas tree itself, but holly, mistletoe and poinsettia all come together with branches and ferns to create that ‘outdoors in’ vibe that fills your home with the scent of winter nature. 

There’s no reason to stop all this when Christmas is over, though – if there’s one thing we all need to the depths of January, it’s a reminder that nature is thriving under the snow and ice. Bring together fresh succulents with clippings from your garden and add colour with hyacinths, roses, stocks and early tulips. 

Once you’ve taken down the Christmas tree, packed away those baubles and removed the wreath from the front door, there’s nothing better than giving your whole house a deep clean to really signal the start of a new year. 

Start by hoovering throughout (gotta get rid of those pesky pine needles!), do all your regular cleaning jobs and then look at other jobs that you’ve been putting off for months – things like washing cushion covers, wiping down skirting boards and dusting in ceiling corners will really make your home sparkle. 

Creating a centrepiece is one of the joys of Christmas… but why limit your tablescaping to the festive period? Bright some cheer back to your kitchen or dining space with a refreshed January centrepiece!

You could use the fresh foliage mentioned above to bring a bit of the outdoors in, using candles to create a cosy feel that’s perfect for January’s dark days. Use fabrics like woven cotton to create texture, and add natural wood placements for warmth. You could even drape a chunky knit blanket over each chair to really add to that ski chalet vibe – hot chocolates all round!

We’ve always wondered why fairy lights are packed away as soon as Christmas is over… the bring so much fun and joy to a space, so why not keep them twinkling all year round?

Warm white lights in particular look fab at any time of year – you could weave them through the leaves of a houseplant, stick them around picture frames or bundle them together in clear glass vases to add glowing light around your home. Avoid coloured lights as these do definitely feel quite festive, and anything shaped like a tree/snowflake/santa also has to go! But otherwise, shine on. 

There’s a definite lack of colour around at the start of the year – looking out of the window is a sea of grey with grass covered by frost and trees bare of leaves. So why not inject a bit of colour into your home, instead?

A vibrant velvet cushion is perfect for adding a pop of colour to your living room, while a bright and cosy blanket will bring the rainbow while leaning in to January’s hibernation vibe. 

If you’re feeling really jazzy, why not create a statement wall with some bold and beautiful wallpaper? This fantastic floral design would be perfect in a small space for ultimate impact, like a downstairs loo. 

If you’re wondering how to decorate your home after Christmas without making big changes, one of the easiest ways to get a fresh new feel is with scent. 

Switch out the heavy festive candles for something light and citrusy – this orange pomander candle still has lots of warmth and depth for chilly nights, but it’s really refreshing, too. 

We also love the sound of this white tea and jasmine reed diffuser – light and floral, it’s perfect for lifting those dark January days. 

Another quick and easy way to refresh your home at the start of a new year is to give your furniture a reshuffle. You could go the whole hog and switch everything around or just move some key pieces.

Try experimenting with the focal points in each room – for example, the TV is often the centrepiece in any living room, but by moving your sofa and chairs so they face each other rather than all pointing at the TV, you’ll introduce a new energy to the space. 

Lots of people look to the principles of Feng Shui to help reorganise interior spaces and give them more flow – this traditional Chinese practice is said to use energy to create harmony between people and their environments.  

Adding mixed textures to your home is a great way to introduce detail and design elements without redecorating. If your space is feeling a bit bare and flat after the maximalism of Christmas, create a multidimensional look with interesting fabrics and finishes.

We love this chunky knitted throw – the open weave is really interesting and will add a tactile element to your sofa or chair. Pair with this velvet cushion cover, which has ribbed panels that give it lots of depth. 

A sure-fire way to change the look and feel of any space is to add a new rug. Rugs have lots of transformation potential – they can cover tired flooring, add detail where furniture won’t fit and bring a pop of colour to a minimal space. Long live the rug!

The start of the year is also a good time to invest in a new rug, particularly if you have wood, tile or stone floors – with cold weather stretching out for the next few months, a fluffy rug under your feet is bound to raise your new year spirits. 

Why not go vintage with this detailed medallion rug, or bring in some playfulness with this geometric style? 

Our final tip in the quest for a refreshed and rejuvenated new year space is – treat yourself to new bedding. Crawling into a warm and cosy bed after a long, cold January day is the ultimate in comfort and new bedding only enhances the experience!

Look for extra warm fabrics to really double down on cosiness – this brushed cotton set will keep you warm without overheating… and if you’re feeling extra fancy, add this velvet bedspread on top. We must warn you, though – you might find it impossible to get up in the morning!