In this post – ideas for creating a calm and cozy home during the winter months, including organizing tips, decor ideas and fresh home scents.
My favorite time of year is mid-January. By then, the holiday decorations are organized and stored away. My home feels less cluttered and I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Don’t get me wrong, I love the holidays, but by New Year’s Day, I’ve hit my limit. No more holiday music. No more packages. No more chaos. I find myself craving calm. I’m in the mood to purge what no longer serves me or my home. I want my home to feel peaceful and cozy.
Why January is the perfect time to cultivate calm
Less is more in January. It’s the season of renewal and resetting. Creating a tranquil home allows me to prepare myself for the new year ahead. Here are some ways I create a cozy and calm home in January and throughout the winter months.
Getting Organized
After the holidays, I find myself looking around and wondering where I’m going to store all of the new stuff that has suddenly appeared in our home. This year I’m thinking about how to organize two homes at once – our current one here in the Bay Area and San Diego home. Knowing where to put something so I can find it later saves me so much time and stress. For me, being organized is one of the most important parts of having a calm home.
Storage Solutions
I usually spend a good amount of time in January weeding out things that can be donated. Once that’s done, I then assess what my current storage needs are. I use tubs, baskets and bins to sort and organize items so they are easy to find. If I need new or additional ones, I bring a list of what I need to the store, along with measurements, so I know what size containers I’m looking for. Below are some of the attractive baskets I found at The Container Store.
What I can’t find in store, I look for online. Once of the coolest things I’ve seen recently are these bed sheet organizers. I’m ordering a set of eight to split between our two places. All of our beds have white sheets and it’s a pain trying to remember which set goes with which bed. I think these will be a big help!
Other Organizing Solutions
I also found a few other great products that will help us stay organized this year. I’m especially focused on under sink storage solutions for our kitchens and bathrooms.
Label Everything
Labeling the containers is also important so I can find things quickly. I particularly like this inexpensive label maker for ease of use.
Buy Now → Bring Greenery Inside
Another way I like to give my home a calm feeling in the winter is with elements from nature. Plants, flowers and greenery are a sure way to brighten my day, even when it’s cold and dreary outside. Since we split our time between the Bay and the beach, I’ve had to limit myself to bulbs and bouquets – greenery with short lifespans!
Winter Florals
My local Trader Joe’s is a great source for inexpensive flowers and greenery. I like to put together custom bouquets of white flowers to display on our dining table. The color white reminds me of snow and winter, even though it very rarely snows here. It’s a nice respite from the bright patterns and colors of the holidays.
I brought home a beautiful white bouquet.
Faux Greenery
Another easy way to bring the natural look inside is with faux greenery. These faux white berries and flowers paired with sparkly birch candles from Pottery Barn look beautiful together in a wintry mix.
Terrariums
If you love gardening and miss being outside during the cold winter months, why not try making a terrarium? These beauties were found at my local Terrain store inside Anthropologie. If I didn’t have to limit myself on owning live plants, I’m pretty sure one of these would have come home with me! For more on indoor plant care and Terrain, be sure to check out my post practical plant care for absent plant parents and a trip to Terrain.
Forced Bulbs
If you plan ahead, you can enjoy the beauty of forced bulbs during the winter. Paperwhites are some of my favorite winter flowers, yet I somehow never remember to start the bulbs in time. If you’re like me, don’t despair! Trader Joe’s has a great selection of forced bulbs right now.
Bring in Natural Elements
Another way to bring nature inside when it’s too chilly to go out is to display a collection of seashells, pinecones, or smooth stones as accents. I’ll often arrange them in bowls or trays for an organic touch.
Pinecones and Evergreens
When we’re in Northern California, I like to display a bowl of pinecones or natural potpourri like this one from Andaluca, with fresh cut evergreen, crushed pine needles, orange zest and fir balsam.
You can also reuse some of your holiday decor by mixing shiny ornaments with pinecones and cotton stems in a wooden bowl for a wintery accent. If you want to make it scented, you could add a few drops of essential oils to the mix.
Shells, Stones and Driftwood
If we are at our beach place in the winter, I like to display smooth stones and seashells in a pretty bowl, along with interesting pieces of driftwood. ANDALUCA also sells a seashell medley and moss potpourri that is perfect for our home.
Texture
I also like to use woven baskets, soft throws and wooden accents warm up my home with texture. Here are some great examples I saw recently at Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel.
Calming Scents
Candles
I love a good scented candle. January is the perfect time to treat myself to a new fresh scent. I use soy or natural beeswax candles when possible because they burn cleaner. Scents that are fresh, clean and cozy like eucalyptus and sandalwood are what I prefer. I stay away from any scents that are too sweet or overpowering. The relaxing scent of this soy wax candle from Arhaus reminds me of a trip to the spa.
This Cashmere Oak Scented Soy candle from Andaluca is another good option.
Diffusers
Diffusers are a good choice for a continuous scent without having to burn a candle. Pura diffusers offer many different scent options and adjustable scent intensity.
Add Seasonal Decor
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean your home needs to be devoid of seasonal touches. These pretty dried flower bundles from Terrain add a pop of color to wintery decor.
Garlands & Wreaths
You can repurpose your holiday greenery for winter. These leafy velvet and iron garland from Terrain is perfect for a winter mantel or door.
This simple fern root heart wreath from Terrain also caught my eye. It’s the perfect swap for a holiday wreath, as well as a nod to the upcoming Valentines Day holiday.
A Fresh Start
Early January offers the perfect opportunity to refresh and reset your home. After the holiday chaos, the simplicity and tranquility of a decluttered space can be incredibly refreshing. By embracing thoughtful organization, incorporating natural elements, and adding calming scents, you can create a peaceful and cozy environment that nurtures your well-being throughout the winter months. Here’s to a cozy, organized, and tranquil January!
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