Does anything look more naked than your house after you take down the holiday decorations? It’s kind of sad, especially if you have to drive by all those Christmas trees tossed out on the sidewalk waiting for the recycling truck to take them away and turn them into mulch. Perk up! Spring will be here. But while you’re waiting, I found some home decorating ideas to brighten up the post-holiday doldrums. If you have any of your own, share them.
Recycle Christmas. The tree, nativity set and Santa stuff have to go away, but repurpose any holiday décor that you can. Bay leaf wreaths, pinecone garland, glittered bare branches — if it has a wintry theme (like this sled and skates arrangement from HGTV), it can stay up through February.
Create a Glow. Dim the overheads (they can cast really harsh light). Create more intimate lampshades in warm shades (amber, ivory, brown). Use candles. There are hundreds of flameless varieties on the market now that look very realistic, including many with remote controls and automatic timers to keep battery use to a minimum. I found these wax lodge bark LED candles at LampLust. And for goodness sake, if you have a fireplace, light it every chance you get!
Get Cozy. Warm up rooms with texture. Chunky knit throws, hand-hooked pillows and nubby area rugs invite you to snuggle up. Choose deeper colors, warm off-whites and jewel tones.
Add Color. Citrus is in season. A simple centerpiece of oranges, lemons, limes and tangerines adds a bright, cheery note.
Invite the Outdoors In. Plant a kitchen herb garden. It’s a bright green promise of spring that adds fresh flavor to winter meals. Use floral arrangements with textural accents like peasant feathers like this one from Floral Home Décor.
