I love the fresh start of a new year. The air is ripe with future goals, habits, and ideas. I can’t help but be prompted to reevaluate my life and home. January goal-setting sessions often include categories like health, career, and personal goals, but I always like to include interior design goals as well. Even if your vision for 2025 doesn’t necessarily include dinner parties or kitchen renos, our environment has a huge impact on our overall mood and health. A well-organized home filled with your favorite items can help you stay focused, happy, and at peace. All of these are essential to making your dreams a reality. If you’re ready for a January home refresh, read on for some ideas to help you get started.
Tidying up
After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I think January is the perfect time to spruce up your space. Take the time to make room for your holiday gifts, especially since you may have added new items over the past few months. When most of us think of decluttering, the first thing that probably comes to mind is space (yes, you know that!). We recommend starting there. Set aside time on weekend mornings to declutter your closets, pantry, kitchen cabinets, and even your inbox. I recently went through my closet and created three different piles labeled Cash (clothes to donate or sell), Stash (clothes to keep aside for the season), and Trash (clothes to throw away or recycle). I liked this method of organization and it only took me an hour.
However, it is difficult to de-clutter your entire house in one month. Don’t feel pressured to get everything done in just a few weeks. Make a list of projects and set a goal to tackle one every month or every two weeks.
deep clean
Refreshing your home in January isn’t just about deep cleaning. When your home is thoroughly cleaned, it always feels brand new. Once you’ve done some decluttering, this is the perfect project. You don’t have to clean your entire house at once, but if you choose a room each day, you can finish cleaning in about a week. Here’s a handy checklist to help you along the way.
- kitchen: Disinfect all surfaces, wipe down cabinets, appliances, and stovetops, deep clean ovens, wipe down the inside of microwaves, declutter refrigerators and freezers, and thoroughly clean dishwashers and garbage disposals. I’ll clean it.
- living room: Dust everything (surfaces, shelves, trim, frames, etc.), vacuum the floors, wash blankets and pillows, vacuum and clean sofas and chairs.
- bedroom: Wash all bedding, dust furniture and surfaces, put away nightstands, wash curtains, and rotate mattresses.
- Bathroom: Thoroughly clean showers and bathtubs, wash bath mats and towels, clean and disinfect toilets, replace toothbrushes, wash and disinfect trash cans
Introduction of organizational system
An organization system is important to keep your home clean. Think labels and zones in the pantry, a designated shoe storage system in the entryway, and small organizers in drawers in the kitchen and bathroom. It’s always disappointing (speaking from experience!) to go to great lengths to clean up only to end up with a messy space again. Take the time to invest in simple organizational tools. Use containers, label makers, or wall hooks to keep your space neat and tidy for a January home refresh that will last all year.
update the decor
Breathing new life into your space is about more than just cleaning and organizing. Why not add some new decorations while you’re at it? I love to walk around my house at the beginning of the year and make a list of small design projects I want to tackle. Refreshing your decor can include small touches that don’t cost a fortune, like new pillows, frames, and throws. I love cozy lighting and it’s nice to update the lamps, especially in the winter. Even something as simple as placing a bouquet of flowers on the table or replacing a photo in a frame is a great way to refresh your home in January.
Let’s embrace the season
Winter is a calm and cozy season. Adding seasonal vibes to your home will keep you and your loved ones happy and warm indoors. Consider adding winter home fragrances like citrus or cedar. A homemade stewpot with orange slices, apples, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and rosemary sprigs will fill your home with gorgeous winter scents. For the holidays, block out bright lights and wear layers of fluffy textiles like faux fur and knits. Personally, I try not to leave my fake garland outside during January. Because it doesn’t scream holiday and it makes me happy. You can’t go wrong with candles either. Candlelight is a reminder of hygge, the Danish tradition of finding solace in comfort. To transform your home into a truly hygge retreat, light multiple candles at once. To reduce the risk of fire, use a battery-powered one instead. They still have that ambient glow!
Set your intention
Refreshing your home can be tied to your New Year’s intentions. Think about how your space can support you and your New Year’s goals. Maybe you have a reading goal. Why not create a cozy reading corner by changing the layout a little? If you’re concerned about your health, set aside a meditation corner or declutter your kitchen to make it easier to tackle your cooking goals. Or you can simply display your vision board in a place where you see it often. Investing in home upgrades that make your life easier is a great idea for a January home refresh. The simple act of creating space for your dreams in your home will help you realize them faster. Create an environment where you can easily do what you want to do and watch the magic unfold.
sort
An inexpensive way to add new energy to a space is to simply rearrange it. Last year I rearranged my bedroom and moved the bed to the opposite wall and that made all the difference. It felt like a new room! If there’s something in your home that doesn’t feel right, approach it with fresh eyes and focus on having fun. Try out a new arrangement, then try it out for a week to see what you like. If you have a problem room, ask yourself how you can fix it. My husband and I moved our bed because it was near the closet. I’ve reached the point where I’m just fed up with not being able to open the door all the way. This was achieved with a simple exchange!
Greeting January with a refreshed and peaceful home is a great start to the new year. After all, our external world is a reflection of our internal world. If you’re looking for tranquility, let your home be your guide. Fall in love with your space this year.
Source: Camille Styles – camillestyles.com
