New Year refresh
Welcome to 2024
The beginning of a new year comes with an invitation to reset, refocus, and find fresh inspiration in the spaces we inhabit.
To begin, here are a few simple ways to welcome the New Year into your home this January with no big overhauls required.
De-Christmas
There’s a certain peace that comes once the decorations come down, creating space to welcome in the New Year.
I like to take time to pack everything away with care, sturdy boxes, tissue paper, or leftover wrapping paper work beautifully to protect delicate pieces. An empty champagne box or festive biscuit tin is perfect for winding lights and garlands around to prevent tangles.
A gentle declutter, even in just one or two rooms, can bring a surprising lift. Whether you tackle it alone, involve your family, or ask a professional for support, the effect is the same: breathing room to allow the new into your home and your life.
Nourish
If a healthier start is on your mind, consider how your space can support it. Clear the fridge, bring the blender onto the worktop, and stock up on the ingredients that energise and comfort you. This is the perfect time for a pantry declutter.
A simple trick: If festive indulgences are lingering, move them into separate containers or a different cupboard. The subtle shift draws a line in the sand. Big bowls filled with fruit and pots full of living herbs add vibrancy and colour to an interior at this darker time of year in the UK.
Scent & atmosphere
Post-Christmas can feel especially stark when all the sparkle disappears. So this is the time to create warmth in more subtle ways.
Swap festive scent for something grounding but fresh, at this time of year I personally love the Copal candle by St. Eval, but any fragrance that brings you calm or clarity will do. Add light back into your space with colourful taper candles, think coral, lime or even a flash of neon pink. Small jolts of refreshing colour like this can lift both a room and your mood.
Comfort
January is not the time to abandon cosiness. Invest in a beautiful blanket or layer your bedding with ginghams, stripes, florals or plains in cotton, linen or silk. I often mix different patterns and textures to build an inviting nest, one that feels playful but grounded in quality and comfort.
Sleep well, nap often and let winter be a reason to rest.
Reimagine
No need to launch into a full renovation right away if you prefer to ‘winter’. Just imagining and starting to plan interior changes can be both uplifting and prudent.
If rooms are feeling a little tired, resist the urge to buy something new right away. Instead, move things around. Switch artwork between rooms. Restyle shelves and tables. Change cushion covers or throws. A fresh perspective can be as powerful as new paint.
Unused corners can often be reimagined, carving out space for a reading nook, a creative hobby, or even a morning yoga practice. A full room change isn’t always required to alter how we live in our home.
New life
Spending time outdoors does wonders for the soul. The fresh air and peace of nature, not to mention that amazing feeling when you return to the warmth and cosiness of indoors. Bring some outside serenity inside with seasonal foliage arranged in jars or jugs. Houseplants are another easy way to add life and softness, and change the dynamic of a space.
If you have a garden, now’s the perfect time to fill pots with hardy violas or pansies for some winter colour, and begin working on your spring garden to keep hope alive during the dark days of winter.
This journal is where I’ll share a mix of design ideas, reflections, and guidance to creating interiors that feel deeply personal and full of life. You’ll also find news, updates, and introductions to some of the talented individuals and businesses I collaborate with, particularly the craftspeople whose work brings design to life. I hope it becomes a resource you can return to throughout the year for inspiration and insight.
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