Giving Your Home the Best Start This Year
The holiday season is behind us. For some it's a welcome relief, for others it's just miserable dark nights from here until spring!
As an interior designer, I often see how small tweaks can make a huge difference in how a space feels. As we pack up the decorations now is a great time to make some of these small changes in your home to give it the best start for the year ahead.
Get cosy
Take a few minutes to go through your home checking for draughts. You may have noticed a guest getting chilly by a window as they clutched a mulled wine or perhaps the front door feels permanently open. Getting on top of this will not only keep you cosy until spring, it will save on your heating. For particularly draughty doors, perhaps consider a door curtain - also handy if your door opens straight onto a living space.
A Fresh Start
January is the perfect time to give your home a gentle reset. Once the decorations are down, it can all feel a little bare, but that blank slate is a gift. Take a moment to refresh your space with a few thoughtful touches: a new throw, a houseplant, even rearranging your art work can shift the mood in your home and help you feel fresh and renewed without a big overhaul. This is a great opportunity for you to think like a designer: small changes in texture and colour can completely change how a space feels.
Light it up
Light is such an undervalued resource in our homes. As the days slowly start to lengthen, make the most of both natural and artificial light. Pop the big light off, turn on a lamp, light a candle and maybe even keep some fairy lights up. Giving your rooms a transition from day to night helps us navigate the darker light levels at this time of year, as well as just looking more inviting. Remember to always opt for a warm bulb in your lights to ensure your room feels cosy and not clinical.
Check your Pain Points
Think back over the past month, what were the pain points you had in your home? Do you need more seating? Better coat storage? Could a small change in layout improve the flow? Or perhaps you need a quiet nook where you can escape from the chaos of family gatherings!
Understanding the flow, function and human behaviour within your home allows you to make small interventions that can have a huge impact on comfort and usability, so take time to note down those niggles and get them sorted.
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The weather may not always be on our side however, this season can be a lovely time to reflect and really enjoy our homes. With a little attention you can make your home feel calmer, warmer and more inviting, not just for those you invite in this year, but for you too. Even a few thoughtful changes in light, texture and layout can transform how your home feels and set it up beautifully for the rest of the year.
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Wishing you a very happy and cosy new year in your home.
