Beat the Winter Blues: Easy Ideas to Refresh Your Home

Now that you have Christmas all packed away for another year it’s a great time to add a few cozy touches to your spaces for Winter. Here are my easy ideas to refresh your home in January (super budget-friendly too!!)

So now that all the Christmas stuff is packed away does your home feel empty?? Me too!! I just packed away my living room tree this morning and my living room seems so blah now!!

January is the month where I usually change up the little things around the house…not the big projects but adding those simple touches that make my spaces feel fresh and new. Here are a few easy ideas and some affordable finds I’ve come across this week.

Adding Cozy Touches To Your Home

I know not everyone lives in a cold climate for winter like up here in New England…hey, but some of you complain when it’s in the 50s…yes…I’m talking about you…not mentioning any names!!! I can’t get through the cold months without being snuggled under a cozy throw (and if it’s after 5 I’m in my jammies or comfy clothes too).

There are sooo many affordable quality throws available now. The prices have come down so much compared to a couple of years ago too!

I also recently added some super soft throw pillow covers over my existing pillows to make my sectional feel more cozy. The new pillow covers went right over my existing pillows.

Just adding new throw pillow covers is a super affordable way to freshen up your living room for the new year too.

This post may include affiliate links; you can read my disclosure policy here.

Here are My Recent Purchases To Refresh My Living Room:

• Beige Faux Fur Throw
• Rust Pillow Covers
• Fluffy Pillow Covers
• Printed Pillow Cover
• Faux Leather Covers

If you are searching for a good knock-off of the Anthropologie Faux Fur Throw (it’s gorgeous but over 100 bucks!!) check out this one from Amazon that’s around $30 (depending on the color).

Here are a few cozy throws to check out (They all have good reviews too, I can’t buy all of them to check out myself…I’d never get off the couch!!)

Totally not home decor-related but if you are looking for cozy, nice quality pajamas the Simply Vera Wang line at Kohl’s is my absolute fav!! They wear really well too…even if you have a hubby that throws everything into the dryer on high!! I love this velour jogger set.

Make Your Home Smell Good

Alright, here’s one fun fact about me…I have a smell thing!! Just this morn when I was heading toward the kitchen I could sniff out that there was a bad orange somewhere in there (the culprit was in the bottom of the fruit bowl!!).

But we have 4 boys so having a good sense of smell has historically not been such a great skill…have you ever walked into a room full of teenage boys playing Xbox…?????

All that being said, I love things that smell good and make my house smell good!! Whether it be candles, wax melts, or a diffuser…there will be one of those things going when you stop by!

If you love candles, did you know that the Better Homes & Gardens Red Lava Citrus Candle is the perfect dupe of the famous Capri Blue Volcano candle they sell at Anthropologie??? I’ve done the side-by-side smell test and the Walmart one is fantastic…it’s such a pretty clean scent!!

Do you want to splurge a little on yourself? The candles from Magnolia are amazing! Their Greenhouse candle is such a fresh scent! When I was staying at one of their rental homes last Summer this candle was in the kitchen.

In the Wintertime I also like to run diffusers in the house. The air gets so dry here in the winter with the heat running and it helps to add a little bit of moisture to the air. I put the diffusers near my houseplants, they seem to like the extra humidity too.

The fun thing about running a diffuser is that you can whip up whatever essential oil recipe scent combination you are in the mood for too. Right now I am loving the Better Homes & Gardens Red Lava Citrus Fragrance Oil (the same scent as the candle I mentioned above!)

Another favorite essential oil brand that I really love is Plant Therapy (available on Amazon) I love their citrus set, it’s 6 bottles and is under $35. I’ve never used any of the expensive high-end brands that people sell but in the reviews, others mention that they are on par with the Young Living brand.

For a more floral scent, you can’t go wrong with this Rose Geranium one from H’ana.

New Plants

So one of the first things I did last weekend after I had packed up most of the Christmas stuff and my little house felt empty was to go on the hunt for a few new house plants. Just having living things around me really lifts my spirits throughout the cold, dark New Hampshire winter months…especially when I miss being out in my garden.

My local nursery is usually my go-to for houseplants so that’s where I suggest you look first, plus it’s nice to support a small business during the slower winter months.

Big box stores start bringing in new plants in January after they clear out Christmas. Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walmart are currently stocked with fresh houseplants. Walmart has started carrying Costa Farms houseplants too and I’ve found some really incredible varieties for better prices than I’ve seen elsewhere.

Read more about the benefits of houseplants here and some good tips

One place that you might not think of for houseplants is Trader Joe’s! Not only do they have some cool plants they usually come in ceramic planters and are super affordable.

Kitchen Refresh

The winter for me means that I spend much more time in the kitchen. I do love to cook especially in the winter months. There’s something about casserole or a big pot of chili or stew on a cold winter’s night that makes everything feel cozy. I just made the biggest pan of my lasagna yesterday.

If you are looking for a bunch of good recipes go follow my Yummy Eats Pinterest board, I’ve been pinning yummy-looking recipes for a few years.

Cookbooks

Do you still love a real cookbook?? Me too! I’ve paired down my collection now that there’s so much available online but I still have a shelf of my favorites!

Since I spend more time in my kitchen it’s one space that I like to refresh once January rolls around. Once all the leftover tins of Christmas cookies and treats are gone I like to clear off all the counters and change things around.

That doesn’t mean running out and buying all new things…I just go through what I already have in my house and move things around. Sometimes I switch out a tray or change out my utensil holder or what bowl I’m using for fruit.

Pretty Pitchers

Even adding a different vessel on your counter with fresh flowers will make your kitchen feel new. One of my favorite looks is a pitcher filled with fresh flowers or tall artificial stems.

You can find really pretty pitchers for a reasonable price so it’s also a super affordable way to refresh your space. Here are a few favorites:

Eye Pleasing Small Appliances

I have to tell you that I came across the nicest-looking counter appliances over on Walmart the other day. There’s a new line Beautiful by Drew Barrymore over there. All the pieces are so aesthetically pleasing…they gave me total Smeg vibes (but much more budget-friendly)!! So if you are in the market for a new air fryer or coffee maker check it out! I’ll link a few of the pieces below...

I also got myself an early Christmas present on Black Friday and LOVE it! Instead of having a Keurig and a Ninja Coffee Bar taking up counter space, I upgraded to this Ninja Dual Brew...and I really think it’s awesome! I can still make a quick cup of coffee with a pod but can make a full pot or my beloved iced coffee. One other pretty cool feature is that there is a separate water tube for making just boiling/hot water so you can make tea or cocoa and not have it infused with leftover coffee taste!! Genius feature!

Kitchen Textiles

Something that I did end up ordering was 2 new area rugs and a valance for the windows above my kitchen sink. I have a U-shaped work area in my kitchen and it’s hard to find square rugs. (I’ll add a pic once the rugs arrive!)

One easy update to refresh the kitchen is adding new kitchen towels or maybe a new table runner and napkins…little touches that can brighten up your space. I love the Hearth & Hand with Magnolia line of textiles. The flour sack kitchen towels are my absolute faves, I have even used them on top of my round kitchen table in place of a runner because they are so pretty!!

If you are in the market for a new set of casual dinnerware, I just saw this new line at my local Walmart. The set of stoneware with exposed clay is a dupe of the Pottery Barn Quinn line… the Walmart set is $44.92 and the Pottery Barn will set you back $136!!!

Well, I hope this gave you a few ideas on how to refresh around the house this Winter without breaking the bank!! Having a beautiful place to come home to doesn’t have to be expensive…using things you already have in a new way or picking up a couple of new small items can make all the difference!

So add a new plant, put on a candle, snuggle up under a cozy throw and hibernate until Spring…or is that just me???

xo, Jennifer

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