Let’s keep up with this whole fresh start January feeling we’ve got going on the blog lately. I’m totally digging it, and I really hope you are too. Type A OCD planners like myself truly enjoy this back to routine month so as long as I’m inspired I’m going to keep sharing with you all. I’ve got some pretty fun stuff up my sleeve.
Today let’s focus on our homes, shall we? I find January as always sort of a refresh when it comes to design. We have, hopefully, peeled back and stored away all the holiday decor and are left with what sometimes feels as sort of a blank slate. Not necessarily ready to embrace spring (my goodness I wish) but we need something for the in between. Something to get us through January. And February. And a little bit of March.
What we need is some fresh updates for our home in winter. Clean. Organized. Minimal. Easy. But we don’t want to spend a ton because, hello, December. Most bank accounts are still recovering, right? Yikes.
So I’ve come up with some ideas that I’ve been doing to my own home with minimal expense. Hopefully a tip or two can catch your eye for your own home and give it that new jump start it may need for the new year. And for the ‘blah’ of winter.
Tulips till spring!
This is always my motto come January. I buy myself tulips weekly until spring hits. I find them at Trader Joes for $4.99 a bunch so figure it’s a minimal cost to spend that brings me a little joy everyday during the week. I always lean white and the clear jar with the dots was $3.00 at Marianos. I generally get five to six days out of the tulips (so like $1.00/day!) and even love them best when they are on their last days and all ‘wild like.’
Implement the color green.
Nothing says freshness quite like green. And so many formats these days to choose from. You’ve got your house plants. Your succulents. Herbed wreaths. All of it is so bright and oh so January appropriate. I’ve found some awesome cost efficient choices from Ikea (pictured above) and locals, from Tattered Tiques, pictured below. Those moss balls ($9.00) are such a great way to fill a bin or basket and major bonus – they won’t die on you! Hallelujuah.
Switch out your scents.
Goodbye pumpkin and cinnamon and evergreen. Hello, well, whatever you fancy. January is the perfect time to get some fresh new scents in your home via candles, hand soaps, dish soap, and even detergent format. I’ve stocked up on the Meyer Lemon scent for hand and dish soaps. The yellow color adds brightness and the scent is super up lifting. And it’s all priced great right at your local Target.
Some awesome candle ideas now are of course the ever lovely Volcano but that leans expensive. Marshmellow fireside is a great one for these deep winter months and much more affordable. And locals, I just picked up a ‘Sweet Tea’ candle from Tattered Tiques and it is everything. Priced somewhere in between at $24.99 it’s incredibly light and refreshing but also strong enough to fill my whole great room. Loved this one.
And lastly, if you follow me on Instagram you know I have a love affair with this laundry detergent. I can’t say enough good things. It smells SO GOOD. And it will make your home, your clothes, even yourSELF smell so amazing. I often get asked what perfume I have on. Um…..detergent? Ha.
It does lean pricer, BUT! I’ve been given the tip to mix with an unscented (cheaper) laundry detergent which then makes it last longer. The scent is pretty strong (in the most heavenly of ways) so it would be acceptable to tone it down a bit in order to get the most bang for your buck.
Clear your counters.
The best part about this tip? Well, it’s free baby. I can’t tell you how good it feels after the busier cooking and entertaining season of December (read: all. the. platters. and. dishes.) to just have wide open clean kitchen counters. Seriously, put the extra stuff away. You don’t need to see it. Wide open space. I swear it changes the game and gives you that whole ‘ahhhhhhhh’ sense.
Cozy up.
January is a great month to get out all your cute blankets and throws. My boys are constantly bringing all of ours into the family room. I stopped trying to fight it and just started stacking them neatly on the nearby ottoman. We don’t need two throws in the living room we never sit in, am I right? Now it’s all nice and cozy right where we lounge – in the big leather sofas by the fire.
And hey, if you’re in the market for a new blanket and want legit the best one of your life it’s on sale at Nordstroms right now. I had a gift card so put it towards two for our home and they are game changing. Literally my boys walk in the door and go and grab them and cuddle up. The softest things in the world. We have the leopard print in both the neutral option and the blank/tan, which is what can be seen traveling with all of the Kardashians. Oh la la, we are so fancy.
Clean out your fridge.
Let’s make this a weekly thing, shall we? Another lovely and free thing to do for your home. Seriously, take everything out, wipe it down, put items back in. I promise you it’s a game changing weekly routine that helps on so many levels. First of all, you can make your fridge look neat and organized. You can find things easier. You can see what you have and what you need (read, less waste). All good things my friends, all good things. I do this every Sunday.
New paint.
When it comes down to it, new paint is seriously one of the most cheap ways to make a dramatic change in a home. If you’re patient and good with a brush, it’s even that more cost effective to do yourself. I happen to have guy that owes me a favor so voila! I spent $39.99 on a can of Benjamin Moore paint and was able to give my laundry room a fresh update. I am in LOVE. The color was inspired by a good friend who was painting her daughter’s nursery. I knew wanted a pinky coral and this sunlit coral from Benjamin Moore was just the thing! Dreamy. I oddly already enjoy laundry but this just made it that much more fun. My goodness, I need to get out more.
Shop your own home.
We all have extra accessories lying it around whether it’s vases, pillows, artwork. I had this vintage set of prints sitting in my storage in the basement ever since we moved in. I just didn’t have a spot for them. Once I knew I was able to get my laundry room painted I knew I wanted to add some art work to the long wall across from the washing machines. At first I was browsing Etsy for some fun laundry room print ideas when it hit me – why am I buying something? I have the most darling vintage set sitting right in my own home. Bam, up they went. Free of cost.
Make a Good Will run.
My go to advice when purging and organizing is just start small. Although you may want to fix and declutter your entire home, it’s just not going to happen that way and makes it all seem way too overwhelming. Pick one area of your home that deserves a good sorting through (mine was Beckett’s closet) and do it! Get the bags for items to save, items to to donate to a friend, and items to go to Good Will. Then, actually go to Good Will and drop it off. Feels great all and again, all for zero cost.
Make a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup.
Because it’s the dead of winter and any home can totally benefit from having a pot in the fridge ready to go for a healthy easy dinner and lunches to come. It just feels better to have a batch on hand, don’t you think? This recipe is game changing in terms of chicken noodle soup. The roasted chicken with spices and all the garlic are everything. A home in winter with chicken noodle soup is a great home to be in.
That’s a wrap! Hope you found one or two ideas that can give your own home a fresh little jolt during these drearier months.
C
If you liked this post, check these out!
Courtney
Latest posts by Courtney (see all)
- Roasted Bruschetta Salmon - August 30, 2018
- Four hour Bolognese - August 28, 2018
- Summer sandwiches - July 25, 2018
Leave a Reply