The festive season is over and suddenly your home feels empty. The twinkling lights, the greenery and all the decorations that brought so much joy are gone, leaving behind a quiet, post-Christmas lull — what I like to call the Christmas House Blues. Don’t worry here are a few simple styling tips that will keep your home feeling warm, inviting, and cosy well into the new year.
You don’t need to pack away every festive item at once. Leave a few subtle touches — a sprig of faux greenery, a small candle arrangement, fairy lights around a mirror or large house plant — to maintain warmth and a gentle seasonal glow
Update your Christmas Wreath and table decorations to take you into January, Gypsophila is your best friend at this time of year, it not only adds freshness but also dries naturally. All I’ve done to this table decoration is remove anything too Christmassy and replace with Gypsophila and a few dried Allium flower heads.
Hyacinths and daffodils bulbs are perfect for growing in glass containers. They add a pop of colour, a fresh, uplifting scent and a touch of early spring to any room. Arrange them in clusters on a windowsill, table or mantelpiece for an instant mood boost — and watch as their vibrant blooms brighten even the dullest winter days.
These are paperwhite daffodils set into grit in a simple glass vase – no soil needed. Just keep the grit damp and gently support the stems as they grow.
For an easy seasonal display, pop to your local supermarket and pick up a few bunches of daffodils or tulips. Place them into single stem vases and group them together, adding a candle at the centre for warmth. Arranged on a tray or as seen here a simple wooden slice, they create, a relaxed, natural display.
We’re still in the depths of winter, so now is the time to really lean into cosiness – layers of blankets, throws, cushions and rugs draped over sofas and chairs to create warmth and comfort. Soft furnishings instantly make a space feel inviting during the colder months.
As we move into the new year, it’s also natural to want a gentle refresh especially after the reds, golds and deep greens of Christmas have been packed away. A simple and cost effective way to update your home without a full overhaul is to change cushion covers and vary the textures of your soft furnishings, adding neutral colours in natural linen, wool or sheepskin can instantly lift your scheme, adding a calmer feeling while still keeping your home warm and welcoming.
One of the most comforting ways to lift the post Christmas blues is to reintroduce pieces that tell your story. This might be family heirlooms, photographs, a favourite piece of furniture or even something small that triggers an emotional response.
A personal example: this morning before sitting down to write this, I walked into my bathroom and noticed a bottle of Jo Malone Lime, Basil & Mandarin cologne sitting on the shelf. I gave myself a quick spray – something I hadn’t done for a long time – and was instantly transported back to a fantastic holiday in Greece. That one scent brought back memories, sunshine and a feeling of laughter all in a single moment.
Photographs, heirlooms and meaningful objects can do exactly the same with your home. After Christmas when everything feels a little quieter, these are the pieces that restore its soul. There’s no better way to bring your home back to life than by filling it with things that are personal to you – reminders that home isn’t just about how it looks but how it makes you feel.
And finally, always remember this is your home do what feels right for you.
Willow & Hen is not here to make life bigger
It is here to make life gentler
Love
Sue x
