Refresh for the new year

One of the things I love to do every January is to refresh the decor in my home. You can do this without spending any money. It is simply a matter of rearranging.

Here's the deal: when an item has been in the same spot in your house for a year, you become blind to it. You don't notice it anymore and it loses it uniqueness. You purchased that item because you loved it, but now you don't even "see" it anymore.

So, every year when I take down my Christmas decorations, I also take all of the decorative items off of all tables and shelves. I give everything a good dusting and cleaning and put all items on a table. The photo above is all of the decorative items I put out after taking down Christmas decorations a few days ago. I simply spread them out to see what I have.

Then, I begin putting everything back with the goal of not putting it back in the same spot. Try something new. Look at your items with fresh eyes. Group new things together. It gives your house a new feel. You will appreciate the decorative things you have much more when you can see them in a new light.

I also do the same things with frames. During Christmas, I take out photos and put in Christmas photos and holiday art. After Christmas, I print off new pictures and find new art that I love. There are so many places to get amazing art inexpensively. Did you know that Etsy has many artists that sell their art for around $5 and then you download yourself? It's also the perfect time to order new pictures you have taken during the last year. Get them off your phone and into your frames! Above are all of the empty frames I filled after Christmas. I love seeing new pictures in all of them.

When you put back frames, try to not put them back in the same spot. Find a new spot for them. Ideally, they will be mixed in with your decorative items from above in a beautiful vignette! (See previous blog post.) This is a fun time to be creative and try grouping together some new things.

The key is to see your items with fresh eyes. You walk by your art and decorative pieces everyday and they can begin to blend in to the background. Taking down Christmas decorations and cleaning your house is the perfect time to put your items in a new spot and begin to see them with fresh eyes again!

Start 2018 in a home that has a fresh feel and makes you happy!