Keeping January Festive

January is a rough month for some homeowners. The holiday season is over with and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree and strip your home bare of the beautiful lights you once had up. When you drive around at night you’ll see less lighting and more darkness. January is a glum month with the thrill of presents and family time coming to a close. So the idea of trying to decorate your home or make some changes might seem like a less than exciting prospect. How can you match the magic of November and December? While it can be hard to replicate the magic and beauty of the Christmas season, it isn’t impossible. Below are some steps for turning your drab January home into a festive place for a beautiful New Years beginning.

Don’t Immediately Switch

The moment December is gone there seems to be a call to quickly remove and throw out all your Christmas and holiday décor. But just because the month switches over doesn’t mean you have to change it all around. There are many pieces which can remain in your home long after Christmas is over with. Taking down your tree is probably expected but some of the other decorations will continue to match the winter weather. Keep the garland around your staircase or mantle. Pine needles aren’t just a sign of Christmas, but of the cold weather. Certain decorations can be put to use throughout your home as well. Try mixing and matching your normal decorations in with the bits and pieces you still have from the holiday season. There is no rule for when you should take down lights or decorations. Don’t avoid trying out new mixtures to brighten your home in even the coldest months.

Use Lighting

One of the best tricks to keeping your home bright and cheerful even when it’s pretty gloomy outside is by making sure your home is actually bright and cheerful. You can do this in a number of different ways. If you have a fireplace in your home then keeping it running will be a big bonus to your home. There’s nothing that screams cheer better than a beautifully decorated fireplace. Using lamps throughout your home is also a great way to bring the cheer inside. You may not use lamps on a daily basis or turn them on during the day. Using lamps around different rooms will brighten up the area and highlight your décor. If you don’t have many lamps on hand, antique shops and big box stores often carry smaller lamps for places in your home which may not get a lot of light. Brightening up your home during the winter months is a great way to keep the mood cheerful and exciting.

DIY Fun

If you are unsure about decorating your home for January then you aren’t alone in this. Many homeowners are stuck on what to bring out and what to put away. Sometimes with the celebration of a new year comes the desire to create something new for your home. If you’re looking for a project to take on or some new decorations to fill your home, then DIY is the perfect opportunity for you. A quick click of the mouse can take you to sites focused on offering tips for remodeling your basement, or various parts of your home. Going online to sites like Pinterest or Instagram can give you a huge variety of projects. If you’re looking for large projects, sites like YouTube can walk you through the process step-by-step with video and audio and give you tips for remodeling your home. Pinterest can serve you up some beautiful designs to get your creative juices flowing. If family or friends are still staying over from the holiday season, getting them excited about a DIY project might prove to be a fun event for everyone.