How To Decorate After Christmas

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Isn't the time between Christmas and Spring such a weird time for decorating? Like, how exactly are you supposed to decorate for the months of January and February? All your Christmas is down, and your house is looking oh so bare, but it just waaaaay to early to introduce spring florals. Over the past few years, I have honed in on what exactly January and February decor should look like. It took some time to get used to it, but when you think about it, it totally makes sense. Decorate inside with what you see outside. I won't be seeing any flowers soon, but I do see beautiful trees and bushes covered in a perfect dusting of snow. And because January and February are usually so dreary weather-wise, and shorter days, it's good to bring in bright neutral colors! Don't live in a dark cave those dark winter months :)

 Clock: Tutorial

I usually take down my Christmas stuff at the beginning of January. I learned this year that the 12 days of Christmas are actually AFTER Christmas, and not before. I may have been hiding underneath a rock, but I didn't know this. So, it's actually old tradition to not take your tree down until the 6th of January. So, this is helpful to all of us who wonder when exactly should you take down Christmas. Of course, to each their own :) but there's a good guideline! 

So, to start taking down my Christmas in attempt to leave up Winter, I try to take all what I think as Christmas-y down...like obvious Christmas stuff. Things that say "Jolly", "Santa", "Noel", ect. I then remove all the red, glitz and glitter. The stockings and the ornaments from the trees are gone. Christmas countdowns are put away. I'm usually left with a pretty neutral scheme along with greens. Some greens are flocked, and some aren't. This is what Winter is to me. 

Shiplap: Tutorial    Builtin shelves: Tutorial

Last year, I kept up my big trees through most of January and into February. I felt like this was too long. Sometimes the magic of Christmas is because it's so fleeting and only lasts just for a little while. Even though all the "Christmas" was gone, the big trees reminded me too much of it. So, this year, I took down my big trees and only left the little ones. 

Along with smaller trees, I kept up a lot of garland. The garland I chose doesn't have any red berries or too much sparkle. I chose the ones that seemed the most natural. Ones that looked like they could totally belong outside. 

Vintage Wood Map: DecorSteals

I also went completely neutral in most of my rooms, letting the greens of the trees and garland pop. 

 Leather Moroccan Pouf: Link      Rug: Link  

White Ruffle Bedspread: link and link.   Greyish/Taupe Coverlet: link

Ruffle Diamond Pillow Shams: link   Ruffle Euro Shams: link
Storage Bench: link (similar)
Along with every other time of year, textures are so important. It's a good way to bring interest to the neutral color scheme...or interest to any color scheme at all. Bring in textures through organic materials like wood and pine cones. The garland and trees bring in texture all on their own. Add texture through throw blankets and pillows. 

And of course, layers are sooo important during the cold winter months. Layers help bring in comfort especially with the bareness you feel when all the Christmas stuff is gone. I add layers through simple things like window treatments, rugs, pillows, and blankets. 

Leather Moroccan Pouf: Link      Rug: Link    Clock: Tutorial

 Layers can also be just adding more to things like garland in between these candlesticks, plus the runner. 

Adding trays onto benches, beds, or coffee tables also add that extra little comfort. I like to fill my trays with books, greenery, and little extras. 

It used to be that keeping even small little trees out after December was so weird to me. But as I said before, when you think about it, it makes sense to leave them out! I like to think that nature dictates how you should decorate (for the most part....at least those of us who have 4 hard seasons). Flowers in Spring. Pumpkins and fall colors during Fall. Summer brings lots of happy bright colors with greens. And Winter...well, snowy trees and branches. 

What do you do for your decor during those odd dreary months of January and February? 

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