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When the gifts have been opened, the tree has been taken down and the holidays have passed, I start to crave simplicity and fresh inspiration again in my home. There’s a moment every year after all of the holiday decorations have been packed away when the house feels bare, but I like to look at it as my opportunity to approach our home with fresh eyes.
For me, the tools for this reset begin with engaging with the senses—sounds, smells, colors, and textures of the season. I love to put a good playlist on shuffle, burn a new candle and start looking for the places in my home where I can clear clutter, incorporate new colors and add life.
But first, clear away the holiday decor by tidying, donating, or selling it and then organizing to put it away in storage for another year. Then let’s get to work!
Refresh Your Home
Do a very early spring cleaning!
A mini-reset or a full home audit can be done but either way, starting with a clean canvas to begin creating your genuine home for the rest of the year is much easier now! I recommend using my “Reset Your Home Checklist” or my full “Home Audit Design Guide” as a jumping-off point.
Decide on a color palette!
I have three examples of color palettes below. I recommend starting with a neutral base color and then at least two accent colors to build out.
Change out Accent Pieces
I’d start with the throw pillow and blankets, then decorative objects, and finally, florals that are more transitional and can go from Winter to Spring.
Change out Wall Art pieces
Refreshing wall art is like icing. There are photos of loved ones and sweet memories surrounding the genuine home you’ve created!
Celebrate
In the spirit of keeping things fresh, I’m sharing my citrus simmer pot recipe and an essential oils linen spray recipe below too!
Citrus Simmer Pot Recipe
A simmer pot is essentially a stovetop potpourri. I love the ease of throwing these ingredients into a pot of water and letting it fill our house with clean scents all day long.
+ 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
+ 1 c of cranberries
+ 1 c of fresh pine needles
+ 2 sticks of cinnamon
+ 2-3 lemon slices or orange slices (or opt for using the peels alone)
+ A few drops of lavender essential oil
+ A few drops of lemon essential oil
On the stovetop, bring a few cups of water to a simmer. Gently place the rosemary, lavender, and lemon slices into the water. Add in drops of lavender and rose essential oil until fragrant. Turn the heat to low, and allow the pot to simmer for a few hours. Make sure to check on the simmering pot about every 30 minutes and add more water to the mixture as needed.
Recipe Note: Do not leave the pot on the stovetop unattended, and while it looks pretty enough to drink, resist the urge. This brew is for smelling, not sipping.
Winter Delight Linen Spray
+ 12 oz. amber glass spray bottle
+ 10 drops of lemon essential oil
+ 10 drops of lavender essential oil
+ 2 Tbsp witch hazel (You could also use a pinch of Epsom salt or sea salt in place of the witch hazel if you prefer)
+ Filtered or distilled Water
Instructions:
Begin by adding drops of essential oil directly into your bottle. Add witch hazel or salt (this step helps to emulsify the essential oils since oil and water don’t mix). Next, fill the rest of your bottle with room-temperature filtered or distilled water.
Put the cap on the spray bottle and give it a good shake before use. Spray-on bed sheets, pillows, towels, curtains, throws, furniture pieces (as you see fit based on your furniture’s specific care instructions), or pet beds.
Simplicity in Resetting Your Home
A reset doesn’t mean you have to make any significant purchases. Instead, opt to embrace change in really simple ways. For example, adding freshly cut stems to a vase in your entryway, burning a scented candle, incorporating a basket for your throw blankets in the living room, or using throw pillows to bring color to your sofa or bed. A little goes a long way! Maybe for you, embracing change looks more like tackling a space you’ve been avoiding in your home, like your hall closet, junk drawer, or pantry.
Whatever this process looks like for you, don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking of this as a complete overhaul of your home. Rather, look at this as your opportunity to slow down, reset and embrace the clean slate of a new season. I hope that whatever this fresh start looks like for you, you will approach it with pause, purpose, and intention. AND if you’re ready to get started today, come join my Holistic Home Refresh Challenge. I’ll see you inside!
Happy January!
Love,
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