10 Simple Winter Decor Ideas For After Christmas

Happy New Year friends! I’m here to tell you that decorating your house after the Christmas season is over doesn’t have to be a challenge. In fact, it’s a great time to ward off those winter blues and create a fresh new look with a cozy vibe. Read on for the best and easiest winter decor ideas to last you through the long winter months. 

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There’s something great about the fresh clean feeling you get every January after the Christmas tree comes down and all of the holiday decorations are stored away. You’re left with a blank slate; a fresh start for the new year. And suddenly, what feels like a very empty home now that all of the festive décor and lights are gone.

Now what? It’s the same bittersweet feeling I used to get every year in my own home. The holidays are over and spring seems so very far away, but you still crave some non Christmas winter decorations in your home.

No worries! These simple tips are perfect for January decorating ideas, and just the right amount of festive touches to cozy up your home after Christmas.

How to decorate right after Christmas

1) De-Clutter your Holiday Decor

While this might not seem like an important decorating step, it’s the perfect time to take stock of items that no longer serve you. I don’t know about you, but I tend to get overwhelmed by having too much stuff in my home. And then there’s the storage aspect!

The thought having to buy things just to hold my things makes my head spin. Luckily, we did score some great storage shelves years ago from our Local Ace Hardware. Be sure to check out their online winter sale happening.

So if something hasn’t made it out of your attic or basement and onto your shelves in a few years, it might be time to bid it farewell and let it find a new home.

This is something I practice after every holiday season and it also helps me feel a little less guilty about investing in new pieces. What’s that saying? Out with old, in with the new!

2) Remove all Christmas items

Start by taking down anything that screams “Merry Christmas!” Literally and figuratively. All of the items that are meant to celebrate the holiday season should be stored away.

Think stocking holders and stockings, special tablecloths, pillows and floral arrangements. When in doubt, store it away until next year.

Take inventory of those holiday pieces that can easily double as winter décor and set them aside. And decide on a nice cohesive winter color palette as well.

3) Get rid of Red

No other color says Christmas quite like red. And while bright colors can be quite beautiful during the holidays, you want to give your home more of a fresh look as you settle in for a long winter.

So store away all of the red ribbon, red berries and poinsettias to make way for a new color scheme.

4) Opt for neutral colors​

I’m pretty much a basic neutral girl. Mainly because I’m lazy and I can add just about anything to my home without the fear of it clashing.

What can I say, I like easy decorating. And after Christmas décor is no exception in my home.

Adding in neutral or muted tones using throw pillows, blankets and candle holders are easy ways to achieve a subtle winter feel.

5) Garnish with Greenery

For another easy winter decorating hack you can always sprinkle in some fresh greenery throughout your home. We have a ridiculous amount of evergreen trees in our backyard, so I swiped a few branches to fill some of my vases in the living room.

They look great paired with my rustic plaster vases. Not to mention the fresh pine tree smell.

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I was also able to re-use these faux greens for some simple built-in styling.

6) Bring nature inside

Would you be surprised if I told you that some of the very same Christmas decorations you used to deck the halls during the holidays can actually stay put after Christmas is over?

I know, sounds kind of silly right? But keeping just a little bit of seasonal touches is an easy way to make your home feel tastefully decorated during the winter season.

Natural elements like pine cones, evergreen stems and even white berries make for the perfect winter home décor pieces this time of year.

These pinecones make an amazing winter bowl filler when you place them in a trendy metallic brass dish like I did on our built-ins. Gold and brass metallic colors are another great way to add in some warmth to your home during the winter.

7) Layer on the texture

Is there anything more cozy than the luxurious feel of velvet and fur?! Don’t worry, I’m not a monster. I’d never ever use real fur décor in my home. Eww. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love cuddling up in a nice heavy blanket while the snow’s piling up outside.

Adding in quality, faux fur blankets, like this one that I picked up from Ballard Designs, adds a nice wintery touch to any sofa or chair. Pair it with a few solid colored velvet or velour pillows and you now have the perfect place to lounge this season.

You can also opt for knit chunky blankets that contrast your furniture to add a bit of color.

8) Add warm lighting

We tend to miss the warm glow of the Christmas twinkle lights, so I decided to string in a strand of led fairy lights. Not too overwhelming, but jut the right amount of light to get us through the cold dark winter month of January. I’ll take it.

You can also add these lights into fresh flowers for a festive winter look.

9) Use Baskets

Simple birch logs stacked in a log holder or wicker basket also add an easy, seasonal touch to your winter décor.

They’re also fantastic for storing extra throw pillows and blankets for winter cuddling.

10) Rethink your floral arrangement 

Who says garland is just for Christmas?! One of the biggest decorating trends right now is seasonal mantel themes, complete with matching garland for each holiday. So why not use some of your leftover Christmas garland to create a minimalist winter fireplace?

I kept some of my faux cedar garland out just for this idea. It’s pretty minimalist as far as garland goes, and it just gives it a nice woodsy feel to my pretty plain mantel.

And that brings me to an important point! Don’t feel like you need to keep adding things to your home just to decorate it for winter.

Simply editing your holiday decor will go a long way to give you the perfect winter backdrop to build on.

let’s recap those after Christmas decorating ideas!

• De-clutter and re-use seasonally appropriate winter décor
• Get rid of red
• Tone down your color palette with neutrals
• Bring winter nature inside with pinecones, greenery, birch logs and other nature inspired pieces
• Add in warm and cozy textured layers like velvet, faux fur and even chenille using throw blankets and throw pillows
• Lots of baskets
• Use warm metallic colors like gold and brass to brighten up a space
• Ad in some ambient lighting, like LED twinkle lights to keep a hint of that holiday glow around
• Garnish with greenery to keep the festive season around.
• Re-think your seasonal florals

What do you think? Do you have any go to ideas to help decorate your home after Christmas? I’d love to know how you make your space feel cozy during the winter.

Drop me a comment below, and don’t forget to subscribe to my e-mail list where I share all of my favorite decorating do’s and don’ts with you.

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