I begin finding my winter rhythm in the first few weeks of January. As a homebody who loves to create a sanctuary at home, I start the new year by clearing out what no longer inspires me so I can begin discovering what does. A winter sanctuary feels cozy and comforting to me!

I often keep some of our Christmas decor up to add sparkle, but usually, the only things that still inspire me by mid-January are the outdoor lights and indoor candles. My whale wreath is still on the door now, it will probably stay through the rest of this month.

Most everything else for Christmas has been packed away. I had already pared down what we wanted to keep, so I grabbed four zippered ornament cases (see a photo of mine here) which we used for the breakables…and a couple of tree and garland bags that helped me get it better organized to store in our very small garage. See a photo of those bags here.

I kept the velvet winter scarves on our brass bunny and fox (I made the scarves with this ribbon) but gave this cute pair a fresh new vantage point on the fireplace.

Most of my decor is “seasonless” items that I use year-round mixed with a few seasonal touches! But of course, Christmas is always just a little extra!

Without the Christmas garland, the mantel felt a little bare to me so stacks of books added visual interest with color and texture.

One addition I’ve discovered in recent years is that tulips bring me immeasurable happiness in January. For some, it might seem too early or like a clash of seasons, but for me, tulips promise what will come. It’s never too dreary to be reminded that the beauty and hope of spring are right around the corner.

A couple of years ago, I bought some faux tulips for spring, but I’ve found them to be the best investment in my winter well-being. There are times when we don’t have fresh flowers at home or even available nearby. I stopped at the market the other day and didn’t see any flowers that inspired me, but when I returned home, I remembered that I had my faux tulips! The next best thing.

These tulips look (and even feel) so realistic. They come in several colors–I mixed the light pink and coral here. I have them in white, too!

It snowed here on Wednesday. Seeing my pretty pink tulips in the vase with the snow behind them outside brought me peace. Spring is on the way, but there is so much beauty still to be savored in this season!

Mood lighting is also so important this time of year. I’ve been looking for a kitchen lamp and stumbled upon this darling one the other day. I’m so glad it arrived just in time for snow so I could cozy up this corner of our kitchen. I’m tempted to get more of these lamps. They come in many colors and two sizes (see them all here), and it’s such a great deal even if it was only bought for the charming scalloped lampshade!

Here’s how the lamp looks when it’s on, I love that warm cozy light coming through the texture of the shade.

Cozy spots to curl up are essential this time of year, too. Lily always sets the example for embracing the comforts of this season (and every season). She finds all the coziest spots and enjoys each of them as often as possible. I want to be like Lily.

Jack also enjoys cozy spots, particularly places comfortable enough for him to get into. He’s getting older but still his same ol’ self. :) He has never found an ottoman he doesn’t like, so we make sure he has plenty of options.

We keep our fireplace going as it feels much warmer and more inviting than darkness. The dogs are often curled up nearby. Speaking of warmth, my pretty battery-operated candles have also been a wise winter investment as I can leave them on as desired, without fear. They make me happy to see them shining, even during the day.

Next up on my project list is to refresh our bedroom in a small way. January is always the month I’m most inspired to focus a little extra time on it, so it’s becoming a tradition for me! Now that we have our new hardwood floors installed, I am finally ready to declutter what we are not using and refresh the decor again to pull it together. I already brought in a rug from the Snug, and it is inspiring some new ideas! I will share what I come up with. Plus, I am working a bit on the Snug, too.

Creating a sanctuary is a personal and soul-filling experience that inspires me to find joy in the simple pleasures of every season. This process teaches me to live with more beauty, hope, grace, gratitude, patience, and resilience, especially in January!

In this season of HomeBody Gathering Place we’re working through the benefits of simplicity in a sanctuary and embracing ways to simplify spaces in our home. I’m SO inspired to simplify all the things so I can enjoy what I love more. This is something we can do year-round for our own well-being. Winter season is closed to new members, but we will open again in spring to talk about style (and you can also see what we learned about simplicity!). I hope you’ll join us this spring; it’s a lovely community for those who want to create a sanctuary. You can learn more and get on the waitlist here.

Happy winter, friends!

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