Once all the decorations come down, our living rooms can feel a little lacklustre and uninspiring. We want to banish all the tinsel and snowman decorations while still holding onto that uplifting spirit of Christmas time.
From buying new houseplants and savvy storage solutions to hanging art and layering up with chunky blankets, there are plenty of ways to transform your living room after Christmas. As a rule of thumb, the more natural textures, plants, and cosy lighting, the better.
The New Year is a time when we look at everything with fresh eyes, which presents a good time to reset your home for the new year ahead.
5 easy ways to refresh your living room in winter
When decorating your house after Christmas, be guided by what makes you happy, gather inspirational images on Pinterest, and don't worry about making mistakes. It's also a good opportunity to reappraise your living room layout and perhaps do some living room decluttering.
1. Refresh your artwork
If things are feeling a little flat and dull now that the decorations are down, try hanging up some new artwork on blank walls – you can follow our artwork placement tips if you're not sure where to start. Choose printable art from Etsy to keep costs down, or frame photographs and postcards.
Interior designer Amanda Lucas, from Rooted Fig, suggests going for black and white photos as they'll go with whatever colours you have in the rest of the room. She also recommends using frames that are all the same size if you want to make your living room look expensive.
If things are looking a little tired and dated, hanging some new picture frames on the walls is always a good way to spruce things up without spending a fortune and welcome positive energy into your home.
2. Rethink your storage
The new year always gets us in the mood to organise our homes, and plenty of storage is the key. The chances are your living room storage could be working harder, so consider ottomans, bespoke living room shelving and window seats with storage underneath.
Professional home organiser Laura Price from The Home Organisation recommends introducing an ottoman with hidden storage to replace any furniture that doesn’t get used. "It’s a place to sit but also offers storage for blankets or all those extra games you acquired over Christmas!" Laura says.
Replace free-standing storage units with built-in shelves to make your living room look bigger: "Built-in shelves not only make a space feel more streamlined but can also maximise vertical space, making your living room feel more open," Laura adds.
"Now your Christmas tree has gone from the bay window, is it just a wasted space for clutter? Why not look at getting a window seat made, as it can have storage underneath," suggests Amanda Lucas. "By having a lovely cushion made, you can add another seating area and focal point to a room, framed by the curtains."
The Pot Pie Footstool from Loaf is a good size for a family and has handy hidden storage. It also works as an extra seat, with storage space beneath. We're big fans of the low profile, and it comes in a range of fabrics.
These rustic, handmade alcove shelves are made using sustainably sourced timber, which is finished using a blend of natural waxes that give water resistance. Each shelf comes complete with two black brackets and all the fixings needed.
This multifunctional bench is ideal for faking a window seat when you want to avoid the costs of a bespoke solution. Its foam and fibre-filled cushion makes for a comfortable and plush seat and a good spot to settle with a good book.
3. Update soft furnishings
If you want to make a living room feel different, it's always a good idea to swap out items that take up a lot of surface area, from rugs and curtains to other soft furnishings, like armchairs and cushions. Head to our round-up of professional decluttering methods if you have trouble knowing what to keep and what to get rid of.
"A new rug and new accent cushions will transform the space quickly," agrees Amanda Lucas. "If you need additional seating, consider an accent armchair or footstool pouffe," suggests Sophie Clemson. "They can easily be moved around or into another room; this would also come in handy at Christmas time for your visitors.
"If you want to update your living room after Christmas, our exclusive interiors membership, The Living House Insider, is filled with budget-friendly homeware finds, tips, inspiration, and some brilliant discount codes from our favourite home brands."
4. A fresh lick of paint
"How about refreshing the walls? Why not add a feature wall colour – feature walls have certainly come back around, and it doesn't feel such a dramatic change when you're only painting one wall," says Amanda Lucas.
"Alcove units are a firm favourite in a lot of homes. They create such an impact and add such a lovely feature to your home. You can have them in a bold colour or something more neutral," she adds.
Paint is an inexpensive way to transform the look and feel of your living room for the new year, making it feel brand new. Whether you paint all of the walls, a feature wall, or just your window frames and coving, some colour can breathe new life into a space. From mocha tones to soft greens and warm whites, there are lots of natural tones to inspire you.
5. Add more greenery
If in doubt, add houseplants. "A plant is always a great space filler; it will add greenery and height to the room," says Sophie Clemson. They're a great way to decorate empty corners and make a space feel more relaxing.
Hang them from the ceiling or invite a larger plant in a large wicker basket to bring texture, life and all the happy vibes.
Similarly, fresh flowers and seasonal foliage will always look great and can help make your house smell good. Maybe this is the year to treat yourself to a fresh flowers subscription, or simply pick up supermarket blooms more regularly.
In the darker winter months of January and February, we all want a reset after the festive celebrations, but we still want our homes to have that cosy glow. There are lots of ways to continue the hygge-ness. I'd recommend a sheepskin or textured rug on the floor for a soft landing as you get up off the sofa. Sheer curtains won't keep things warm, but they will maximise the natural light coming in, and we all need some of that in late winter.
Then, of course, you can add the best scented candles, lamps and potpourri in a wintry fragrance to scent-scape your home. Lastly, ensure the kitchen cupboards are well stocked with your favourite hot drinks and snacks.
