How to Decorate After Christmas
Transform your holiday home into a winter retreat.
Wondering how to transition your home from a hub for the holidays into a neutral winter wonderland? Retiring the Christmas tree and ornaments presents the perfect opportunity to refresh your space while maintaining a cozy, curated feel for the rest of the season. Here are all our tips on swapping your holiday decor for everyday winter selections. By the end of this guide, you’ll know just how to decorate after Christmas.
1. Declutter Your Space
The holidays can be a time of chaos and clutter, from hosting loved ones to unwrapping new gifts – the first step in how to decorate after Christmas is clearing it up! Do away with excess in order to foster a serene environment for the new year ahead. Decluttering creates an open, airy home that sets the tone for your wintry abode. After the tree is gone, consider filling the empty space with a sleek dining table and chairs. A modern chandelier adds an eye-catching statement piece to keep the space feeling vibrant.
As you remove Christmas-specific decorations, swap them for neutral winter decor. Snowflakes and icy blue accents create a classic winter aesthetic without an overwhelming Christmas feel – incorporating these elements into your home through accent pillows or wall art achieves a subtle transition after the holiday season.
Tip!
Looking for additional winter decor inspiration? Check out our guide on 20 Winter Ideas to Bring Cheer to Your Home.
3. Revamp Your Mantelpiece
After putting away Christmas decor, like stockings and holiday figurines, spruce up your mantelpiece with neutral replacements. Cozy candles and winter-themed art are great selections for creating an elegant mantelpiece free of holiday associations. White wreaths are another great way to maintain a wintry vibe without traditional Christmas color schemes.
Bold colors, like deep reds combined with vibrant greens, keep the Christmas spirit alive. We suggest replacing them with softer tones to craft a serene sanctuary for the rest of the winter. Beiges, creams, and natural wood-colored accents imbue the home with coziness, fostering a relaxing space for the cold months ahead.
A cool-toned color palette is key among winter decorations after Christmas. Blue pillows or blankets and silvery accents give your home a frosty atmosphere. Opting for cool shades brings the crisp outdoors right inside your home, providing gentle winter tones without the holiday flair.
Tip!
Curious what your style design is? Take our Winter Aesthetic Quiz to find out.
6. Add Touches of Green
Nothing brings winter decor to life quite like plants. Whether you select faux plants, small succulents, or wreaths, these additions lend your home an organic feel.
Chunky blankets or plush throws are among our top winter decor ideas. Create an inviting feel by keeping a variety of blankets on hand throughout the home – drape them on sofas or chairs, or lay them across the foot of your bed. Warm blankets provide your home with the feeling of hygge, helping you stay comfortable throughout the colder months.
Candles are a simple way to create a serene environment for your winter decorations. Not only do they provide warmth, but they add cozy lighting to any space. Pillar candles bring bright touches to the dining room or mantelpiece, while cinnamon- or vanilla-scented candles foster a cozy winter atmosphere.
String lights make the perfect winter decorations after Christmas – if you used them to decorate for the holidays, keeping them up contributes to your home’s inviting aesthetic. If your Christmas lights are festively colored, swap them for ambient warm-bulbed selections. String and fairy lights soften any space, creating a cozy retreat in which to snuggle up while escaping the cold.
While traditional Christmas wreaths can be put away for the season (think wreaths with ornaments or red and green ribbons), nature-inspired alternatives provide a wintry aesthetic without being tied to the holidays. Simple evergreen and pine wreaths contribute to a serene environment.
Garlands are perfect for bringing the home to life during the cooler months – if you used them to decorate for Christmas, leave them up to maintain a snug ambience. If not, consider adding garlands to your home as winter decor. Whether atop your fireplace or framing your front door, their deep greenery refreshes your abode.
Replacing holiday-themed pillows with neutral throws is a great way to add texture to your home. Knits, plaid, and simple red throw pillows are ideal winter decor ideas for your post-Christmas retreat.
Now that you've revamped your space, it’s time to relax and enjoy it! Nothing screams winter more than curling up with a good book. Curating a space dedicated to reading helps you achieve a homey feel. Opt for a comfortable accent chair, a warm blanket, and soft lighting to create an inviting corner for the chilly months ahead.
Baskets provide both aesthetic appeal and function, making them perfect winter decorations after Christmas. As you pack away the holiday clutter, baskets keep your space organized and inviting while storing the winter essentials you’re keeping out, like cozy blankets. Wicker baskets add a rustic texture to any room that complements the natural tones found in winter decor – the neutral baskets in this image perfectly echo the wintry eucalyptus plant and deer figurine.
