The Cozy After Christmas

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: It is the time for home.”

—Edith Sitwell, poet

The blissful season of Christmas has come and gone. Wa, wa, wa, wa! We laughed until our bellies hurt, ate until our bellies busted out our elastic waistbands (No?? Just me?! Ok, moving on…), and made lots of wonderful memories. Now, the Christmas tree sits lonely at the curb waiting to be picked up, the decorations are put away in the attic, and here we sit feeling as though the house feels bare and asking ourselves, “What now?”

Y’all, don’t fret! First, know you are not alone. This is a common feeling for so many after the Christmas season. There’s comfort in numbers! I want to share with you how I embrace the remainder of the winter season in the farmhouse after the holidays. I call it, “The Cozy After Christmas.”

I personally love the stripped down and simplistic feel of the farmhouse after the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I love hanging the stockings with care, decking the halls, and jingling all the way, but once Christmas is over I find it very refreshing to put it all away and start with a clean slate. I tend to move furniture and decor around trying different and new arrangements that I had been wondering about throughout the last year. This is your chance to try new designs!

Along with doing some rearranging, I love to add an especially cozy feel to the farmhouse. As you all know, cozy is a year round feeling I embrace because to me it’s comforting and inviting which is exactly how I want our home to feel.

Everyone has their version of cozy. For me it means layers, woods, whites, greens, blankets, texture, and of course lots of candles. I keep my design style very simple including extra chunky throw blankets, textured and knit pillows, green plants and white flower arrangements. Layer, layer, layer. Remember, I’m a neutralist at heart, so my go-to is always white. I also find it whimsical and romantic, especially in candlelight.

Don’t be afraid to mix elements up too, wood, metal, iron (side table), glass, ceramic, fabric, and more. These days, everything goes. Follow your heart and always remember, your house is your home, make it yours. Make it a place that feels cozy and inviting to you, because especially in the winter months we spend a significant amount of time in our home hibernating and staying warm. It’s your nest, get cozy!