Once all the seasonal lights and decorations come down, your home can feel a little lackluster come January. But this is also a great time of year to breathe new life into your surroundings. Try a couple of the following suggestions to help your home avoid a post-holiday slump.

Get rid of clutter. After the holidays are over, there's usually a fair degree of clean-up that takes place as we pack away seasonal decor and entertaining supplies, reset guest rooms and find room for gifts we may have received. While you're at it, use this opportunity to go a step further and get rid of some of your home's year-round clutter, such as magazines that have piled up, excess kitchen utensils and dust-gathering knick-knacks. When it comes to a fresh, spacious-feeling home, less is usually more.

Rearrange the furniture. Did you move things around to make room for a Christmas tree, extend your dining area or carve out space for out-of-town guests? As you look to restore your home to its pre-holiday version, pause and consider doing things a little bit differently. Maybe the easy chair you moved into a guest room should become a permanent fixture, or perhaps there's a new way to position your sofa in the living room. Use this time to think about your furniture arrangement in new ways. 

Change out your textiles. A simple and effective way to change up your home after the holidays is by introducing new soft goods, especially those that add a warm and cozy feeling to your home's winter landscape. Try out some plush pillows and bulky throw blankets in rich winter hues, such as deep greens, blues and shades of red. If you haven't already, switch out light and airy curtains with drapes made from heavier materials, such as velvet. These strategies can give your home an entirely new feel without having to break the bank.

Grab a paint brush. If you're stuck inside due to inclement weather, consider taking on a paint project to help give your home a fresh feel. Whether you're tackling an entire room, creating a bold accent wall or updating a piece of furniture, new paint is a surefire way to give your home a brand new look.

Play with light. Finally, before you pack them all away, keep a strand or two of white lights on hand to add a warm, festive feel to your home year-round. Drape a string of fairy lights across your mantle or woven around a large plant or indoor tree. And remember that candles aren't just for the holiday season–keep a variety of sizes on hand, from pillars to tapers, and let their glow create a peaceful vibe in your home at any time.

• 
• 
• 
•