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Emily A. Clark

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January decorating

January 2, 2014

living room chair

You know that naked feeling your home has every January after you take down all of the Christmas decorations?  There’s something that I love about it. Just like the new year, it always feels like a fresh start.  There’s something good about more breathing room and less stuff, less garland, less sparkle. 

January always makes me want to walk around my house with a big garbage bag so I can fill it up with papers that have piled up, magazines I’ll never read, random toy pieces that will never find their way back to the original boxes.  It makes me want to clean closets and organize junk drawers.  (I better get on that now while I’m feeling motivated. By February, this feeling could be long gone.)

gray living room

fireplace

January always feels like a new start for our house, and I usually have the itch to move things around instead of putting everything back the way it was before we put the tree up.  Putting it all back the same way just wouldn’t be any fun. This year, I switched out the white slipcovered chair that was in the living room for the one that was in the corner of the office. I decided to leave the blue and white on the mantel since the magnolia leaves for Christmas are still going strong.  I added pinecones for an easy transition from Christmas to winter.  Nothing major, but just the smallest changes make me feel happy.

decorating the mantel for winter

winter decorating

living room corner

January also gives me fresh motivation and hope that I can tackle my long to-do list of house projects, big and small. This year’s list includes more wallpaper stripping and making better use of the space we have. (I’ll be posting more about that later.)

What changes are you making to give your home a fresh start this new year?

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Filed Under: accessories, living room, our home Tagged With: accessorizing, living room, mantel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brandyn | Southern Distinctions says

    January 2, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    I love a fresh start. We’ve already started cleaning out the basement and filling our donate boxes. There’s nothing better than being organized to tackle that 2014 To-Do list!

    Reply
  2. Jennifer @ Brave New Home says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:30 pm

    I absolutely feel the same way. This year, I feel like I will approach it with a different design mindset, mainly more simple. Have a great year, Emily!

    Reply
  3. Shelly says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Yes, I feel the same way about January…fresh start for my home. I love to create a winter mantel and I created a new tablescape for winter. Love your colors!

    Reply
  4. Jen @ RamblingRenovators says

    January 2, 2014 at 2:56 pm

    I am in purge & simplify mode right now… emptying out junk drawers, tossing out expired canned goods, donating stuff that we don’t use. As I declutter the house, my mind is feeling clearer too! I’m aiming to live with less but use that which I do have more.

    Reply
  5. Melissa says

    January 2, 2014 at 4:08 pm

    I started purging, organizing, and cleaning December 26! So far, I’ve brought in an awesome bookcase and styled it, moved a kitchen hutch to a different wall, painted molding with more to go, moved pictures and filled nail holes, changed frames, organized closets, donated to Salvation Army, filled my trash and recycling cans to the point they couldn’t close (thankfully, today is pick up day), and cleaned. I was happy to come back to work today for a break! :D

    Reply
  6. carmel says

    January 2, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    I love your blue and white jars so much! Where did you find them? I’ve been on the hunt for a few for a while but haven’t had much luck.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 2, 2014 at 4:14 pm

      I’ve found all of them at different thrift stores. Not sure why I’ve found such an abundance of them lately :) All have been $15 or less.

      Reply
  7. Shelley @ Calypso in the Country says

    January 2, 2014 at 4:45 pm

    I love that fresh feeling in January too! I have been packing away the Christmas decor today and as I get it all in the storage bins, my house is feeling more and more organized. I just hope I can keep up the momentum too!
    Cheers to 2014~
    -Shelley

    Reply
  8. Jas dillard says

    January 2, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    Hi Emily!
    I completely agree with you about how good it feels to unclutter from Christmas. I am in the process of changing my mantel look and love how you used magnolia leaves in those vases. I might just have to copy that. I wish you still had time for interior design as I’m local in Myers Park. If you’re ever needing a test subject…my home can be your guinea pig! I love your practical but aesthetically and lovely way you transform space. Will keep reading for inspiration. Wishing you a great 2014!

    Reply
  9. Jaime says

    January 2, 2014 at 5:20 pm

    I don’t know if you noticed this but there is an ad on your side bar for something called League of Angels. There are actually two of them and they are kind of inappropriate. I didn’t notice it until my son came up behind me and asked what it was. Sorry this is the first comment I’ve ever left. I love your blog and have been following for over a year. Just thought you would want to know.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 2, 2014 at 5:25 pm

      Hi Jaime–It’s not showing up on my computer, but another reader alerted me earlier today. I’ve contacted my tech person to get it removed. Thanks.

      Reply
  10. Judy says

    January 2, 2014 at 6:59 pm

    Where did you find your pharmacy floor lamp?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 2, 2014 at 9:32 pm

      I found it a few weeks before Christmas in the clearance aisle at HomeGoods.

      Reply
  11. Lesley Metcalfe says

    January 2, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    What a cozy room this is! That wing chair and fur ottoman look like the perfect spot to curl up with a book. Happy New Year!

    Reply
  12. Marilynn says

    January 2, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Well I started making my changes today! I painted my kitchen and dining room Amazing Gray;)
    I love the paint colors in your home and was inspired! My husband was a little surprised when he got home from work and I had just finished the kitchen! He had no idea I was going to paint.
    Thank you for your wonderful posts? I check in daily to see what you have done.
    Happy New Year!

    Reply
  13. Erika says

    January 2, 2014 at 9:03 pm

    Gorgeous. Love love love it all. And my house doesn’t feel naked yet….um..because the tree is still up!! LOL. Tomorrow is the day it will come down. Haha. BUT–I do look forward to having more storage and organization in 2014. We have been renovating…and will have a nursery soon too!!

    Reply
  14. Karen says

    January 2, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    I really like the blue and white jars also. I used to have some, then got rid of them, and now I’m buying them again. I went to a resale shop a few days ago and someone had just brought in all of her collection to sell. I was so happy! The owner had discounted them 15% too, so I felt like I hit the jackpot! I’m in the mood for cleaning out also so I’m taking some of the things I’m tired of back to the same resale shop. Around and around we go, but that’s the fun of it!! Love your new look, Emily!

    Reply
  15. Kelly T says

    January 2, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    I feel the same way with the tree & all the Christmas decorations out. Then I put it all away & it’s a blank slate to redecorate once again. I recently took the plunge & bought some bamboo shades. I repainted the window trim to freshen it up & hung my new shades. What a difference it makes in the room! Now I hope to sew some linen drapes to finish off the windows. Thank you for so much inspiration from your beautiful home! Happy New Year!

    Reply
  16. Karen says

    January 2, 2014 at 10:32 pm

    Emily – I also noticed you have a blue garden stool. Did you just get this? I found one at TJ Max a few days ago for 40.00. I should’ve grabbed it. I don’t particularly like the bright yellow for my house that they had, but they had a white one also. I already have a white one, but this was a little different style. Sure wish I could find one in the silver for this price though.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 2, 2014 at 10:44 pm

      That one came from Marshall’s. It was originally white and I spray painted it. I think it was around $40, too.

      Reply
      • Karen says

        January 3, 2014 at 9:44 am

        Great idea to spray paint it! I might have to try that.

        Reply
  17. Robin says

    January 2, 2014 at 10:33 pm

    Hi Emily! I love your home and the flow of neutral grays. You inspired me to switch from a house full of colored walls to a more neutral pallette.

    Where did you get the wood circle fireplace screen? Behind the bust and lanterns in one of the LR pix.

    Happy New Year!
    Robin

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 2, 2014 at 10:45 pm

      That’s actually a little teak end table I’m playing around with in the fireplace. I just turned it on its side for now. I got it from Joss & Main a month or so ago.

      Reply
  18. Kesha says

    January 3, 2014 at 9:53 am

    Hi Emily, where did the black & white stripe throw come from? I’ve seen it somewhere before, but now can’t remember where. Thanks! And happy new year to you!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 3, 2014 at 10:11 am

      IKEA :)

      Reply
  19. Kristin @ bliss-athome.com says

    January 3, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I feel the same way. My husband is a big kid and requires warning before I take down the Christmas decorations so I warned him this morning that it was all coming down tomorrow morning. He’s so funny about it! I am *so* ready to refresh for 2014! xo Kristin

    Reply
  20. Heather Knowles says

    January 3, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    I love getting the house all tidy after the Christmas decorations come down too. I just ordered new pictures for some frames to update some of our pictures of the kids, for some reason I always find myself doing that at the beginning of each year. I’m loving all the layers in that last picture, your living room is SO cozy and beautiful!!

    Reply
  21. Nicki @ Eat Sleep Breathe Color says

    January 6, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    I used to dread that bare feeling (and the next 3 months of winter-lol), but I learned to love the “fresh start” too.

    Your place looks great-love the bust, love the stacked wood, love the art, love the magnolia!

    Reply
  22. Liz says

    January 9, 2014 at 11:31 pm

    Hi Emily! Love all the pictures! Your house is one of my favorites :) Could you tell me where you got the woven shade with the black trim? Is that a diy or did you buy it? Thanks in advance!!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      January 10, 2014 at 7:45 am

      Thanks, Liz. The shades are from Overstock and I painted the stripes:

      https://emilyaclark.com/2013/04/painted-bamboo-shades-in-our-living-room.html

      Reply
  23. sherry hart says

    January 10, 2014 at 10:23 am

    Girl…LOVE the way you layered the 2 tables….too many legs? No problem….just add a garden seat. Brilliant.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Weekend Reads | Our Home Notebook says:
    January 31, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    […] January Decorating | Emily A. Clark […]

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