Small Changes That Make January Feel Less Depressing

Let's be honest: January is rough. The twinkle lights come down, the festive energy evaporates, and you're left staring at your living room wondering why it suddenly feels like a sad beige waiting room. The credit card bill arrives. The gym is packed. It's dark at 5pm. And your home, which sparkled with holiday magic just weeks ago, now feels... flat.

But here's the thing: you don't need an expensive vacation to Hawaii to shake off the January blues, though you should do that too if you can swing it! As an interior designer, I've learned that small, intentional changes can completely shift the energy of a space. Think of it as design therapy for the post-holiday slump.

Swap Sparkle for Texture

The biggest mistake people make in January is going from holiday maximalism to complete minimalism overnight. Your home goes from "festive wonderland" to "boring" in one afternoon of packing boxes, and that visual whiplash is depressing.

Instead of stripping everything away, replace twinkle with texture. Swap out those metallic pillow covers for chunky knits, soft velvets, or fuzzy boucle. Layer a faux fur throw over your sofa. Add a woven basket or two. The goal is to keep visual interest alive while trading "festive" for "cozy." Your space should feel like a hug, not a void.

Bring In Living Things

Nothing says "we've given up" quite like a home with zero signs of life in January. Fresh greenery is an instant mood booster and costs less than your morning latte.

Hit up Trader Joe's or your local grocery store and grab a bundle of eucalyptus ($4-6), a potted orchid, or even a bunch of grocery store flowers or pothos. Put the eucalyptus in a simple vase on your kitchen counter. Park that orchid on your nightstand. Suddenly, your home feels intentional again instead of abandoned.

Bonus: eucalyptus makes your bathroom smell like a spa when you hang it in the shower. You're welcome.

Light It Up (Differently)

January is dark and cold, which means lighting matters more than ever. But here's the secret: it's not about adding more light, it's about adding the right light.

Ditch the harsh overhead fixtures and create pools of warm, ambient light instead. Move a table lamp to a new corner. Add a strand of non-holiday string lights along a bookshelf or behind that pothos. Light a candle or a fire every evening, even if you're just watching Netflix in sweatpants.

The difference between "January depression cave" and "cozy winter retreat" is often just three warm light sources in a room instead of one cold ceiling fixture.

Create a "Something to Look Forward To" Corner

This sounds cheesy, but it works. Designate one small area of your home as your "winter joy" spot. Maybe it's a reading nook with a great throw blanket, a coffee station you actually styled, or a corner where you do your morning stretch routine.

Make it beautiful. Make it functional. Make it yours. The point is to have one spot in your home that doesn't feel like obligation or chores or the regular grind. It's the place where you do something just for you, and that visual reminder matters more than you think.

Switch Your Art or Photos

Our favorite tip is to move things around. Have frames on shelves or walls? Swap what's in them. Change out family photos for new ones (maybe from the holidays you just had). Rotate in different art prints. Move a piece from the bedroom to the living room.

This takes ten minutes and costs nothing, but it tricks your brain into thinking something new and interesting is happening. Plus, you'll actually notice that art again instead of letting it fade into wallpaper.

Add One Unexpected Color

January doesn't have to be all white and gray and beige (unless that's your vibe, in which case, carry on). Consider adding one hit of unexpected color to lift your spirits.

A rust-colored throw. A deep blue vase. A sunny yellow pillow. Even just a bowl of bright citrus fruit on your counter. Color is scientifically proven to affect mood, and one strategic pop of something vibrant can make your whole space feel more alive.

Refresh Your Scent

Your home probably smells like pine needles and cinnamon from the holidays. Come January, that fades into... nothing. Or worse, that weird stale winter smell.

Introduce a new scent that signals a fresh start. Light a candle or use natural oil diffusers in a different fragrance (I love anything with linen or sandalwood for winter). Simmer some citrus peels and rosemary on the stove. Use a linen spray on your sheets. Scent is the fastest way to change how a space feels, and it costs almost nothing.

Rearrange or Redecorate One Room (Just a Little)

You don't need to move the sofa across the room, but even minor furniture shifts can make a space feel new. Angle your chair differently. Swap which side of the bed your nightstands are on. Move your coffee table six inches to the left and see if it improves flow. Or change out those bathroom linens to a new hue.

Sometimes all your brain needs is proof that things can be different. A small rearrangement says "we're not stuck, we're just recalibrating."

The Bottom Line

January doesn't have to feel like purgatory. With a few small, thoughtful changes, you can transform your space from post-holiday wasteland to intentional winter sanctuary. You don't need a big budget, a full day, or a complete overhaul. You just need to show your home (and yourself) a little attention. Don't be surprised if you find a little more happiness and gratitude along the way!

Because here's what I've learned after years of doing this work: the spaces we live in shape how we feel. And if January is going to be hard anyway, your home should be your soft but inspiring place to fall.

So light the candle. Buy the eucalyptus. Move the chair. Your February self will thank you.

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