The holiday decorations are finally all packed up until next year.  And now is the time to turn our attention to organizing and freshening our homes.  Here are three small changes with big impact that will breathe new life into your rooms:

Edit your accessories

After the abundance of holiday decorations, the house sometimes feels naked when they are taken down, but don’t succumb to the temptation to fill the void with clutter!  Just because you own it, doesn’t mean it needs to be on display all the time.  Rotate your accessories.  Cull the best for the season. Use a few substantial pieces rather than a plethora of small things.  Pare down the framed photos to a few essentials. Less clutter means each element has more importance and can be better appreciated.

Freshen with paint or wallpaper

Freshly painted walls and trim instantly lift tired rooms.  A can of paint can revitalize a space and change the entire feel of a room for very little money.  There is a color to evoke whatever mood you want to create.  Wallpaper is back in style as well, and there are many new textures and patterns available to add style to an accent wall or a whole room.  

Add greenery

Nothing says fresh like a touch of nature!  Adding potted plants or trees to a room adds instant vitality.  Real plants are the first choice since they have the added bonus of cleaning the air, but excellent faux plants are a reasonable alternative if you don’t have the proper environment (or patience and skill) required to keep real plants looking their best;  Faux is infinitely better than dying plants.  Cut flowers or branches from the florist or the grocery store (or your yard!) are another way to add organic elements into a room without the long term commitment of a plant.

Wishing you a Happy and Fresh New Year!