There’s something powerful about a new page—in a book, in a journal, on the calendar. It’s the feeling of possibility and expectation, a shift that’s in the air, reminding you there’s always more to come. Especially after the holidays, clearing away the tinsel and trinkets can bring a renewed sense of clarity, fresh vision for how to orient the upcoming year.
This is the beauty of a reset. As we pack away the decorations and look ahead to the spring, creativity can flourish as well. We can set the stage for inspiration with how we reorganize our homes, so let’s dive into what that entails.
Resetting: Creative Spaces
Everyone gets inspired differently. Some may need four white walls, while others need a corkboard filled with artful clippings. Take inventory of yourself—when, where, and how you feel most creative or in your zone of productivity. Creativity isn’t just limited to painting or writing, either. It can have everything to do with the goals you’ve set for the year.
Think about what you wanted to make more time for in the last twelve months, but that maybe felt out of reach or de-prioritized. Was it reading more books? Spending more time offline? Getting outside for daily walks? Why did those things feel far off and how could you set yourself up better for success within your physical space? Maybe that looks like reorganizing a shelf so books aren’t stacked out of sight, then creating a cozy corner where reading feels realistic, even enticing. Or, perhaps that’s adding a few wall hooks or a bench by the front door—making it easier to remember shopping totes or having a dedicated dropzone for workout gear.
The needs of a space can change with the seasons. This is your reminder to notice what could use adjusting to intentionally nudge you onward.
Resetting: Seasonal Decor
After the rush and wonder of the holidays, there’s often a desire to return to simplicity. To create a physical sense of spaciousness to welcome even more in. This is something Jo feels with spring in particular, feeling newly inspired at the beginning of the year to approach her home’s design with a fresh perspective.
You can do the same—and this doesn’t have to be elaborate. A few well-placed items can do much to shift the mood of a space, even if it’s not a dramatic floor-to-ceiling renovation. Think about the areas that you use the most and how you could orient their focal points around something new. Maybe that looks like:
- Infusing some color with a new throw blanket over the couch or a bed.
- Introducing a few patterned pillows that capture the lightness of spring.
- Finding new storage solutions to organize clutter, then creating a clear area with a vase of seasonal stems.
- Swapping a gallery wall for a single statement piece, or creating a new mini wall art collection in an unexpected place—like a kitchen nook or stairway.
Choose one place that you’ll see every day and get inspired with how it could herald something unexpected, more aligned, or unique to the season at hand.
Resetting: Kitchen Staples
After the holidays, the kitchen is one place where the desire for a clean sweep is real. The sweet treats and rich, delicious meals were wonderful, but when January rolls around, it can be good to reorganize. Shifting back into work and school mode can mean more meal planning, more quick recipes at the ready, and the kitchen often reassumes its role as the heart of the home.
Use that to your advantage with a reset by:
- Revisiting what you have stored in the pantry and what you may need to replenish. (Hint: Don’t forget to stock your freezer with some frozen baked goods, either!)
- Taking note of what you wished you had on hand during the holidays, and rounding out any bakeware or kitchen tools.
- Swapping out holiday linens with colorful, patterned tea towels to set your sight on warmer days—or a candle to welcome something fresh.
- Taking an afternoon to bookmark some recipes you want to try, or maybe even making a collage or a moodboard to stay inspired.
Creativity can thrive in the kitchen, from the meals we make to the gatherings we host them with. Sometimes it just takes those extra minutes of slowing down and giving thought to how we’re really fueled to see what new ideas can spark to life.
The ultimate goal of a reset is to be reminded of what really matters. Life gets busy. Routines get ingrained. But taking a cue from the calender—that endings make room for beginnings—can be the reprieve from the mundane that we need. It’s a call to step back so that we ultimately spring forward, inspiration (instead of autopilot) leading the way.
