Cozy After Christmas Decorating Ideas

Decorating for the winter months is as easy as can be. Most of what you need is right there in front of you. So… Stop! Don’t put that away yet! I’ve got some after Christmas decorating ideas to share with you!

Here we are again.  That awkward decorating time between Christmas and spring.  Even If you decorate for all the holidays, it is still too early for Valentine’s Day and St. Paddy’s is a distant dream.  So what do we do?  

Well,  I think that really depends on you.  Your decorating style, your location, and your personal taste all come into play.  But here at My Home of All Seasons, I simply can’t bring myself to skip one!

There was a time that I tried to take the house from Christmas straight into spring. It just felt wrong. I love spring but with months of winter to go, I found the pretty pastels I used a bit depressing. They were just a reminder of how long I’d have to wait for the outdoors to catch up with my interior. So I decided to embrace the winter season and find the beauty that is right there for all to see!

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I love the evergreens sprinkled with snow, sitting by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa and watching it fall.  I love catching glimpses of the snow owls that invariably make an appearance this time of year.  So I decided to take all of my favorite things and make them a part of my winter decor.

Trees, Trees, and More Trees

Christmas seems to come and go so quickly, doesn’t it? I’m always so excited to put up all the decorations and I’m equally as reluctant to take them down. So I make a conscious effort not to. Of course getting rid of the red is a must. The Santas and elves have to go too. But the trees? The trees are the very basis of all my after Christmas decorating ideas.

Trees on the Mantel

The real tree that graced the family room was hauled off for recycling. The large artificial ones are packed away as well. But the smaller trees with the lights intact will brighten the coldest winter day. They are exactly what I need to take the mantel from Christmas to winter.

The centerpiece I used here is one of my absolute favorites. It represents everything I find so beautiful about this season. In addition, the snow covered forest in the print gives me the perfect base to build upon.

The greenery seems to bring the scene to life right before my eyes!

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I placed trees in each corner to give it some balance and depth.

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With skiing and winter sports taking over the theme in the rest of the house, I placed a few small signs in the corners to tie it all in. In addition, the animals one might find in the high country work here as well. Frosted candles finish things off in the middle section. You know my motto is always light it up!

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Not quite finished, the art niches get a winter refresh as well. Trees, owls, and paper lanterns and the mantel is complete!

Trees For the Lanterns

I always look forward to decorating my lanterns for each season and winter is no exception. Changing out the bows of red, green, and gold with more appropriate colors and you’re almost there!

Although I love creating scenes inside, for winter I tend to keep it simple. A candle paired with a bit of greenery or a small tree works perfectly.

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Of course I couldn’t resist adding a few winter elements to a couple of my favorites!

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Lanterns bring so much to whatever room you choose to place them. Nevermore then during the winter months. Candlelight goes a long way towards creating a warm and cozy atmosphere.

Throws, Pillows, and Winter Fabrics

With the pretty red Christmas throws laundered and put away, they will need to be replaced. Need being the operative word here! We are going into the coldest part of the year and a cozy throw is an absolute must.

Winter decorating calls for neutral colors and warm winter fabrics. My new white heated blanket, one of my favorite Christmas presents, will be perfect here.

In addition, my reversible sherpa throw in a soft gray plaid also works well.

The pillow covers have been changed to a warm winter white velour along with a few knits here and there.

The green throw that was part of my Christmas ladder will remain in place. The pine cones can also stay for the season. I’ve simply added some winter elements to bring it up to date.

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At the request of the house puppies, I brought the white faux fur rug back out. It is their absolute favorite place to lay and it just screams “winter!”

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Winter Greenery and Garland

The thick garland that I used for Christmas is no more. Taking it down from the stairs and arches is a chore I wanted behind me. Easy cleanup is a big part of my after Christmas decorating ideas. Christmas takes weeks to put up, days to take down, and I have no desire to repeat that again in March.

Still, the staircase that is such a beautiful sight in all it’s Christmas glory, seems so bare at the end of the holiday. To compensate, I brought out two strands of lightweight garland and wrapped it with a mesh garland I made several years ago. Battery operated lights turn on at dusk and it’s all that’s needed for the moment. Pretty pine cones and stars finish it off. You can find a brief tutorial for making a mesh garland by clicking here.

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The Christmas greenery can stay through winter as well, by simply removing the red berries and picks. There is no need to pack them up just yet!

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Transferring them from a Christmas vase to a simple white or copper container creates a beautiful new winter decoration. Adding some greenery to a basket will quickly bring it up to date as well.

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I hope I’ve given you a few After Christmas Decorating Ideas that you can use this season! With my focus on creating a seasonal home, I am always looking for things that can move easily from one season to the next. It’s amazing how many Christmas elements can transfer so quickly to winter decor.

Another easy way to transition from Christmas to winter is with printable art. I use the same frames all year long and simply place the new print in front of the others. I’ve shared several that are available to all subscribers in my latest post Celebrate the Season with Printable Art. If you prefer, you can go directly to the Printable Library, choose your favorites, enter your password, and print away!

If you haven’t joined us yet, adding your email to the subscription form below will have your password to you within seconds. The weekly/bi-weekly newsletter will make sure you’re the first to know when new prints are added. I’ll make sure to keep you up to date on all the latest trends in seasonal decor.

See you soon!