When the buzz of Christmas fizzled into a deep and tired breath of tossed wrapping paper and a sweet scent of a dried out Christmas tree, I looked around the apartment and wanted to figure out how to hold on to that evening goodness of the holidays. I’m talking about the late evening magic of a lit-up tree in a dark room and the scent that is usually reserved for one month out of the year. I hope that these two simple design tricks will ward off the post holiday-new year-winter-is it spring yet?-where are all my friends?–time to worry about taxes already-blues. Do you suffer from the same afflicition?
- Keep the lights.
- Dry the flowers.
While I can’t say that this has worked for February and March quite yet, I can say that the transition into January has been less jolting. It’s really that simple, and it can be interpreted by you. For me, the lights are a set of Ikea string lights originally purchased over a year ago for the kids’ shared room. The “flowers” are a long-stemmed eucalyptus that I’ve never had the pleasure of purchasing before. The day after Christmas, I bought a new vase, the flowers, filled the water and placed it at the center of my dining room table. Besides giving room the same grand height that the Christmas tree once did, the smell is divine and I get wrapped in it each time I enter my apartment.
At night, “the lights” portion also consists of lighting candles way past our dinner hour. The candlelight carries me through the night, from the kitchen to the living room mantle, and even for my long bath. When I returned to my room last night to fold clothes, I lit a candle too. When dinner is done and the kitchen is cleaned up, I turn on the stove surface light, which I never turned on until Christmas time.
Here’s to a light-filled winter, feeling the warmth inside our homes and inside our bodies.
If you’re interested:
- Vintage brass candlestick holders
- Green glass candlestick holders
- Beeswax candle sticks
- Organic U.S made beeswax votive candles
- A simple night lamp
Love this, love the eucalyptus, and couldn’t agree more!
Thank you, Julie!! Have a great weekend.
L
I love how inviting you’re space looks. I also keep a string of Christmas lights up all year as well as burn candles in the evening birth bring me great contentment in my home.
Thank you for sharing, Susan. I feel like I am rather late with the string lights all year round in other parts of the house. I used to have them in the kids room, and I loved the way they made their room feel magical and comforting. Now in the space that connects the living room and dining room, of course I have the same feeling. Took so long and so simple.
The candles are the sweetest thing too. Here’s to more light!
Hi!
I love reading all of your posts❤️
Where did you find the star sting lights?
Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Lolade! They’re old from Ikea. Here’s a similar set https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40408974/
xoxo
I love these tips. I leave our tree up way beyond what others consider appropriate! Liz Lemon warned us about Winter Madness, and your tips are going to help us through this year.
Thank you for sharing, Julie! I grew up with my grandmother keeping hers until March, and I had a friend said she pushes it until April! Ha a full all winter-long thing.
Thank you!!😘
I love your apartment. Makes me miss NYC so much…
awww, thank you! I definitely am obsessed with how other people live outside NYC or large apartments with moldings and high ceilings in Europe. I do feel like my apartment isn’t *very nyc, so I sometimes am nostalgic for the old railroad/wonky apartments I grew up around, too. Its always like that?
Yes, I keep my white lights up all year. I have them on a timer so that they come on in the evening. I also have Luminara candles that look real, I have asthma and anything burning bothers me. I also don’t like the idea of candles around my cats. The soft glow of light is so soothing during the dark winter.
Love that Jean! The light has this way of calming you during the evening.
Sending love,
L