Once the holidays are over and the festive decorations are stored away, your home can feel a little…empty. A little bland and cheerless- all while the world outside looks cold and grey. Thankfully, there are a lot of January decorating ideas and projects you can make to celebrate the quiet winter season. Here are some upcycling and DIY ideas to turn your home into a cozy winter sanctuary to enjoy until Spring starts to bloom.
January Decorating Ideas for the Porch
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
If you’re a fan of porch planters all year long, then this DIY snowman idea is perfect for you. Not only is he positively adorable for a winter porch, but he’s made by upcycling plain white dishes from the thrift store. Which are incredibly common and easy to find!
Upcycled Winter Sign
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A plain wooden plaque on a thrift store shelf was the basis for this cozy sign. But a paint job in winter colors and fun with snowflake stencils turned it into the perfect reminder for a cold weekend- don’t you agree?
Natural Winter Centerpiece
Image credit: Atta Girl Says.
Nature is full of elements that can be transformed into winter decor, and this DIY centerpiece idea includes two of my favorites: birch logs and pine cones. And a few candles give the entire thing that cozy winter glow that captures the essence of Hygge at this time of year.
Cozy Pine Decor
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Believe it or not, but this bowl started as an aluminum steamer pot insert from the thrift store! But it’s been cleverly painted, embroidered, and filled with pinecones for a charming winter display on the coffee or dining table.
January Decorating Ideas for the Front Door
Image credit: Homeroad.
Adding a touch of winter to your front door is a great way to add subtle color and texture throughout the season. And while there are plenty of January decorating ideas for wreaths out there, this one with a thrifted basket is simple, serene, and comes together quickly.
Winter Hutch and Shelves
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Once Christmas is over, the red, green, and gold can get packed away. Winter ushers in a cooler color palette of blues, whites, silver/pewter, and earthy brown. Even clear glass fits in, as a nod to ice covered everything. Think of a snow-covered meadow against a bright blue sky on a sunny day. Even just collecting objects from your own home in this winter color palette can act as winter decor, such as this alpine-inspired shelf display.
Winter Twig Wreath
Image credit: Songbird Blog.
Natural elements really do go hand-in-hand with decorating in January. Case in point: this wintery twig wreath. It has lots of muted whites and creams for that winter feeling, but hints of green remind you that Spring is coming, even in the middle of winter. And let’s face it, sometimes we need that Spring reminder as January drags into February, right?
January Decorating Ideas with Flannel
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Clear glass candle holders are a dime a dozen at thrift stores, but thankfully, they are delightfully easy to upcycle into seasonal decor. These Hygge-inspired candles got a frosty makeover and a little flannel treatment- perfect for those dark, frigid days.
Winter Decorating with Pinecones
Image credit: House of Hawthornes.
Because winter tends to be a slower, calmer time, any and all January decorating ideas can be as simple as this: pinecones, pinecones, pinecones. Just adding them to vases, bowls, and other displays like this is as easy as it gets. Pinecones are such a wonderful way to add effortless touches of winter in your home.
Non-Christmas Trees
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
A trio of nesting baskets shaped like pine trees could be used for Christmas AND winter decor with this thrifty idea. Painted in neutral hues, they’re easy to embellish for the holidays. But come January, they are also an elegant trio of winter trees without the baubles.
Fabric Snowballs
Image credit: Songbird Blog.
Real snow melts and fake snow can be messy. But if you want the look of snowballs in your winter decor, this is the perfect solution. Made of different kinds of white fabric, these bowl fillers are ideal for all sorts of winter centerpiece ideas.
Simple Winter Wreath
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Don’t forget your front door during the winter months- it does such a good job at keeping the cold weather out, after all. And a winter wreath like this is a great way to celebrate cozy season. But the best part? It started out as a plain, green Christmas wreath!
January Decorating Ideas with Garlands
Image credit: Homeroad.
Garlands are whimsical decor ideas that can be added to the mantel, a banister, above a door, or a even along a set of coat hooks. And once January rolls around, pairing up craft store snowflakes and pretty lace ribbon is a lovely way to celebrate snow from the comfort of your warm home.
Un-Christmas Decorating
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Sometimes, pieces of Christmas decor are ideal for a post-Christmas makeover. This sleigh had red, green, and gold embellishments when it was spotted at a thrift store. But now it sports that winter color palette that captures a snowy landscape perfectly.
Winter Mantel
Image credit: Our Crafty Mom.
Once you take down your Christmas mantelscape and fireplace decor, it can look REALLY barren. But filling it with all sorts of winter symbols (trees, birch, sleds, etc.) transforms it in January. And all the neutral colors are calming and serene, which is a welcome reprieve after the holiday chaos.
Winter Snow Globes
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
Making waterless snow globes is typically considered a Christmas craft. But making winter versions is just as satisfying- and quite beautiful to look at. These versions are in salvaged light fixtures, but recycled glass jars would work just as well.
Natural Cone Trees
Image credit: The Navage Patch.
Cone trees are a popular decoration throughout the Christmas season. But you can certainly create wintery versions like these and they look FABULOUS in January. Decorating them with pine cones, birch bark, and moss create a variety of textures and natural hues. All of which are perfect during the restful winter season.
January Decorating Ideas for Your Home
Image credit: Sadie Seasongoods.
I hope these ideas have given you some inspiration for creating a serene winter sanctuary inside your own home. Many of them start at the thrift store and incorporate all sorts of cozy and natural elements, which is perfect for January. And trust me when I tell you that creating winter decor is a wonderful way to quietly enjoy the cold and snowy season.
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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