A Softer Start: What to Do When Your Home Feels Empty After the Holidays

You did the thing.
You packed everything away.
You decluttered.
You cleared surfaces and put the bins back in the basement.

And now you’re standing there thinking… why do I suddenly hate my house?

If that’s you, same.

Every January, I go through this exact feeling. The holiday layers are gone, the cozy glow is packed up, and what’s left can feel flat, unfinished, or just not inspiring. The instinct is to immediately start shopping or convincing yourself you need to change everything.

Before you do that, let’s pause.

This feeling usually doesn’t mean your style is wrong. It means your layers are gone.

Here’s how I like to refresh my home after the holidays without replacing everything or starting from scratch.

Step One: Sit With the Space Before Judging It

When everything comes down at once, the contrast is jarring. Rooms that felt full suddenly feel bare. Give yourself a few days to really see the space again.

Ask yourself
Does the room feel empty or just edited?
Is it boring or just quieter?

Most of the time, it’s the second one.

Step Two: Move Things Before You Buy Things

This is my number one rule when it comes to simple home updates.

Before buying anything new, try moving what you already own. Swap art between rooms. Lean a piece instead of hanging it. Pull something from a hallway, guest room, or even a closet and give it a new home.

These small shifts can completely change how a space feels and often remind you why you loved those pieces in the first place.

Step Three: Add One Soft Layer Back

If a room still feels unfinished, start by adding one soft layer instead of going all in.

This is where neutral wallpaper ideas really shine. A pattern like Claystone Threads Ikat adds subtle movement and texture without overpowering the space. It’s perfect for an accent wall, behind shelving, or even a smaller area like a hallway or nook. It brings life back into a room while still feeling calm and grounded.

The goal here isn’t to make a big statement. It’s to give the room something to build from again.

Step Four: Refresh Art Without Buying All New Frames

Another easy way to refresh your home is by swapping art prints inside frames you already own.

Instead of buying new frames or redoing an entire gallery wall, try changing just the artwork. A painterly piece like the La Dolce Vita floral brings softness and a sense of hope into a space, especially when everything feels a little stark after the holidays. Florals like this work year round and are an easy way to shift the mood of a room without committing to a full redesign.

This is one of my favorite art print styling ideas because it feels fresh but still intentional.

Step Five: Edit, Don’t Replace

If something feels off, it may not need to be replaced. It may just need editing.

Try removing one item instead of adding another. Group accessories in odd numbers. Play with scale by pairing something tall with something low. These are subtle styling adjustments, but they make a big visual difference and help a room feel finished again.

Step Six: Build Back Slowly and Intentionally

Once the space feels balanced, then you can introduce something new if it still feels right.

I always prefer one statement piece over several small additions. Whether that’s an accent wallpaper, a bold art print, or a piece that brings pattern back into the room, letting one item lead makes the entire space feel more cohesive.

A Softer Start

January doesn’t need a full reset. It doesn’t need perfection or an entirely new look.

Sometimes it just needs a little patience and a lot of trust.
Trust in your eye.
Trust in the layers you already own.
Trust that your home will come back together, just a little differently than before.

That’s the kind of softer start I’m leaning into this year.