10 Simple Ways Interior Designers Refresh Their Homes for the New Year
Small swaps and changes to reset and elevate your interiors
As cliché as it might sound, there really is no better way to start the new year on the right foot than with a home refresh, especially after the chaos of the holidays, which has no doubt left your home feeling a bit less tranquil than before.
Interior designers swear by a New Year home refresh as a way to ensure your space is filled with only the things you need and love, rather than clutter built up from a busy few months. It really is the perfect way to reclaim your home after hosting for the holidays.
10 Ways Interior Designers Give Their Homes a New Year Refresh
The new year can sometimes feel overwhelming. Everyone is talking about goals and resolutions, the ever-cliché New Year, New Me posts are in full force, and the underwhelm of the post-Christmas wind down has fully set in.
But making a few simple edits to your home can instantly give you a refreshed feeling, adding comfort and a sense of achievement. 'I see the new year as a natural moment to declutter and take stock,' says interior designer Lauren Gilberthorpe.
'It is a time to remove anything that feels tired, unused, or no longer quite right for the months ahead, particularly as we begin to look towards Spring.' But where to start? Here's how interior designers will be refreshing their homes at the start of 2026.
1. Remove Any Traces of Christmas
As soon as Christmas and the associated festivities are over, the holiday decor loses a bit of its luster. And for interior designers, taking down the decorations is the first step in creating a refreshed home for the new year.
'For me, it always starts with taking Christmas down. The holidays are joyful and full and layered; there’s so much more everywhere. I walk through each room with fresh eyes and see what’s working, what feels tired, and what might want to shift as we head into a new season,' says interior designer Ami McKay.
It's the last signs of the year that has passed, so removing them all allows you to start afresh with your interiors. 'I like to start the new year by removing all Christmas decor right away and putting everything neatly away,' agrees interior designer Marie Flanigan.
'This action instantly resets the home. From there, a deep clean is essential to clear away any lingering dust or greenery residue so the space feels crisp, calm, and ready to begin again.'
2. Reorganize the Kids' Room
If you have children in the house, you will know the carnage of the post-Christmas playroom. Drawers overflowing, shelves past their capacity, and floors covered in a mix of new and old toys. If you want to start the new year with a refreshed home, this is the place to start.
'After the holidays, we try to purge children’s toys to make room for what’s new and meaningful. If we can do it before Christmas, even better – it helps keep the home from feeling overwhelmed and reinforces the idea that a well-edited space is more peaceful and easier to live in,' says Marie.
Organize drawers and cabinets so everything is easy to see and access, and elevate open storage with baskets, like in this striking blue playroom. It's also a good time to sort through all the books and donate any that are now too young for the children.
Woven baskets will instantly make your playroom storage look much tidier, and this design is a charming choice. It's also available in white with pink writing.
If you're trying to make kids' bookshelves look a bit neater, these rainbow bookends are just the thing to do it. They double up as decor, which is always a bonus!
If you need some extra storage in a children's room, this storage unit is so useful. It features two shelves and three bins at the base for toys. Also available in pink and blue.
3. Take the Time to Deep Clean and Declutter
Once the holiday decorations are cleared away, it's time to give your home a well-deserved cleanse. It's perhaps not the most exciting of tasks, but designers assure that nothing resets your home quite like a deep clean and declutter.
'I always start with a deep clean – it instantly makes everything feel lighter. From there, simplifying surfaces and purging excess decor helps the home breathe again,' says interior designer Ali Henrie.
And this step is crucial for almost every designer I spoke to. Simply placing new decor on top of old, ignored clutter will make your space feel messy rather than refreshed. And for Lauren, it starts with getting rid of items that are past their best.
'The new year is a good opportunity to let go of anything that has clearly had its day. Chipped crockery, mismatched mugs, and worn tea towels or napkins can subtly detract from a space, even if they have crept in over time,' she explains.
'The same applies to accessories that may have seen better days. The exception is books. There is something reassuring about a well-loved book on a shelf, and that sense of use which adds character rather than clutter.'
4. Clear Kitchen Surfaces
Few rooms work harder than your kitchen over the holidays, so taking the time to focus on your cooking space and the atmosphere you want it to have is an important step.
'I love allowing the house to breathe once all the holiday décor comes down, starting by clearing kitchen countertops and surfaces so the architecture and materials can shine again,' says Marie.
Remove any remnants of Christmas cooking, reorganize your cabinets, and refresh the decor and essentials left out on your counters. It could be as simple as adding a new tray for your oil cruet and utensils to sit on, or swapping worn-out cutting boards for new ones.
Adding a tray always gives items out on the counters a sense of permanence. This marble tray is a chic option, complete with wooden feet for a more elevated look.
Instead of leaving your store-bought oil on the sides (they always look a bit basic), upgrade to a stylish cruet like this stoneware design. It's better for your oil, too!
It's always a win when kitchenware can double up as decor, and this IKEA cutting board is just the item. It adds warmth and timeless style to your counters.
5. Repaint Tired Rooms
If you have a bit of extra time on your hands to breathe new life into your interiors for the new year, a lick of paint can do wonders. Choose the room that looks the most tired, or that sees the most guests. For Lauren, the hallway is the focus of the refresh.
'One detail that makes an immediate difference is repainting a hallway. It is a relatively simple update, but it can completely change how a home feels. Instantly, it feels lighter, fresher, and more considered, and it sets the tone the moment guests arrive,' she explains.
A new coat of the same paint color is enough to freshen up a space, or you can introduce a new shade to really transform your room into something new and unexpected. This year's color trends are a great place to find inspiration.
6. Create Coziness with Textiles
Another way designers like to refresh their homes for the new year is by focusing on the coziness of their rooms, starting with the textiles. After the holiday-themed pillows and motifs go away, living rooms and bedrooms can feel stark, so restyling them with comforting textures can make a huge difference.
'I like to focus on creating the coziest atmosphere possible from now until spring arrives. If I’m going to be cuddled up inside, I want to make my home feel as inviting as I can,' says interior designer Kathy Kuo.
'To me, that means sensorial textures, sumptuous fabrics, and the warmest lighting scheme. I love to layer a plush sheepskin rug over an existing area rug, drape an extra blanket or two over the sofa, and add another table lamp to an area that could use a little more illumination,' she explains.
Your bedroom is another room that deserves a bit of post-Christmas TLC. 'Bedding is another area where a small change can have a noticeable impact. Swapping something plain for a more playful pattern, such as a gingham or a stripe, can make a bedroom feel refreshed without any major upheaval,' adds Lauren.
Stripes are a timeless option for every element of your home, especially bedding. This classic design from H&M comes in three colors – perfect for a 2026 bedroom refresh.
Kathy loves to add a sheepskin rug to her home post-Christmas for a new infusion of cozy, and this plush design is the perfect size and shape to have a comforting impact.
Everyone should have a beautiful quality throw blanket to pull out during the chillier months. This cotton throw is such a chic option, perfect for living rooms or bedrooms.
7. Elevate Basic Storage with Something More Aesthetic
For some people, organising and decluttering is a year-round task, so it might not make a huge difference to your home. However, switching out your storage boxes and containers will.
'The new year is a prime time to elevate home organization techniques, and I love to organize in a way that’s both practical and beautiful. Because of this, I'll regularly refresh storage containers, particularly those that are in sight of everyday activities,' says Kathy.
'I recommend swapping out old storage containers for woven lidded baskets that add warmth and texture to your living space. Bring in a pretty decorative bowl or tray to catch items that tend to gather, like keys in the entryway or mail on the kitchen counter.'
8. Introduce a New Scent
A New Year home refresh isn't just about how your space looks, but also how it smells. The last month or so, your home has likely been filled with festive notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and perhaps even pine, so bringing in something new and fresh will give your spaces a new atmosphere.
'I like to shift the sensory feel of the house. Heavier winter scents give way to something fresher and more uplifting. A subtle tomato vine fragrance is a favorite,' says Lauren.
It's not just candles that refresh your home's scent, either. 'Changing your home’s scent – whether through a candle, diffuser, or fresh greenery – can be a subtle but powerful way to signal a fresh start,' adds Marie.
If you're already dreaming of the lighter, fresher scents of spring, this candle is for you. With notes of coconut and blossom, it's a welcome change from the festive scents.
This scented candle is a cult favorite for a reason. Described as smoky and leathery, it's the candle to try if you want your home to feel and smell more expensive.
For something fresh yet still wintery, this citrus and birch candle from McGee & Co. is a great choice. The packaging is simple too, perfect for every style of interior.
9. Bring in Seasonal Foliage
There's something about natural blooms and foliage that brings a sense of joy to interiors – especially if they are freshly cut from the garden. Seasonal flowers, in particular, are a great way to signal your home's shift from Christmas to the beginning of a new year.
'In January, I add life back in, but in a quieter way – big branches collected from outside and floral arrangements throughout our home. It shifts the energy immediately. It makes the house feel alive when everything outside feels dormant,' explains Ami.
'Fresh flowers are always my starting point,' Lauren agrees. 'They instantly lift a space and bring a sense of life back into a room. I also enjoy introducing seasonal serveware at this time of year, which naturally prompts a gentle restyle of kitchen shelves or a rethink of bookcases.'
10. Re-Accessorize Your Rooms and Displays
Talking of restyling shelves and bookcases, rethinking your decor and accessories is a lovely way to reset your rooms, especially if they are feeling a bit bare after all the festive decorations have been taken down.
'I’m always re-accessorizing. I have a cupboard by the fireplace filled with vases, plates, sculptures, books, and pieces I’ve collected over time that mean something to me. I rotate them constantly,' says Ami.
For Ami, it's about filling her home with pieces she loves and that spark joyful memories. 'Travel mementos; pottery I love; a table that’s layered differently every time guests come over. Mixing pieces, changing the tablescape, making it feel generous and welcoming and lived in.'
Shelving and displays are a great place to have fun with decor. This stone object, for example, is a chic piece to add on top of a stack of books for a more styled look.
It's always nice to add something personal to your shelves, and what could be more fitting than a framed photo? The organic form of this gold frame is such a chic option.
Vases are great for displaying florals and greenery, but designers often choose a statement, sculptural design to sit empty, like this playful shell vase design.
Refreshing your home for the New Year isn't about completely changing your interiors or taking on a new project, but rather small swaps and changes that make your house feel like home again after a hectic few months of hosting. It's about embracing the changes and the slower pace January brings.
'January feels like an edit, not a makeover. Less about buying, more about clearing space and setting the stage for what’s next, especially spring,' says designer Ami McKay. It's about decluttering, cleaning, and curating a space that brings you a sense of joy and calm. And with these designer-approved tips, it's never been easier.
