There is a moment each January when the tree has gone, the decorations are in their boxes and the sitting room suddenly looks empty. The lights that made the evenings glow are gone, and the room feels flatter than before. It is a familiar feeling, and it does not need to last. A few small changes can bring the warmth back without buying anything.
Do not rush to remove everything
You do not have to pack away every trace of the season at once. Keep the candles, the bowls and the lamps that made the room feel cosy, and leave the tinsel and baubles in the box. Winter evenings are still long, so a warm light is welcome. Keep any electric lights that are not obviously festive, and switch them off whenever you go out or go to bed.
Look at the room with fresh eyes. Without the tree, there may be a large gap that used to be filled. Move a chair or a plant into that space, or bring in a lamp. Rearranging the furniture a little often does more than any decoration, and it makes the room feel new rather than empty.
Bring in the natural and the soft
Winter branches in a large jug give the room a quiet, simple look. A bowl of oranges or pine cones on the coffee table adds colour and a gentle scent. A woollen throw over the sofa and a rug under the coffee table make the room feel warmer. Hang a thicker curtain across the window or the door if your home is draughty.
Clean the room properly while everything is out of place. Dust the shelves, vacuum the corners and wipe the surfaces. Put a few objects back that you like and leave the rest in a cupboard for now.
It may take a week or two to feel settled. Let the room be plain for a while and see what it asks for. Often the best additions turn up by themselves, a favourite book on the table, a plant from the kitchen or a picture you had forgotten. The room will feel like yours again, and the long evenings will feel less long.
