The start of a new year has a habit of prompting reassessments of our homes. With the festive decorations packed away and the light at its most unforgiving, familiar rooms can suddenly feel flatter, colder or slightly out of step with how we want to live. It is often at this point that we begin to notice what isn’t quite working: the lighting that feels too harsh, the layout that feels awkward, the colours that no longer lift us. If they haven’t already, it’s often right about now that the January blues begin to set in. So, you wonder whether a few thoughtful changes might make winter feel a little more generous, dreaming (rather manically) of tearing everything out and embarking on a complete overhaul. But more often than not a complete overhaul is unnecessary and small, considered adjustments can do just the trick. Interior designers are well-versed in finding easy ways to lift a room. From lighting and colour to scent, texture and the way we arrange our rooms, these are their quietly transformative tips. Read on, and take notes.
Simple design tweaks to tackle the January blues at home
Create a warm winter cocoon with adaptable lighting
Done well, lighting alone can lift energy during January’s shorter days, gently cocooning a room by evening, supporting focus when needed and rest and restoration when the days are shorter. To achieve this, designers recommend a layered lighting scheme, combining dimmable overhead light with pools of low-level and task lighting.
‘Effective lighting placement is crucial for counteracting reduced daylight and longer evenings,’ says interior designer Claire Orders. ‘Thoughtfully layered lighting not only illuminates a space but supports comfort and emotional wellbeing when natural light is scarce. Overhead lighting should be used sparingly and always on dimmers, while table and floor lamps soften the contrast between dark windows and interiors. Rechargeable table lamps are a great addition during the gloomier months as they can be moved easily, introducing ambient light to darker corners, and focused task lighting helps reduce eye strain when daylight is limited.’
It’s not just about brightness, but about creating a comforting atmosphere. ‘Lighting should create the same sense of warmth and comfort as a roaring log fire,’ says Tess MacGeachy, interior designer and founder of Amber Yard Interiors. ‘A warm 2,700k bulb allows a room to feel cocooned, relaxed and calm during the darker months.’
Use colour to warm your space
Colour can be one of the most effective ways to shift the mood of a room. ‘Some of my favourite colour pairings during these colder months are ruby/pinky red with tealy pale blue, or mustard yellow with drops of emerald,’ recommends interior designer Octavia Dickinson. ‘All those strong gem colours feel decadent and warm which immediately makes one feel comfortable. You can make big changes by updating the wall colour to shades of the jewel family such as deep ochres, or deep orangey reds and a spice or cinnamon, however you can also achieve this through small accessories and soft furnishings such as bringing in reds, pinks and greens.’
‘A good antique rug will hold all the colours you will need for this time of year and can ground nearly any room,’ she adds. ‘Another great way of bringing those colours in is through upholstery such as a sofa or armchair. Never shy away from a trim either, they are brilliant at softening curtain edges, cushions or lampshades and are also a chance to bring in pockets of colour.’
Give in to scentscaping
After growing in popularity in 2025, ‘scentscaping’ now sits alongside lighting and colour as a way of shaping how a home feels. ‘Scents can evoke memories and emotions long forgotten or instantly transport you to places vividly imagined,’ says interior designer Farah Morley. ‘The perfumes of our homes help align our spaces to our moods in a subtle, ethereal way. A library can be enhanced by the deep woody notes of sandalwood and amber, while a study benefits from bright, zingy aromas like lemon balm and eucalyptus (though bear in mind: a delicate approach is needed with such vibrant tones). The bedroom suits soft florals with hints of musk or oud, though a dining room can take deeper spice such as bergamot and clove in candle form. Layer scents thoughtfully so they complement each other through the house, like a scented journey, but avoid overwhelming the senses.’
Bring the outside in
Living elements like plants, branches and seasonal cuttings are often all that’s needed to make a home feel lighter during the darker months. ‘Bringing plants into a house in winter is a reminder that spring is not far away,’ says Farah Morley. ‘They bring verdant colour that gently counters the blue-grey light of the season. A wonderful way to use a dormant garden is to harvest segments of moss, small alpine plants and ferns to create vignettes that can be placed around the house in imaginative containers and refreshed and rotated regularly. If a larger display is more to your taste, then an assemblage of pussy willow, bare architectural branches and a handful of scented blooms from your florist will do the trick. Never fear enhancing the scheme with silk flowers in winter — they are an economical and sustainable way to maximise your arrangements.’
Round out a room with curves and soft edges
Just as colour and light shape the mood of a home, so too does the form of the furniture and objects within it. Eva Sonaike, textile designer and founder of Eva Sonaike Studio, is drawn to elongated curves and softly rounded forms because they immediately soften a space and make it feel more relaxed and emotionally comforting. ‘Compared to harsh architectural lines, these shapes feel warmer, more human and gently cocooning,’ says Eva. This doesn’t require a complete rethink of a room. A single curved piece can subtly rebalance a space: pouffes and curved ottomans are versatile and when paired with expressive prints in considered colour palettes, the shape grounds the pattern, keeping the look playful yet elegant.’
Curate restorative corners in larger rooms
It’s a philosophy shared by interior designer Nicola Harding, who prefers creating ‘places rather than spaces.’ ‘A big open room set might look impressive, but it can feel intimidating and not terribly convivial,’ she says. ‘We’re drawn to corners where we can tuck ourselves away — it’s why the corners of restaurants fill up first. The corners of the room are great for either a pair of chairs or a bistro style table to sit at, or you can create the feeling of a corner by layering decorative elements around a sofa or chairs, so that it feels protected. I like it when seating areas are pulled close together. This might also give you more space at the edge of the room for a second smaller seating arrangement.’
Soft furnishings, too, can make spaces feel calmer, warmer and more contained, advises interior designer Louise Booyens. ‘Layering is key: use rugs, upholstery and textiles to soften both sound and atmosphere, but avoid excess so the space still feels considered,’ she suggests.
Use art and keepsakes to lift the spirit
‘In January, I love using art as a ‘second window,’ something to lift your eye when the view outside is grey,’ explains interior designer Clare Gaskin. ‘A landscape with beautiful light, a colour palette that warms a room, or something quietly funny. I often suggest placing one playful, characterful piece where you’ll see it morning and night - above a bedside table, opposite the bed, or by the bathroom door.’ And where art alone cannot quite supply that lift, something personal like a photograph can carry the same comfort. ‘It doesn’t have to be ‘important’ art: a needlepoint face, a quick sketch, a postcard you love. Balance comes from restraint. One witty artwork, thoughtfully placed, can puncture the winter gloom,’ Clare adds.
