Simple Ways to Transition Your Home Decor from Christmas to Winter
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Once the last Christmas gift is unwrapped and family gatherings come to an end, there’s often a sense of emptiness that settles in. After weeks of lively celebration and anticipation, a quiet stillness fills our homes. It’s a feeling many of us recognize. But saying goodbye to Christmas doesn’t mean we’re ready for a home that feels cold or unfinished.
The good news is that transitioning your decor from Christmas to winter doesn’t have to feel abrupt or bare. With just a few thoughtful changes, your home can continue to feel comfortable and inviting well into the winter months.
Shifting our home from Christmas to winter is something I learned from my mom when I was very young. After the New Year, we would pack away the tree, the stockings, and anything overtly Christmas—but we wouldn’t put everything away.
Garland and winter stems often stayed out well into January, which allowed our home to shift gently rather than suddenly.
I grew to love this simple, thoughtful way of easing out of the holiday season and eventually adopted the same tradition in our home.
In this post, I’m sharing those simple tips I learned so many years ago with all of you!
By focusing on a few subtle seasonal shifts, you can keep your space feeling warm and cozy all winter long.
The goal isn’t to redecorate entirely, but to let winter settle in as Christmas quietly steps aside.
So grab a warm drink, slow things down a bit, and let’s walk through how to make your home feel just as comforting after Christmas as it did during it.
Declutter and Pack Away Christmas Decorations.
Before transitioning your decor from Christmas into winter, I find it helpful to start with a clean, clutter-free space.
Taking the time to thoughtfully pack away Christmas decorations allows your home to reset and makes the seasonal shift feel intentional rather than rushed.
What you choose to pack away really depends on your decorating style. For me, I use a lot of animal statues, such as dogs, deer, and horses throughout the year, including during Christmas. These pieces tend to transition easily and work well beyond the holiday season. Items like brass deer, for example, don’t necessarily need to be put away after Christmas and can move seamlessly into winter styling.
That said, if you decorate with more overtly Christmas-specific pieces—such as reindeer, santas, even snowman—those are items I typically recommend packing away. They’re closely tied to the holiday season and can make a space feel distinctly festive rather than wintery.
When storing holiday pieces, I group items by category (tree ornaments and trimmings, mantel decor like garland and stockings), which I find makes decorating the following year much easier.
I also always make a point to add any new items I may have acquired that season into the appropriate bins.
Personally, I prefer using clear, sturdy bins with locking lids to ensure everything stays protected and nothing gets damaged. Being able to easily see what’s inside each bin is always appreciated when the next season rolls around.
Packing things away in a clean, organized way helps you clearly see what you already have and makes the next holiday decorating season feel far more manageable.
Embrace Natural Elements.
Now that you’ve cleared some space, it’s time to focus on the wintry pieces you plan to keep. And of course, we’re starting with some of my favorites—natural elements.
Nature plays a powerful role in creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere any time of the year, but especially during the winter months.
Simple, natural elements add warmth and texture in a way that feels effortless and timeless. Pinecones, faux branches, and wintery greenery are some of my favorites.
These pieces layer beautifully with everyday decor, allowing winter to feel present without overwhelming the room or leaning too heavily into Christmas decor.
Shop Winter Stems and Natural Accents
My goal is always to create a space that feels natural, effortless, and classic. As I ease my home into winter, what stays or goes is guided mostly by what feels right in my space and how I want each room to function during this quieter season.
For example, this year I used heavy garland throughout our hallway and on the mantel, but as I shift into winter styling, I plan to take it down.
While I’ve kept garland up in past years, this time it feels a bit too heavy and Christmassy to me—even as a natural element—so I decided to remove it.
The same goes for dried oranges and cinnamon sticks. While they’re beautiful for Christmas styling, I usually pack them away after the holidays, as they read more festive than wintry to my eye.
All of this is entirely personal. If those natural elements still feel right in your home, there’s no reason to remove them.
The shift into winter doesn’t have to follow the same rules each year—it should simply reflect what feels comfortable, lived in, and true to your space.
Use Warm, Neutral Colors and Heavy Textures.
Color plays an important role in creating a warm and inviting home year-round. In winter, a more muted, grounded palette paired with layered textures helps spaces feel calm and settled after the brightness of Christmas.
It’s worth mentioning that warm neutrals don’t necessarily have to be light or pale—richer tones like deep brown, dark forest green, charcoal, and muted taupe can function as neutrals while also adding some depth to the room as well.
All of these colors are easy to bring in through simple swaps like throw pillows and cozy blankets. Even subtle changes—such as adding a wool throw to a sofa or layering lighter, neutral-toned pillows onto a chair—can soften a room and help it shift naturally into winter while maintaining a timeless feel.
Texture plays just as important a role as color during the winter months. Woven, knit, and wool materials add visual interest and warmth, bringing an unmistakable cozy winter vibe.
These pieces invite a slower pace and a sense of comfort. When incorporated thoughtfully, textured elements add depth and softness, helping a room feel cozy, lived in, and welcoming—somewhere you naturally want to settle in for hours, whether that’s reading, relaxing by a fire, or simply enjoying the quiet of winter.
Shop My Winter Pillow and throw Picks
Final Thoughts.
Shifting your home from Christmas to winter doesn’t have to feel rushed or overwhelming. It’s less about removing every trace of the holidays and more about thoughtfully editing what remains.
By starting with a clean foundation, leaning into natural elements, and layering in warm, grounding colors and heavy textures, your home can continue to feel cozy and inviting long after Christmas has ended.
This slower, more intentional shift is something I’ve come to truly appreciate over the years. Winter has its own quiet beauty, and allowing your home to reflect that creates spaces that feel calm and comforting during the colder months.
Shop all our Winter Finds & Favorites
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Hi, I’m Casey, founder of Refuge Interiors, where I combine my lifelong love of decorating and design with a passion for sourcing vintage and antique treasures to create classic, collected interiors that feel warm, inviting, and beautifully lived in.
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