confession: winter is not my jam. the early dark nights, the colder temps, the rain and gray skies… and the period after the holidays is the hardest time of all, when the holiday cheer has faded away and spring is quite literally still months away. here in santa barbara, we’ve had long stretches of rain and cold this winter, necessitating far more time indoors than I’m accustomed to. so the importance of bringing light, literally and figuratively, into the home to help uplift us when the days are short is high on my mind. here are some strategies I'm leaning on to keep post-holiday joy alive in the wintry season:

bring life into the home through greenery or florals. every season is a good season to bring the outdoors in, but in winter bringing some fresh live greenery or seasonal bouquets into the house brings refreshing signs of life into a space even after the leaves have long fallen off the trees outside. my go-to greenery this season is easy-to-find and economical eucalyptus. my local trader joe's has several varieties of eucalyptus for 5.99/bunch so I'll stock up on several bunches, put them in my favorite vases and distribute them between the rooms of the house. find flowers that are available locally and seasonally in your area, and treat yourself to a few of these stems to brighten your main spaces week to week.

keep your evenings glowing with ambient light through candles and string lights. even after holiday decor is put away, I keep the string lights out for the duration of winter to maintain a little twinkle in the house even when christmas is over. in the winter, candles are not just saved for special occasions, and instead are lit nightly in our living room to bring additional glowing warmth and coziness. for a seasonal touch, I'll light a candle in a wintry scent like cypress, spearmint or sage. whether scented or unscented, candles bring immediate ambience to a space and make even the darkest times of day feel special and cozy.

layer your home with textiles luxe to the touch like velvets and cozy knits. winter textiles are some of my favorite to shop for, because it is the one time of year to let our sense of touch lead us completely. whether it's a sheepskin rug at the foot of the bed, or a fleecy throw strewn across a comfy accent chair, winter is the time to layer our spaces with fabrics worthy of our tactile senses. and even though winter is a time where richer, moodier colors take over our palettes, I prefer accenting with creamy winter whites to keep a little levity and brightness in a space.

wishing you all warmth, hygge and coziness as we count down the days till spring.