Survived the work Christmas party – tick.
Aced the Christmas shopping – tick.
Overindulged at Christmas dinner – tick.
Now you’ve successfully completed every yuletide tradition, what are your plans for the rest of the year?
If the scrum of the sales and drizzly days aren’t tempting you outside, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the time between Christmas and New Year indoors.
Whether you want to make more space, restyle your rooms, catch up on culture or simply shut off, our blog this week is packed with ideas for fabulous festive fun without ever leaving the house.
CLEAR THE CLUTTER
After all the excitement of Christmas Day, now is a great time of year to treat your home to a cleansing clearout. Instead of squeezing more into straining cupboards and hoarding things you never use, how about creating the space to savour the things you really love?
- Picture how you’d like a room to look before doing anything drastic – the goal is to have the home you love, so it’s worth giving it some thought.
- Take it one drawer or cupboard at a time, and you’ll soon start feeling lighter and freer. Make the task more enjoyable with some uplifting background music.
- Use Marie Kondo’s mantra to decide what to keep by holding each item close to see if it sparks joy. If not, thank it for its service and say your goodbyes.
Charity shops thrive on relieving you of the things you don’t want, so there’s no need to feel guilty about giving things away. And if you’d like more tips on having a place and space for everything, take a look at our previous blog on how to Declutter For Good.
START 2023 WITH A NEW LOOK
Whether you’re decorating to sell or simply updating a room or two, why not get inspired by 2023’s interior style trends? We’ll do a full deep-dive in our dedicated January article, but here are some key looks for next year to give you a head start.
- Curves are in, from organic-shaped furniture to wavy stripes on textiles, ceramics, and wallpaper – just don’t take it too far!
- Cork and aluminium are two of the most sustainable materials out there, and they’re set to be big in 2023.
- Embrace flawsome design and newstalgia: restoring, repurposing, and rejoicing in old furniture and accessories in line with kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery.
Nothing beats eBay and Gumtree for sustainability, so if you’re looking to change up your furniture, nab a stylish bargain as people make space for their new acquisitions from the January sales. What’s more, you can do it all from the comfort of the couch.
CATCH UP ON THE BEST OF 2022
Pick up any newspaper or magazine this month, and you’re bound to come across a Best Of 2022 list. Keeping up with it all can be a challenge in the course of a working week, but with a longer break, why not discover some of what you missed?
- Cinema was back after a couple of years off limits, with Hollywood blockbusters and indie flicks galore. Start with The Guardian’s 50 Best Movies of 2022 to find a few to view.
- Explore the year’s best new music with NME’s top 50 albums of 2022 as the soundtrack to decorating, decluttering, or games night.
- Think of any subject in the world, and there’ll be a podcast about it. Listen on the go or on the couch, and find your next favourite in the winners of the British Podcast Awards.
- When did you last get lost in a good book? Whether you like to curl up with Kindle, listen to audio or turn actual paper pages, Sara Cox’s Between The Covers is full of reading inspiration from celebrity guests.
- There’s so much telly from so many platforms these days! Luckily, Time Out has distilled the dizzying dilemma into the best 23 TV and streaming shows of 2022.
With some wise picks and commitment to the task, you’ll be the go-to cultural guru when everyone returns to work. More than that, you’ll have the best small talk for the coffee machine or Zoom!
DISCOVER OR REKINDLE A TALENT
Is there anything you’ve wanted to try for as long as you can remember? We’ve all got something, and our regular weekly routines can relegate personal passions to second place. But can you think of a better time of year to make a fresh start?
- Maybe art was your thing at school, but it’s since disappeared from your life. Try an online drawing or painting course from Skillshare or Udemy.
- Ever since Tom Daly was snapped with his needles at the Olympics, crafting at home has become cool. Knit, sew or crochet – start with a cushion cover or scarf and see where it goes!
- If you dream of being handy around the home and a DIY wiz, you’ll find YouTube tutorials for every odd job you can imagine.
- Making food and enjoying it with those you love is about as wholesome as it gets, so grab yourself a copy of Delia’s How to Cook to begin your culinary journey.
- Make a song and dance by joining a local choir, theatre group, or class to nurture your inner performer.
Having a passion adds spice to life and is food for the soul. Whatever you choose, always remember the most important thing: you don’t have to be perfect to enjoy it.
DISCONNECT & RECONNECT
Sometimes, getting back to basics is just what we need, and the festive break can provide some valuable extra time to rediscover the simple things in life
- Pick up the phone or make a video date with friends and family near and far to catch up on life and share the gossip.
- Invite your friends for an old-school games night of cards, board games, or, dare we say it, charades!
- Give your body and brain some love by downloading an app for yoga, fitness, or mindfulness to relax and recharge.
Alternatively, and if you want to be a true revolutionary, instead of filling every moment of the festive break, how about finding the time to do nothing at all? Treat yourself to turning the phone off, having a long lie-in, or daydreaming on the couch – you deserve it!
How are you spending your Christmas at home?
Whatever you’re doing, wherever you are, and whoever you’re with, we hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day and wish you health and happiness for 2023 and beyond.
And if moving is on the cards next year, we’d love to help you on your way. Call us on 01843 269188 or drop us a line at mail@alexander-russell.co.uk for a friendly chat about your plans