There’s a quiet, slightly gloomy stretch between the holidays and spring that can make home life feel a bit flat—particularly if you don’t live where winter brings warm sunshine. Even where the weather is mild, life’s ups and downs still affect our mood.
So what can we do at home to lift our spirits? Today I’ll share a simple way to brighten your days at home—I’ll also introduce my favorite feature of our new bedroom and preview a small upcoming project.
One practice I rely on during the colder months is making sure our home feels like a sanctuary. Every season offers a chance to tend to different parts of our well-being and our living space. In winter I focus on warmth, comfort, and small projects that give me something positive to look forward to.
The holidays bring sparkling lights and gatherings that energize us, but once the decorations are taken down it helps to have a room or home project to focus on—something to enjoy during the long winter months, rather than simply waiting for spring.
I’ve decided to focus on our new bedroom this winter. I want to savor the current season while having a small, creative project to look forward to afterward.
Focusing on a room doesn’t mean a major remodel. It might mean rearranging, decluttering, cleaning, or simply spending time appreciating the space. Little changes can make a big difference in how a room feels.
We moved into our new home this fall, so our bedroom still needs attention beyond a few pieces moved in from our previous house. To remind you of where we started, below is a photo of our old bedroom—small, but cozy.
Last spring I considered converting that old master bedroom into our son’s room after he moved out. One of the charming possibilities was adding French doors that would connect the bedroom to a little side patio. Dreaming about small changes like that helped me stay inspired during a difficult year.
Gratitude for what we have, combined with gentle dreaming for the future, lifts my spirits. I imagined how French doors would flood the room with light, and how stepping outside for morning coffee or a quiet dinner for two would feel.
Here’s the inspiration photo I shared before, in case you missed it. It shows a bedroom with exterior French doors and a small seating area—an image that helped shape my vision.
I could not have predicted the unexpected changes that followed, or how the dream of French doors would somehow come true. After many ups and downs, a surprising move this summer led us to a new home—and when I walked into our bedroom there was an existing set of French doors opening to a charming outdoor spot.
That moment felt like a dream. I still pinch myself each morning when I wake up and see the doors, the sky, and the water beyond. It’s everything I imagined and more, and I’m deeply grateful for how things unfolded.
Every new view—sky, sea, and neighborhood—feels like a gift. Those small pleasures are constant reminders to be grateful for the surprises life can bring.
Given everything that’s happened since last spring, it makes sense to carry on with the bedroom project this winter. The good news is this time the work will be lighter—fewer structural changes and more emphasis on making the room feel like ours.
We have a few future plans for the room, but for now our goal is simple: pull the room together, make it cozy for winter, and keep it easy to transition into spring. In upcoming posts I’ll share four mood boards, progress photos showing where we started, what we’ve added so far, and a few new pieces coming into the room this season.
I love creating mood boards when I work on a room. I call them mood boards because they go beyond style; they capture the feeling I want the space to evoke. That feeling is as important as the aesthetics—mood boards help me design a room that genuinely uplifts everyday life.
Before we sign off for the holidays, I’ll share four potential mood boards in my next post. I’d love to hear which ones you like best.
What room or project will you focus on this winter?
Watch my newsletter to keep in touch in the new year and follow along as we decorate our bedroom and make it our own!