There’s a quiet, slightly dreary stretch between the holidays and spring that makes it harder for many of us to feel cheerful at home — especially if you don’t live where winter brings warmth and sunshine. Even in sunnier places, life has its ups and downs.
So how can we brighten our mood at home? Today I’ll share a simple approach to lift spirits at home — plus highlight a favorite feature of our new bedroom and preview an upcoming project.
One thing I do to care for my well‑being during winter is intentionally make our home feel like a sanctuary. A sanctuary can be created in every season, but each season invites us to focus on a particular area of home and self-care.
Right now you might be enjoying sparkling lights and holiday festivities. But after the twinkle fades and gatherings wind down, it helps to have a small room or home project to focus on — something to look forward to instead of simply waiting for spring.
I decided this winter to focus on my new bedroom. I’ll savor the present season while having a creative project to enjoy afterward.
I share many seasonal tips and simple rhythms for uplifting your home life in my new book A Lovely Life. It’s full of encouragement and ideas to keep on your coffee table or nightstand as gentle reminders throughout the year.
Focusing on a room to lift your spirits doesn’t require a full remodel. Sometimes rearranging, decluttering, cleaning, or simply spending time enjoying a space is enough to change how you feel. Puttering in a room you love can be surprisingly restorative.
We moved into our new home this fall, so our bedroom hasn’t been touched yet beyond bringing in a few pieces from the old house. Below is a photo of our previous bedroom — small, but cozy.
Last spring I considered converting that bedroom into our son’s room after he moved out. One appealing idea was adding French doors to connect the bedroom to a small side patio, a change that promised more light and a pleasant spot for morning coffee.
That year had its challenges, as it has for so many. While I practiced gratitude for what we had, dreaming about future home projects helped keep my spirits up. Imagining French doors opening to fresh air and a tiny outdoor seating area was a comforting, hopeful image.
You might remember the inspiration photo I shared of a bedroom with exterior French doors. I’ll include it again below in case you missed it.
I didn’t expect the twists the following months would bring, and how those twists would make that French‑door dream a reality. After many ups and downs, everything shifted this past summer. When I visited the island where we now live and stepped into our new bedroom, I found exactly what I’d imagined: French doors opening to a charming spot for morning coffee.
Every morning I wake up and pinch myself. The doors to that perfect little outdoor area were a dream come true — and even more beautiful in person. The view of sky, sea, and the neighborhood is a daily gift, and I’m deeply grateful for it and for the unexpected answered prayers that led us here.
With so much change since last spring, it felt natural to continue the dream and begin working on the bedroom this winter — though with far less construction this time around.
We have a few future ideas for the room that I’ll share later, but for now our goal is simple: make it feel like ours and cozy for winter while keeping it easy to transition into spring. In upcoming posts I’ll share four mood boards along with photos that show where we started, what we’ve brought into the room so far, and the new pieces we’ll add this winter.
I love creating mood boards when I work on a room. I call them mood boards because they capture more than style — they capture the feeling I want the room to evoke. Thinking in terms of mood helps me design spaces that truly uplift daily life, not just look pretty.
Before we pause for the holidays, I’ll share the four mood boards in my next post. I’d love to hear which one resonates with you.
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!