Maria Killam | Classic and Timeless Colour

Two Cures for the Post Holiday Blues (Hint: It’s Not What you Think)

Posted: 31 Dec 2021 11:39 AM PST

Twelve years ago, back when I first started writing this blog, I realized why so many people are sad when their Christmas lights come down. I wrote a post about it here.

Do you miss your Christmas lights when they come down?

What’s missing in your home, if you’re feeling the post holiday blues is ATMOSPHERE.

Because that’s what you’ve just removed with all the holiday lights and accessories you’ve just packed away until next year.

Last year in December, I posted one of my first reels and it was about Christmas lights vs. lamps, I reposted it the other day and received some comments I’m sharing with you below.

I’m holding a plant in the image further down, because when I shot that video last year in early December, I had seen so many videos where people had filled their apartment with plants. And it looked wonderful. But you know what was still sorely missing?

Lamps.

They still didn’t have any lamps. And, if decorating is not your talent, plants do add a lot of atmosphere.

A plant filled restaurant I saw in November WITH fabulous lighting | West Palm Beach

More plants and overhead lighting is NOT the answer

But here’s the thing, keeping your Christmas lights up well into January or adding more plants, will still not give you the atmosphere that is so sadly missing with strictly overhead lights.

And so many people assume the answer to a dark room with no overhead lights is. . . you guessed it, call the electrician to add them.

Nooooooo.

If you are building a new house or renovating, cheese lights (as my sister affectionally coined them) will NOT give you the atmosphere you’re looking for.

You can watch it here

Here are a few comments I received on this video:

Watched this video yesterday, just went out and bought my first lamp. Wow. It’s life and mood changing!!

Maria, I have more lamps because of these posts!

As a new follower, I read an old post you wrote about lamps a month ago. I immediately installed 2 lamps in my kitchen/great room. My husband who never really cares or comments on decor (except for comfortable seating) immediately said “I really like the lamp in the kitchen” Shortly after, several other guests commented how they liked it too. Like you suggested, I turn them on first thing when I wake up and leave them on all day. Thank you! Such a simple thing made a big difference in our home! Love it!

Thought of you yesterday as we arrived to our NYC Airbnb. I immediately went out and bought a cheap lamp. There was NO lamps in the living area!! Nothing but bright bulbs overhead!

Have lamps, will travel

If you’ve followed me for a while on my Instagram stories , you’ll know if I am driving to an Airbnb, I ALWAYS bring lamps. I used to bring two, now I’ve upped it to three if there’s room in my trunk along with luggage! See those posts here and here.

If you missed it, I talked about the 5 lamps everyone should have in this post.

Tablescapes or Vignettes: a must have after the holiday decor has been removed

Styling by Maria Killam

Here’s the good news! January is the perfect time of year to practice styling!

Since you don’t need to be a decorator to fill your house with holiday decor, therefore, making it feel warm, sparkly and festive during the holidays, you might not realize that you’re also missing some updated accessories AND books, to create some vignettes! And when you are reworking your room–after the tree comes down–this is the perfect time to rethink and refresh your room.

And yes, we’re back to lamps here for a moment. If you have a dresser or an end table or a sofa table, the first decor item it needs is a lamp, the end. In addition to an assemblage of books, candles and flowers, just to start.

Recently, I was listening to podcast where a decorator made this statement “Coffee table books get eaten up so fast when styling a home”.

And that is a fact.

Books are a good pedestal for all kinds of random objects, turning them from tchotchkes into interesting home decor items in seconds.

Styled by Maria Killam

And you don’t need to spend a lot of money, there are plenty of coffee table books to be found in used bookstores.

In fact, since the best vignette includes books with your decorating colours, you can purchase books by colour here:

Etsy

You don’t need to display or keep every accessory you’ve ever owned

And if you’re sitting here thinking “I have too many accessories right now and they’re not doing anything for me!” let me remind you of this story:

Years ago I arrived in a clients home who assured me that she had plenty of accessories. She was convinced, she just needed help styling them.

What she had was a range of one-off candleholders and gifts from friends and some dated frames and accessories from 15 years ago when she first moved into her current home. She needed to edit most of them out and add in more current pieces that told a story and had a coherent colour palette.

Because styling is not about arranging the random clutter you have scattered about. It’a about creating eye pleasing combinations of things that create interest and, you guessed it, atmosphere.

Out with the old, in with a few new accessories, lamps and coffee table books!

So first, take all the clutter out of your room. Then get a lamp, a vase with flowers and some coffee table books in the right colours. And you’ll be on your way.

This seller on Etsy is selling stacks of reasonably priced books in whichever decor colour you choose:

Etsy

As a stylist, with an accessory room (just off my garage) filled to the brim with shelves of random home decor objects that regularly get switched in and out of my home, I confess I will never be a minimalist.

So there you have it, when your holiday decor gets packed away, your empty tables need vignettes and lamps to fill you with happiness when you walk in the door.

And if it’s time to lighten and brighten your home with paint, I can help you with that, see all my edesign paint packages here.

If you’re shopping for anything online and the colour needs to be accurate, learn how to shop like a decorator with my Shop Online with Colour Confidence here.

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