Making things beautiful in January

The house always looks so festive and inviting in the fall and December then comes January and its just blank everything.  This year I decided to work extra hard not to have it be bare in the month of January.  So, since I went to all this work I thought I would put photos of it here.  If nothing else, at least it will serve as a reminder for myself in the future. Ha! 

I went searching around my house and at a few after Christmas clearance racks for anything winter themed.  If it was sparkly and glittery then all the better.  I wanted blue, white or silver as the colors.  This is the piano.  It sits in a prominent location in the dining room.  Most everything here was repurposed except for the two small snowmen and the skates.  I spray painted the pine cones.

The skates I bought from ebay.  I love everything about them!  I can envision using them for many different decorating purposes for years to come.  The postcard beside the skates I bought years ago at an antique store.  It says New Years greetings which is perfect for my display.  It features children building a snowman.  My favorite decorations are those that have vintage children.

The red clock was a gift from my sister years ago.  I love the pop of red.  The big snowman was a gift from another sweet family - the Congers.  It makes me smile to see gifts and remember the giver.

I updated the photo frame with a recent photo.  Just the right touch of silver.  The little snowmen on the clocks were on clearance from Kroger for 60 cents each.  I was thrilled they were dressed in blue.

Here is our mantle.  We love a good toast fire.  Thanks to my Father we have plenty of wood for the winter.

I bought the silver candle holder on clearance at Walmart and the blue and silver snowflakes all for less than $6.00.  The sled came from Hobby Lobby for $4.00. I love that store!

This house was a gift container for something Gregory got from work.  I have used it in Christmas decorating ever since.

 The blue jar was in Gregory's office, but I have claimed it now.  I spray painted the branches.

The blue glittery decor on the left was 50 cent clearance at Walgreens.  So pretty!  The vases belonged to my grandmother.

I am proud of how it all came together.  It does not usually come naturally to me to decorate, but I worked hard to make sure the colors and theme came together.  I am learning that the atmosphere of a home is important to lift the spirit of the inhabitants.  How a house is decorated is not the most important thing about making a home.  Words and actions are much more important, but it is nice to have lovely scenery to look at particularly when the weather can be dreary in the winter.