January is here, the holidays are over, and you probably have begun putting away (or already have put away) all the decor that has brightened your home for the last month or so. It can feel a little blah around the house with the bright & shiny decor tucked away for another season. The dreary weather of January does not help either. But there's hope - we can breathe new life into our homes this winter season! Today I am sharing my top five tips to bring personality & some color to your winter decor - all with the help of just a few books - blue books to be exact.
WHY BLUE BOOKS?
Blue is the perfect color to help transition from Christmas to the winter months. Blue still lends a bit of that holiday feel we may not be ready to let go of just yet. Blue is also known for its calming effect – perfect for recovering from the hustle & bustle of the holidays. And blue has long been associated with January (okay not always in a good light - think the winter blues). But why can't we change the narrative & instead of looking at the winter blues as a bad thing, embrace it & look at it as a good thing. A new look, fresh start, etc. I mean that is what The New Year is all about anyway, am I right?
MY TOP FIVE TIPS
1. Extend the holiday feel just a bit longer. Keep one or two of your favorite Christmas decorations out & display them with some books. Last year, I was gifted these antique Christmas balls with log cabins on them & they quickly became one of my favorite decorations (yes, I really do live in a log cabin). I hate putting them away when we take down the tree, so this year I decided to pair them with a blue book stack. It allows me to enjoy them for another season before being packed away until next December. What are your favorite holiday decorations & how can you incorporate them into a vignette or two for January?
2. Let your home decor tell a story. Add warmth & character to your home by combining vintage books with personal photographs. Pair favorite books from your parent's childhood with a beloved photo of them or favorite books from your childhood with a photo of you from childhood. This simple display not only brings a splash of color into your decor but also invokes a sense of nostalgia that’s sure to brighten up any room. It's a subtle yet meaningful way to honor the past while adding a personal touch to your space. I paired a small collection of Hardy Boys books with a photo of my dad & his sister sitting on a sled, in the snow, outside of their childhood home. Hardy Boys were a favorite of my dad's growing up - each week he borrowed a different edition from the library to read - so this fun vignette is a nod to my dad's childhood.
And the best news is, this vignette can easily be updated as the seasons change. Simply change the photo on display or the color of the book stack. My next photo to be displayed in this vignette is one of my grandparents in their motorboat on Lake Wallenpaupack (in the heart of the Poconos of Pennsylvania) with my dad’s german shepherd, Lady – man did that dog love riding around the lake in the boat. I love displaying these old photos around our home as little nods to our family history. What old, family photos have you been meaning to display?
3. Use color in your décor to set a mood. When it comes to color, blue is universally known for its calming, peaceful effects. Adding blue books to your post-holiday decor can instantly bring a sense of tranquility to your space, especially after the often-chaotic days of the holidays. The soft, cool tones of blue can evoke feelings of relaxation, making it an ideal choice for spaces like the living room or bedroom. Consider creating a stack of vintage blue books on a coffee table or display them on a shelf to add a soothing touch to your surroundings.
Here, Mary Pat of @the.beautiful.everyday added this beautiful edition of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien along with other books to her mantel where she displayed a few favorite pieces. The choice of colors & objects in her styling gives off peaceful, beach vibes.
You can also go in the opposite direction & intentionally add books to give a space a bold pop of color. This is yet another great way to let your personality shine in your décor. Melissa @1879books used a collection of Junior Deluxe Editions to add a pop of color in her guest bedroom & I love the result. It is unexpected to have children's books in bright colors in a space decorated with muted colors. The unexpected contrast is a brilliant use of color. Your eye is immediately drawn to the books (and if you are anything like me, you immediately want to zoom in to read the titles of each volume). What mood do you want to create in your living spaces?
4. Have fun with your décor: Add a bit of Whimsy. I have had this artist's moveable mannequin for quite some time, and it was fun to use it on a bookshelf inside a glass front cabinet in such an unexpected way. It adds just the right amount of whimsy to my collection of non-fiction books, so they don’t seem too stuffy (and yes, the books shown are a few of my childhood favorites and all fiction). How can you add a little (or a lot of) whimsy to your spaces?
5. Don’t let your book covers have all the fun: Embrace the Beauty Inside Your Books. Open up those books & let those pages take center stage! Whether you're displaying images from your favorite illustrator, vibrant color plates, or a favorite passage, the interior of a book can provide a beautiful & meaningful addition to your space. Joette @sassafraslanestudio, an artist herself, used a vintage book stand from her husband’s hometown to display floral illustrations within the pages of a vintage botanical book to bring a bit of calm color & the warmth of summer into her home as she transitions from the post-holiday season. Using this book filled with illustrations allows her to change the look and color of this space with just the turn of a page. I love how she added the book stand & open book to add even more interest to this corner of her living room, all while honoring pieces that have meaning to her family. What’s a favorite illustration or book quote you can display?
NEW WEBSITE COLLECTION
So, what is your favorite way to add a bit of post-holiday cheer to your home? Leave a comment below & share your favorite tips & tricks. Are you ready to fill your home with books that help you express your personality & help you fight the winter blues?
It you’re ready, Log Cabin Vintage is here to help! And to make it easier than ever, I just added a Shop by Color drop down to the top me menu bar of the website. You can now shop books by color, including blue books. Make this the year you create a deeper emotional connection with your decor by bringing in those books that you loved as a child. The ones that bring back so many wonderful memories of the hours spent reading these precious stories over & over again. Filling your home with cherished books makes your space unique & a reflection of who you are. And most importantly, it helps chase away those winter blues. Shop now.
Here’s to a year of displaying our favorite books in creative ways around our homes. Using what we love to surround ourselves with pieces that showcase our personality.
Happy decorating & reading,
Wendy
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