Late winter, a perfect time to be home

Here’s why:

There are plenty of things to dislike about winter: the cold, it gets dark early, and everything can look gray and brown, like the world has lost its color. However, winter is also the perfect season to focus on home. Traditionally, spring is when we think of cleaning up and cleaning out, but winter is ideal for tackling those neglected projects around the house so by the time spring arrives, the inside of your home has been tended to and you can shift your focus outside.

Winter is also the perfect time to take up a new hobby or spend more time crafting. I love to spend a cold winter day at my kitchen table, creating projects, watercolor painting, working on a thrift-store flip, or a small handmade decor piece for my home. I try to plan ahead in winter and often work on projects I will use in spring or summer, so they are ready to go when the weather warms up and I am spending more time in my garden.

If you love to garden, winter is the perfect time to plan. Decide what you will plant and where you will plant your flowers or vegetables and consider keeping a garden journal where you jot down notes at the end of each season. It is the perfect place to map out your garden for the new year. This is one of my favorite winter activities because it reminds me that spring is coming and that my garden will be in full bloom before I know it.

Give Your Home A Simple Refresh

Clean the oven on a really cold day.
Wipe baseboards with a mix of 4 cups water and 1 tablespoon fabric softener; it helps repel dust and makes the house smell fresh and clean.
Deep-clean the fridge: remove drawers, wash with soap and water, wipe down the inside, and clear out expired food.
Tidy the pantry by vacuuming out bins and clearing expired items.
Wipe down the fronts of kitchen cabinets.
Clean out your closet: donate clothes you have not worn in several months and tidy baskets, dressers, and bins.
Clean windowsills so they are fresh when spring arrives and you are ready to open the windows.

A Simple DIY Project

One thing I enjoy in winter is crafting because it is relaxing and it brings me joy to create beautiful things for my home by hand. The thrift store is the perfect place to find pieces to transform into lovely decor.

I recently found a heart-shaped wreath at the thrift store that just needed a little makeover. I cut off the vines that came with it and added dried baby’s breath, creating a piece that can work in your home across seasons by changing the ribbon or by using a season-neutral ribbon like lace or ivory satin. DIY projects can be as simple as taking something old away and adding something new; like fresh florals and a pretty ribbon.

Cozy Winter Reading List

Create Your Own Cozy by Liz Marie Galvan
A Lovely Life by Melissa Michaels
Flower Garden Planner by Stacy Ling
Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein
Making Your Home Meaningful by Bre Doucette

Preparing for Spring

Now, I know that there are still two months left until spring, but when the winter days are long and cold, I look forward to planning my fresh cut flower garden. Prepping for the garden starts long before I am actually out there in the dirt, digging holes and adding seeds.

I usually sit down around this time of year and decide what flowers I want to plant and, more specifically, which ones I am going to start germinating indoors. Now, I am not a master gardener. I am still very much in the learning phase of gardening. I have made plenty of mistakes and will likely make more, but that’s how we learn, right?

This will be the first year I am germinating seeds indoors. I plan to start some snapdragons and two different varieties of basil (I use this for bouquet filler); as well as two different types of zinnias. You can also direct sow your zinnias, which I did last year, and they did just fine! In fact, if you are new to gardening and want to start a fresh cut flower garden, zinnias are very easy to grow, very forgiving, and they come in an abundance of shapes and colors. It is a great starting place for a garden.

I am looking forward to sharing my flower gardening process with you as it gets closer to spring. For now, I will be anxiously awaiting the arrival of my seeds!

Lean into the little joys of home for the rest of the winter. Spring will be here before we know it, bringing beautiful blooms, sunshine, and much needed color. Rest. For it won’t be long before nature is buzzing with activity and excitement.